A map of sites where you may experience delays on Southland state highways due to maintenance or third-party contractor work can be found here, and these sites are listed below.  Please note that weather forecasts over the next few days are predicting overnight frosts – please check conditions before you leave - https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner. Highways South work with temporary speed limits this week:SH1 Bluff highway between Clifton and Motu Rimu Road, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH1 Tay St between Troopers roundabout and Elles Road, lane drop for service cover work **night workSH93 Old Coach Road between Slopedown School Road and Hurst Road, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH96 Wreys Bush-Nightcaps highway between Wreys Bush-Mossburn Road and Lynch Road, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH96 Glencoe highway at Glencoe, traffic lights (Monday 11th only)SH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki highway at Orepuki, traffic lights for drainage work Third party work and events with traffic management in place this week:SH1 Bluff highway at Motu Rimu Road, stop/go for pole replacementSH1 East Road Invercargill, stop/go for pole replacementSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway near Sandy Brown Road, stop/go for tree maintenance Note: Two key sites beginning in the next fortnight:SH1 Bluff Highway, traffic lights and speed limit from 11th August 11 for about two weeks drainage workThis site is programmed for a renewal this construction season. The first stage is the drainage and flanking of the highway shoulders of a 3km stretch from just south of Avon Road to just south of Blythe Street. The 3km stretch will be split into sections of around 500m at a time, to reduce the impact and delays to traffic. We anticipate delay times of approximately 5 minutes at the site.SH94 at The Key, traffic lights and speed limit from approx. 18th August until mid-November for drainage and renewal work.  We anticipate delay times of approximately 5-10 minutes at the site. Useful links:NZTA Journeys website - https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-plannerFreight Impact Register - https://www.nzta.govt.nz/commercial-driving/trucks-and-tow-trucks/potential-restrictions-affecting-freight/ - download and filter the region for ‘Southland’. This will indicate any upcoming work in the next fortnight which have closures, detours or width restrictions for freight.

Invercargill Airport marked a key milestone today with the opening of a permanent Aviation Security Service (AvSec) office, reinforcing Southland’s commitment to long-term jet connectivity.The new facility replaces temporary setups and supports ongoing jet operations, signaling confidence in the region’s aviation future.“This office shows we’re serious about growth and accessibility,” said Airport CEO Stuart Harris. “It complements our current upgrades and sends a clear message to airline partners and the community.”Barry Taylor, Head of Aviation Security for the Lower South Island, called the move a “practical and strategic win” for both staff and Southland’s place in the national network.

Due to snow and winter conditions, an area warning is in place on SH6 between Lumsden and Kingston, please drive with care. The cold SW flow is quite gentle on the surface still and in fact ground level breezes are slightly north of west while cloud and showers are travelling from the WSW.Snow level has fallen to around 400m, showers at the moment are mostly south of a line Otautau - Waikaia but as the wind flow becomes a little more dominant from the SW aloft a few showers will get into SH94, where some light snow accumulation is likely on the higher section of that highway.Update: 12:00pm Although we have a cold SW flow over the region, it's well sort of the the 'average' cold winter outbreak at the moment and a reflection of the reluctance of low pressure systems in the southern oceans south of New Zealand to really wind up this winter (barring that short event at the end of May of course)The current low to the south-east of Stewart Island isn't deep, and consequently surface winds over the region are still unusually light.Even so, at some point during today they should tend to swing more emphatically to the SW and become fresh at times overnight, but nothing like the 25-30kt winds we'd be getting if the southern ocean lows were at even average strength.Showers are also quite 'small' and widely scattered at the moment. There is no sign of any of the showers merging together inland that produce longer duration snowfalls.There is also little if any sign that showers coming up from the SW will form larger areas.So, although some light snowfalls are still expected to 400-500m over the next 24hrs, it's looking unlikely that there will be a widespread cover anywhere around the region.Road icing is likely to become an issue in places tonight, mostly inland.Update: 2:30pmA moderate SW change has arrived on the coast and slightly heavier showers are now going inland although at the moment not north or west of Lumsden.Tthese are still not merging to any degree either, but may be giving some local hail areas.Temperatures have lifted a little and the snow level also up to perhaps 600-700m, but as the afternoon and evening goes on this will probably drop back to around 500m and some showers are still likely to get further north and west with a risk of scattered light snow accumulation on SH94 and SH6 later this afternoon and overnight.Final update: 4:00pmShowers continue to move steadily across the region, more so over western and central Southland, and a decrease in size and number north of the Taringatura and Hokonui Hills.Temperatures still remain a little high for snowfall below 600m (although there may be some hail in heavier showers) but that level is likely to fall back a little as we go into the evening.There is still little sign of shower areas merging, so it looks like there may only be scattered and quite light snowfalls on SH94 and SH6 north of Lumsden overnight.Colder overnight temperatures bring a risk of some icy patches forming on wet roads overnight, especially at higher elevations inland.Next forecast at the usual time tomorrow morning.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardRoad status:OPEN from Te Anau to Milford Sound Drive with careComments:Snow showers are likely around the tunnel until mid morning with 1-2cm possible, plough trucks will be operating when necessary - Please drive with care. Black ice should be expected over coming days as we go into a spell of fine weather.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Snow showers until mid morning then fine Tomorrow: Fine Sunday: Fine Monday: Fine

Kiwis need to embrace renewable power projects in their area, an energy boss says.Contact Energy is ramping up its renewable energy supplies, saying investment in that area is critical to the economy.It's just lodged resource consent to expand a battery for power storage it's built on the outskirts of Auckland, which will power another 220,000 homes.Its chief executive Mike Fuge told Morning Report: "Batteries are a great technology, the price of lithium is coming down rapidly. We see batteries as a key part of the system - they take care of the morning and evening peaks."It has 100 megawatts being installed at Glenbrook, it had received consent for another 500Mw at Glenbrook and intends to apply for another 500mW for Stratford."So yes they will form very much part of the new ecosystem and they are part of that solution."However, he was not a supporter of the Onslow battery project proposed by the last Labour government in part because its cost was so high at $24 billion.In response to discussion of a proposed wind farm for Southland which has attracted opposition, Fuge said Kiwis needed to be more receptive to change and adapt to the renewable energy boom."We're going to have to make trade-offs. Wind farms - they are visual. If you're Dutch you've learned to live with wind farms over a 500-year period and so it's just change, and so we just have to step into that change and make some very deliberate choices as a country that this is what we want to do."Contact's focus was on building new baseload renewable energy and geothermal. It had spent $1.5 billion on Tauhara and Te Huka 3 which had brought on 5 percent.Te Mihi 2A which would replace Wairakei was underway as was the country's biggest solar farm, Kōwhai Park, in Christchurch and there were plans for a wind farm."This is our opportunity to move the market to reliable renewable energy which isn't going to just serve us, it's going to serve our tamariki and our mokopuna."Asked if all the plans and projects should have advanced faster, he responded: 'Jeez, how could I go faster?"Contact had been accepted into the government's fast track process and he hoped this would lead to faster resource consents.He said increased lines charges were around 6 or 7 percent to bills but the company had committed to the energy component of the increase would be no higher than the inflation rate."We know that Kiwi homes are doing it tough at the moment and we know that electricity at the best of times is not something people love paying for ... we're doing our best to keep those prices moderated."Four of the 10 highest peaks have occurred this winter while wholesale prices have been 70 percent lower than last year."Just the calmness is so important."Fuge said Contact was working with a range of industries such as dairy and meat processing to get them converted to electricity at reasonable prices.The country's energy supply was in a much better position than last year when a dry year coincided with outages and some industries were closing although the dramatic drop in gas supply had caught everyone off guard.Another six terrawatt hours of renewable energy had been added in the last six years which was the equivalent of two-thirds of Maui at its peak and around 15 percent of the country's supply.It was made up of wind, solar and baseload geothermal.As well there was the Huntly HFO so that a large coal stockpile (amassing up to 600,000 tonnes) could be used "in an extreme dry year".Long-term gas supply had also been secured."So I've always argued that in terms of security of supply it's never a magic solution out there .... you've got to do all these things in quick order and that's what we've done that but underpinning this is the renewable energy supply."The removal of the government's oil and gas ban would be "helpful", he said.Published by Permission

“If I can show that it’s possible to grow good food in Southland backyards without being perfect, then hopefully more people will give it a go.” - Shelley PaddonShelley Paddon in her home garden. Photo: SuppliedWhat if growing your own food didn’t have to be complicated, perfect, or take up acres of land? What if it could start with a few pots on the porch, or a tiny patch out the back?That’s the message Shelley from A Simple Life in Southland is sharing with locals through her Instagram and Substack - and her newly released e-book ‘Top Crops to Grow in Southland’.A self-taught home grower based in the Deep South, Shelley shares seasonal “in the garden” guides (what to sow, what to plant, what to harvest), bite-sized how‑tos, and the real-life story of her own backyard - slug attacks, overgrown beds, triumph harvests and all.Her mission is simple: encourage, inspire, and help Southlanders grow more of their own food - veges, herbs, fruit, all of it - in ways that fit real lives, real weather, real budgets.From saving money and boosting nutrition, to creating deeper connections with our environment and our community, Shelley believes growing your own kai is a powerful act of resilience and joy.In this Murihiku Kai – Shelley talks about her why, the wins (and wobbles), and how to get started - even if you think it’s impossible.Some of Shelley’s ‘A Simple Life in Southland’ content on Instagram. Photo: Supplied.Let’s start with the big why - what inspired A Simple Life in Southland and your mission to get more locals growing their own kai?Shelley: Growing your own food just makes sense! It’s powerful to have ownership over what you’re eating - where it’s grown, how it’s grown, how it’s cooked.Being less reliant on supermarkets, corporations, and freight lines - and instead being in control of your own food system - to me is the ultimate wealth.I love growing food; I’m constantly in awe of the process. Watching a tiny seed grow into something that can feed us (and also recreate itself to keep its species alive) blows my mind every time.There are so many positives to growing your own food and it doesn’t need to be complicated or overwhelming. The benefits reach us, our families and friends, future generations, our communities, and our environment.By sharing my growing journey and what I’m doing in my own backyard I hope to encourage and inspire others to do the same.You’re open about your own garden journey - the wins and the wobbles. Why is it important to show the imperfect side of growing food?Shelley: The online space can sometimes seem like everything is perfect - we see “Insta‑perfect” gardens, crops, and harvests. It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap, especially if you’re just getting started, and that can leave us feeling like what we’re doing isn’t right or good enough.I like to keep it real: overgrown gardens, unfinished jobs, failed crops, slug and white butterfly invasions, shrivelled seedlings that missed a watering, weird looking veges - all of it.Because that’s the reality of growing your own food. If I can show that it’s possible to grow good food in Southland backyards without being perfect, then hopefully more people will give it a go. After all, nature is perfectly imperfect!Shelley's backyard kai garden. Photo: Supplied.What do you say to someone who’s keen to start a vege garden but feels like Southland’s climate (or their rental, time, or budget) is a dealbreaker?Shelley: I promise it’s possible! There will always be roadblocks when growing your own food, no matter where you are on the journey - but there’s always a solution.Sometimes it starts with resetting your mindset and looking for proof that it can be done. People are growing food in Southland’s climate. People are growing food while renting, in small spaces, on tight budgets, and with busy lives.Start where you are and with what you have. It doesn’t have to be “grow it all or nothing.” Getting started with some herbs or one to two vege crops this season is perfect!Small spaces not a problem for growing veges. Photo: Supplied.What are some of the most common misconceptions about growing food at home in Southland?Shelley: Because our climate’s cooler and the growing season shorter, there’s a bit of a myth that we’re limited to swedes, potatoes, and cabbages down here.So not true! Over the last few years I’ve grown 50+ different fruit and vege crops - including apricots and oranges! We really can grow so much good food here; in fact, our cooler climate actually works in our favour for a lot of crops.Southland not limited in growing beautiful produce. Photo: Supplied.You share monthly garden tasks and seasonal highlights - what’s your favourite crop to grow, and why?Shelley: Ohhhhhh that’s a hard one - I love growing all the things! Watching a little flower in spring turn into tasty fruit in summer never gets old.Planting tiny carrot seeds and later pulling crisp, sweet carrots from the soil is always a thrill. But if I have to pick, the humble spud might take it: easy to grow, pretty forgiving, loves Southland, fun to dig up, and such a hearty staple.The humble spud, easy to grow and loves Southland. Photo: SuppliedTell us about a time something didn’t go to plan in the garden - and what you learned from it.Shelley: Every season something doesn’t go to plan - that’s just Mother Nature. Failed crops, forgotten crops, pest or disease blow‑ups, gnarly weather… it happens.The big learning is that you always get a re-do and usually gain new knowledge along the way. Every new growing season brings a fresh start with fresh energy and ideas. Having a go is the best way to learn!Your content often feels like a cuppa with a friend - is that intentional? What kind of community are you hoping to grow?Shelley: I don’t take things too seriously and I try to share small, simple, easy‑to‑action bits of info. Starting a new skill can be overwhelming, so small steps are how we make progress.And that’s what it’s all about: progress over perfection! I’d love to create a community of connection through food - sharing knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring one another, and letting that Southland spirit shine. Online and off!What are your top 3 starter crops for someone brand new to gardening in Southland?Shelley: Here are three to start with right now:Silverbeet – super easy to grow, it loves our climate, can be grown all year round and it just keeps on giving. It’s yummy cooked in a pan with butter and a bit of water or chopped thinly and added to a winter salad.Potatoes – easy to grow, a great staple to have in the patch, super versatile and everyone loves spuds! New spuds at Christmas time with mint and butter, yum!Salad greens – Salad Greens - an easy crop to grow from seed, very cost effective - one pack of seeds will cost you the same as a bag of salad mix at the supermarket, doesn’t take up much space, cut the outside leaves as needed and it keeps producing. Fresh salad greens for your sandwich or BBQ tea, delish.If readers take one thing away from your journey, what do you hope it is?Shelley: That we can grow a huge array of herbs, fruit, and veges in the Deep South!Take small steps season by season and before long your backyard will be filled with tasty, nutritious produce to feed yourself, your friends, family, and community - and leave you with a sense of pride and satisfaction like no other.Give it a go!Shelley’s pumpkin haul. Photo: Supplied.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardRoad status:OPEN from Te Anau to Milford Sound Drive with careComments:Snow showers are likely around the tunnel before daylight tomorrow (Friday) with 1-2cm possible, plough trucks will be operating when necessary - Please drive with care. A wet day ahead today but no delays are expected. An update will be provided this afternoon if the snow forecast changes.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Rain - heavy at times Tomorrow: Snow showers early Saturday: Mainly fine Sunday: Fine

A bid to combine Southland’s four councils is not the first time the topic has been discussed.Almost 40 years ago, the Local Government Commission responded to an Invercargill councillor’s disappointment that a single authority was not landed on during reform.The response followed a terse December 1988 letter from former councillor Terry King, questioning the commission’s decision making.Sweeping changes would come into effect the following year, heralding the introduction of Southland District Council, Gore District Council and Southland Regional Council — now known as Environment Southland.Invercargill City Council would also form, combining the City of Invercargill with Bluff Borough Council and parts of Southland County Council.King wrote that he was “firmly opposed” to an urban and rural separation, and called the restructure proposal a “disaster”.He lamented that the region was not moving forward with a single unitary scheme.The councillor's concerns were addressed by then-chairman Brian Elwood, who explained a law change in July 1988 had hamstrung the commission.“I think you would understand the sense of disappointment that commissioners felt in not being able to proceed with what it considered to be the best system of local government for Southland,” Elwood wrote.“But that is the name of the game.”Elwood said that he shared the councillor's sense of disappointment.Fast forward to 2025, and a shake-up of southern councils is once again on the radar.Southland mayor Rob Scott went live with a proposal in August 2024 to reorganise the four southern councils into two unitary authorities — one district-based and one urban-based — claiming it would save money, improve efficiency and reduce complexity.Last month, the commission announced it would investigate the proposal along with a range of other options.That move was welcomed by Gore mayor Ben Bell and Environment Southland chair Nicol Horrell.Bell said the commission had done a good job of trying to satisfy different concerns, while Horrell said the status quo was no longer fit for purpose.Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark has publicly backed a single authority, saying it could achieve a greater economy of scale.The commission's investigation is expected to take at least 12 months.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Reforms were supposed to eliminate the 'postcode lottery' for healthcare. But new data shows access to care for people needing a hip or knee replacement still varies massively across the country.Lynette Wall did not think her retirement would be like this. She dreamed of freedom, travel and ticking off her bucket list."I'm too scared to go anywhere," she says. She can't tackle the bucket list or do anything much, "apart from looking through a window".Three months before she was due to retire, she discovered she had severe osteoarthritis in her knee. She now walks with a cane and takes a self-prescribed combination of panadol and ibuprofen each day to manage the pain.Her world has shrunk. The long walks she loved are now short and full of fear her knee will either lock up, or give way. Social outings to places with stairs make her apprehensive, she sticks to territory she knows.She suspects she needs a knee replacement, but has no idea when this might happen. She has not even had a first specialist appointment at Middlemore Hospital which would assess whether she can join the surgery waitlist.A letter she received tells her the average wait time for the specialist appointment at Middlemore's Super Clinic is 47 weeks."I would like to stop things getting worse, I would like to stay out of a wheelchair if I can," Wall says.Data obtained by RNZ shows that at the end of January 2025 Middlemore Hospital had 654 people on the waitlist for knee surgery - the biggest hospital waitlist in the country - with an average waiting time of 223 days.While Wall's likely wait for surgery may seem long, she may be one of the lucky ones. She is more likely to get onto a surgery waitlist than people in places like Wairarapa, Taranaki or Southland, and her wait for surgery will likely be shorter.If Wall lived in Invercargill, her time spent gazing out a window instead of enjoying life before she could get surgery would likely be three times as long - a whopping 721 days, despite a smaller waitlist of 190 according to the same data. A few hours drive north, at Christchurch Hospital, the average wait time for the very same surgery is 107 days, the lowest in the country.New Zealanders needing hip or knee replacement surgery face a double-whammy postcode lottery. The bar to entering a waitlist differs across the country, as does the time it takes to get surgery once you are accepted to a waitlist.The postcode lottery - waiting timesBased on average wait times at the end of January, Southland hospital is the worst place to be if you need a knee replacement with 721 days, followed by Grey Hospital at 443 days. Christchurch hospital (107 days) is the only hospital meeting the target of treating patients on the knee surgery waitlist within four months.Patients needing hip replacements can also face long waits. Grey Hospital on the South Island's west coast is the worst for hips. The shortest waiting time was 128 days for Hawke's Bay Hospital, but this still exceeds the target of four months. Southland's average wait for 2025 was missing from data supplied to RNZ, but in 2024 it was 454 days.Average waiting times at different hospitals has changed over time, with some hospitals, such as Dunedin, experiencing several years with long wait times before improving.While wait times tell one part of the persistent postcode lottery story for hip and knee surgery, it is not the only factor. Patients in some areas need to be in a far worse way to even make it onto a waiting list than patients in other parts of the country.The postcode lottery - just getting on to the listBy the time many patients make it to Southland hospital's operating theatre for a hip replacement, their hip ball has practically imploded, according to Invercargill surgeon Chuck Luecker."The ball has gone from being round, to not just having spurs," Luecker says."Sometimes cysts form in the bone and sometimes you can collapse the wall of the cyst and the ball becomes deformed."Leuker estimates 40 percent of the patients who make it to surgery fall into this category."They're not getting surgery in less than six months."Patients in other locations get seen before they are in such a bad way. In Southland, patients have to have a score of 70 in a prioritisation tool to get surgery.In Canterbury, they only need a score of 50 and in Tairawhiti, just 20. People in Wairarapa have the toughest time making it onto a waiting list, with a score of 80 required.Luecker says this postcode lottery of surgery comes down to Southland Hospital's capacity."According to the Ministry, you're not supposed to offer anybody surgery that you can't provide in a timely way."Health New Zealand is working to standardise the bar to waitlist entry across the country. So far, this has been completed for cataract surgery but is yet to be put in place for orthopaedics such as hip and knee replacements.A report into the inequities in planned care published by the Office of the Auditor General noted standardising some treatments would incur additional costs for districts already under pressure.Luecker believes a one-off population decline is behind the hospital's current predicament. The decline was incorrectly taken as a sign Southland's population would continue to fall and when a new hospital was built the number of beds was reduced from 198 to 166. Of those 166 beds, only 157 were fully staffed.But, instead of decreasing, the population grew from 82,000 to 135,000.The hospital opened in the middle of the ski and flu season and immediately elective surgeries were cancelled due to a lack of staffed beds, he says."We were turning away people who were truly disabled, out of work, on a cane or a crutch, and struggling."Health New Zealand national chief medical officer Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard says work is underway to standardise the score for acceptance onto waitlists across the country, but she says there are challenges to do this over 20 separate districts."In some areas it's workforce challenges," she says. This means more staff are needed to increase the number of surgeries which can be completed and lower the acceptance score.In other districts, the number of people already on the waiting list needs to be reduced before the score can be lowered. "In some areas there's been disagreement as to what the standard should be," she says.Stokes-Lampard is unable to give a timeline for when entry criteria to surgical waitlists will be equitable no matter where someone lives. The current focus is on reducing the number of people waiting for surgery, and a funding boost to outsource procedures will tackle this, she says.In the 2024/2025 financial year, 990 hip replacements and 1061 knee replacements were outsourced to the private sector.Data at the end of January shows in total 4600 people were waiting on the public hospital lists for hip replacements and 3300 for knee replacements.There is concern the push to outsourcing could have perverse results long term."Outsourcing in the short term is undoubtedly very helpful for our waiting lists. In the longer term, you need to get the balance right of using the private sector so that you don't destabilise the public sector," she says. "That would be quite an own goal."Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Muholland Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDRChair of advocacy group Patient Voice Aotearoa Malcolm Mulholland sees the sense in outsourcing elective procedures to private hospitals as a short term method to get through a backlog of surgeries, but he's against it as a long term plan."We're basically paying twice. We pay tax, it goes into the public health system. Then the government finds they have a shortage of workers, and therefore they contract out at a higher rate to the private sector."A lack of staff is the biggest issue he sees, but says he is yet to see a workforce plan. Wages need to be increased to match other countries, such as Australia, to make New Zealand an attractive option.He is against the idea of 10-year-long contracts with the private sector."It's a move to privatisation," he says. "We're saying that no longer do we trust or have faith in the capability within the public health system, so rather than try and fix the public health system all we're going to do is outsource to private and they will charge a higher price."Since Mulholland started advocating for patients, he says he's seen a little less of the postcode lottery, but it's not because things are improving.He believes access for people in all areas of the country is worse, with a widening divide between rural and urban access to help.Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-FarrellyFor Lynette Wall, who may be waiting months to find out if she is eligible for surgery, daily life consists of cautious shuffling around her home. She's determined to not need a wheelchair."I want to stay independent, not need home help, which would cost the government money."Published by Permission

Invercargill mayoral candidates are questioning the motive behind the current mayor's brother's decision to stand for the city's top job.Not only is Andrew Clark going by two names - he is also running for mayor in two regions.Outgoing Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark's brother is known as Max Clark in Tasman, where he lives and hopes to become mayor.But other candidates seeking the Invercargill mayoral chains are familiar with an Andrew Clark, after he turned up at a code of conduct hearing to discuss Nobby's behaviour last year. During the meeting, he made his way to the council table uninvited, to introduce himself and thank them for their support.Deputy mayor Tom Campbell called the tilt for Invercargill's mayoralty a strange move and said he found Andrew "a slightly strange guy".Councillor Alex Crackett said the real test would be whether the community saw genuine commitment."I think it's been done to elicit a bit of a response. But the real question is whether it's wanted - and that's up to the community to decide which candidates have shown commitment, and are genuinely in it for the long haul," she said.But Andrew Clark said he was brimming with ideas for Invercargill."I'm very passionate about the people, the economics and the environment of Invercargill. And that's why I'm standing."Nobby was not convinced: "I thought he was taking the mickey, to be honest."He said he was caught unawares by the move, and he was concerned his brother might be leveraging off the family name - which would not be fair on the other candidates.Andrew Clark said that was not the case and that members of the local business community encouraged him to run - although he would not say who.He said he phoned his brother the night before announcing his bid.Published by Permission

Southland MP Joseph Mooney is throwing his political weight behind the future of Te Anau’s much-loved Bird Sanctuary with its future hanging in the balance and public submissions on how it can be saved closing today (Monday, 4 Aug).Almost 90 submissions suggesting a full range of ideas for the future of the park will now be considered after a “strong, positive and varied response”, mainly from the Te Anau-Fiordland and Northern Southland community, by yesterday’s submission closing time. (4 Aug)Mooney’s pushing to the have the sanctuary “retained or even expanded on” as he says it’s grown to be a “much-loved community space, a valuable centre for conservation or New Zealand’s native birds and a well sought-after Te Anau visitor attraction”.“I’ve been in contact with a range of individuals and groups who have an interest in this across the region,” he says.DOC, site owners Southland Fish and Game, iwi Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka and Great South asked anyone interested to share their thoughts on what the future of this site could look like last month.The public was given three weeks to come up with ideas and options, including ways to make the park financially viable with DOC opting out of managing the popular tourist attraction, located on Fish and Game land.Te Anau's kōwhiowhio/blue ducks were rehomed to Christchurch last week by DOC. Photo: Chris Watson/ProFocusHowever, DOC suddenly removed the park’s much-loved two kōwhiowhio/blue ducks last week, just days out from the submissions closing, and relocated them to Christchurch, saying that it was so they could 'continue to care for the site and the wellbeing of the birds and staff in a safe and sustainable way'.Mooney says he’s also made enquiries with DOC following the news that these whio had been moved.“I’ve been advised that due to staffing movements to other positions within the organisation, birds (apart from takahe) need to be moved to ensure the welfare of the birds is maintained at this stage,” he says.“Ultimately the ongoing care for the birds is DOC’s responsibility, and I look forward to the feedback the consultation process provides and steps to be taken thereafter.”Mooney says he’s keen to support discussions between the various stakeholders involved on the best way to ensure the birds continue to have a home at the sanctuary in Te Anau, while also working towards a sustainable long-term solution that will see the sanctuary thrive.Conservation Minister Tama Potaka is currently overseas and a spokesperson says he is unavailable for comment on the matter.Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston’s office say it’s an issue for DOC and she has nothing further to add.So far DOC doesn’t seem to have been able to give any assurance that other birds, except the park’s two prized takahe breeding pairs, won’t be rehomed while the future of the park is decided.There are now 14 birds at the park after the whio have been removed - four pāteke/brown teal, four Antipodes Island kākāriki and six South Island takahē, two of which are chicks.Great South General Manager of Regional Strategy Bobbi Brown. Photo: Great SouthGreat South General Manager of Regional Strategy Bobbi Brown says all 87 submissions received were “positive and constructive”.“People have been thinking about it and coming up with ways to retain the park keeping in character with what it is now to provide an experience,” she says.She couldn’t be specific about the content until she’d summarised the submissions and sent that to iwi Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka and Fish and Game to assess.“But there was definitely a range of possibilities communicated from enhancing what’s there now in different ways to expanding the bird species at the park.”Each submission reflected the perspective of the submitter from parents saying they’d taken the kids there since they were little and wanted that to continue to tourism businesses saying it was “an important part of Te Anau’s tourism offering”.“I was really impressed with how insightful the submissions were, right through into different funding ideas,” Brown says.“There were lots of ideas that would work. We haven’t evaluated the financial options suggested, as that will need more work.”Brown says the support is there from the community and people now seem “open to change”. “They’re thinking differently and are open to more options now,” she says.She didn’t want to pre-empt what the Rūnaka will do but there were now some great ideas for them, along with Fish and Game, to consider.“Nothing’s off the table. DOC have said that,” Brown says."DOC is open to ideas."“I commend the public. Some really good ideas have come through to be considered.”Brown said the next phase of the process is expected to be communicated in late August or early September.Save the Sanctuary coordinator Ken Browne’s group includes about 15 community members from doctors and schoolteachers to hoteliers, tourism operators and movers and shakers in the Fiordland business community.It includes a prominent person with extensive project funding expertise.He says their detailed five-page submission proposed running the sanctuary for the first few years while they got a long-term plan and funding in place.“It’s a beautiful park with fantastic potential and we would be happy to work with whoever it takes and form a trust together with Fish and Game, iwi and all the other stakeholders to move forward,” he says.The group is currently putting together a steering committee.“Our biggest concern is that there is open consultation,” he says.“We have a narrow window to save this park.”Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

Deacon Kyan-Wilde of Central Southland College has earned a coveted spot at the 2025 National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP), hosted by Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ).The intensive workshop will take place in Wellington from 20 to 28 September and will culminate in two public performances featuring scenes from As You Like It, The Tempest, and Julius Caesar.Kyan-Wilde is one of just 48 students selected from across Aotearoa New Zealand for this prestigious programme.From this group, 24 will be chosen to join the 2026 Young Shakespeare Company, which will travel to the UK to perform on the iconic stage of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

Location AreaSH 95 Te Anau to ManapouriDirectionBoth DirectionsLocation(s)095-0000/00.05-B - 095-0000/20.46-B SH94/95 INTERSECTION TO NA to NA TO NAEvent TypeArea WarningEvent DescriptionBlack IceEvent CommentsDue to black ice, caution is advised along this routeImpactCautionAlternative RouteNot ApplicableStatusActiveExpected ResolutionUntil further noticeEvent Start Date04/08/2025 09:32

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Expect normal overall travel times – Please drive with care. Minor delays around the Homer Tunnel today for a rock scaling operation, with stoppages planned to be less than 10 minutes. Any queries, please call 03 249 7004.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Fine Tomorrow: Fine Wednesday: Showers Thursday: Rain Friday: Showers 

Queenstown based driver Caleb Macdonald and his Australian co-driver Larisa Biggar in their Mitsubishi EVO 6 powered home to win the 2025 Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally in difficult conditions on Saturday. It was a special day for Macdonald as he notched up his first outright rally victory.Macdonald won the opening stage before Tim Smith of Christchurch in his Subaru Impreza H6 took the lead after winning the second.Smith retained the lead after Stage 3 which was the first of three in a row won by James Worker of Mossburn in his EVO 6.However, Worker was pushing hard to overcome a time deficit after problems early on so it was Macdonald who reclaimed the overall lead after finishing third in Stage 3 and second in Stage 4.He took the final Special Stage from Worker to claim the overall rally victory by 39.5 seconds from the impressive Tim Smith/Ben Trevelyan with Worker/Campbell Tannock third, just 3.5 seconds behind Smith. Smith was awarded the Class H win after his performance.Top seed Andrew Graves was out early after finishing fourth in the opening stage with a fogging windscreen and he was off the road and out of the event in Stage 2.“I was a bit frustrated and pushing hard after Stage 1. We are okay and it is a minor fix, just a shame for my sponsors, family and friends that we were out early on.”Second seed Robbie Stokes of Canterbury was fifth going into the final stage but a puncture plummeted him down the order.Carter Strang of Wallacetown finished fourth overall and won Class D with David Clearwater of Christchurch next followed by Deane Buist of Christchurch who was sixth as well as the first 2wd car home and the winner of Class C.Derek Ayson of Gore was seventh in his Opel Manta taking out Class G in the process while Josh Keighley of Christchurch in a Subaru H6 was eighth with Jeff Judd in another H6 Subaru and his son Taylor Judd (Toyota Corolla) rounding out the top ten.Other class winners were Paul Preston of Te Anau who won Class E after finishing twelfth and Ian Warren of Dunedin who took fifteenth place to win Class B.Warren also claimed the Glen Shirlaw Memorial Trophy for the first Otago Sports Car Club driver home. Paul Cross of Gore who finished eighteenth overall won Class F and Josh Silcock of Rangiora took out Class A in twenty-seventh place.Macdonald said winning the event, “was a very special moment.To win the Barry Robinson Memorial Trophy on the occasion of the Eastern Southland Car Club’s 50th Anniversary with family watching was very special.”Macdonald has ties to the area having previously come from Gore. He also thanked co-driver Larisa, the club and his service crew.“We struggled early, there was torrential rain in Stage 1 and we pirouetted down the road backwards at 120km/h in Stage 2. I gave myself a stern talking to after that!”Tim Smith was happy, saying “it was a fantastic day. It compares with our win in the 4wd class of the Otago Classic Rally.""It was amazing to get a podium in an H6 car. It was a good battle all day with Caleb and congratulations to him on the win.”Worker was pretty happy with his day. A foggy windscreen on Stage 1 meant he had to battle back from a 39 second deficit.“We had to climb back up the order. It was a rough day in the morning but they were really good roads, a good event and well organised.”In a lovely touch Anna Robinson, one of Barry’s daughter’s won the Barry Robinson Memorial Challenge Trophy for the first Central Otago Motorsport Club member home after finishing in twenty-sixth place as co-driver to Chris Lange in a Ford Escort MK2.The trophy was presented by Barry’s wife and Anna’s mother, Jane, and other family members.Top seed Graves had retired in Stage 2 which also claimed Craig Abernethy of Gore with mechanical troubles and both Tony Aimers of Wellington and Harri Silcock of Rangiora with broken axles.In Stage 3 Australian Richard Galley went off the road and out of the rally while Rhys Dunsmuire of Christchurch retired with overheating.Winton’s Steve Gill went out with mechanical troubles one stage later. Brody Cattermole of Temuka had mechanical problems in Stage 1 and rejoined only to fall foul of more problems and retire in Stage 6.Cattermole won the Zestino Tyres NZ Special Award as it was his first rally and his twenty-first birthday.Lauren Mackersy of Dunedin won the Gore Flooring Xtra Colourplus Novice Driver Challenge while Anton Montgomerie, Paul Garlick and Konrad Ward took the novice co-driver awards.Craig Jessop, Clerk Of The Course for the event said his team would have preferred sunshine but, “you have to play the hand you are dealt.""The marshalls and set up crews did a fantastic job in atrocious conditions. Every stage went on time. The competitors loved the stages and the new combination of roads.”

Man Arrested For Multiple Rural Car Burglaries, DrugsA 45-year-old man will face multiple charges, including four charges of burglary and possession of methamphetamine, in the Invercargill District Court on 18 August after a spate of expensive vehicle thefts from rural areas and Central Southland recently.Sergeant Chris Maguire says expensive private and farm-related vehicles were stolen from various properties and he’s warning farmers and rural property owners to lock and secure their vehicles and properties. “Most rural burglaries and thefts occur at properties with no to little security in place,” Maguire says. He’s warning that a few minutes taking adequate precautions can save the financial loss and inconvenience of having important vehicles and equipment stolen.“These are quick jobs that can be as simple as storing equipment securely away from public view and locking gates and sheds,” he says. Farmers and rural landowners should photograph their important assets and possessions, such as equipment and vehicles, and log any serial numbers that they may have.“This is the most effective way to be reunited with your property if it’s stolen and recovered,” Maguire says. It’s also a good idea to install sensor lights, CCTV cameras, signage, pin-code gates and driveway or building alarms, especially in rural areas.Investing in any method of prevention is better than having any items or equipment stolen as these can be expensive to replace or go without. Call For Public Information – Teenage car thefts and joy ridePolice are still investigating a spate of Invercargill vehicle thefts, attempted ones and interference with other vehicles overnight on 5 July for which two 13-year-olds were taken into custody at the time. One of the stolen vehicles belonged to an Uber driver, who’d left his car briefly to deliver food on Tweed Street, returning to find it gone.Tools were also taken from a local retail store, and Police are urging anyone with information to come forward. The stolen Uber vehicle had been involved in multiple petrol thefts across the South Island, including Dunedin, Oamaru, Ashburton and Christchurch, where Christchurch Police had received reports of dangerous driving by the driver of the stolen vehicle.Repeat Drink Driver Clocks Four Times Legal Limit in InvercargillA 43-year-old man clocked 1100mcg, more than four times the legal limit, and has been charged with drink driving – third or subsequent, after a traffic stop in Invercargill late on Thursday evening (31 July).Acting Inspector Mel Robertson says Police were alerted to a suspected drink driver leaving a local licensed premises at around 10.30pm. “Officers located the vehicle shortly after and conducted a stop on Regent Street,” she says. “The driver admitted to consuming a significant amount of alcohol.” An evidential breath test returned a result of 1100 micrograms per litre of breath – more than four times the legal 250mcg adult level.The man has been charged with excess breath alcohol, third and subsequent and will appear in the Invercargill District Court.She says Police commend the responsible actions of ILT staff who raised concerns, allowing officers to intervene before further harm could occur.Fire Exercise in Old Hospital BuildingWhile it’s a good thing Southland has been relatively fire free in recent weeks, local Fire and Emergency bosses weren’t letting crews kick back and rest on their laurels. FENZ Southland Group Manager - Assistant Commander Dean Chalmers says 36 local firefighters from Invercargill and Bluff – 14 full-timers, himself and another senior manager, plus 20 volunteers, all took part in a practice exercise in one of the old buildings at Kew Hospital on Thursday evening (31 July).“It was a significant training event so that everyone could keep in tune with their skills because it’s been so quiet,” he says. A mock fire was recreated using smoke generation. “It was a really good exercise, tough on the crews and physically demanding, but everyone performed really well,” Chalmers says.Lock Those Vehicles and Go Stags!While Police are warning they won’t be tolerating any disorderly behaviour at tomorrow’s (Saturday, 2 Aug) Stags v Otago rugby clash in Invercargill, the city’s volunteer Community Patrol won’t be tolerating any tampering outside the grounds either.Invercargill Community Patrol chairman Brian Dunick says they’ll be patrolling the car parking areas and streets surrounding Rugby Park where traditionally Police would have between 10 and 20 complaints of the likes of thefts from cars and car break ins during a big rugby game at the park. “We’ve been patrolling though in recent years, and they now don’t get any of those reports,” Dunick says.Just as well they’re there as Dunick says they sometimes find parked vehicles unlocked outside the ground, maybe the occupants were in a rush for a good seat in the stadium. “We found a Holden Colorado twin cab ute once with a window partially down and a laptop sitting on the back seat!” In those situations patrollers try to wind up the window as best they can and leave their calling card on the dash to warn vehicle owners to be more careful next time. The matter is logged with Police.“We start patrols at about 4pm and will be monitoring the car parks to ensure people’s vehicles are safe from anyone interfering with them, behind Splash Palace, off the end of Mary Street, down around Forth Street and in the surrounding residential streets where people park,” he says.Meanwhile, Police are encouraging fans tomorrow to enjoy the evening responsibly and look after one another.With a strong turnout expected at Rugby Park, Police will be actively patrolling both the stadium and surrounding areas throughout the evening. Our goal is to support a safe, fun, and family-friendly environment for all attendees.“We want everyone to have a great time and support our team on Stags Day,” says Area Prevention Manager, Acting Inspector Melanie Robertson. “That means keeping alcohol consumption within reason, having a plan to get home safely, and looking out for your mates.”Police remind attendees to:Drink responsibly – know your limits and pace yourself.Have a transport plan – arrange a sober driver, use public transport, or book a taxi.Look after your mates – stay together and check in on each other.Be respectful – to other fans, staff, and emergency services.Disorderly behaviour won’t be tolerated, and Police will be on hand to ensure everyone can enjoy the game in a safe and positive atmosphere.Let’s make it a night to remember for all the right reasons. Go the Stags!

Not being able to vote when it mattered most has prompted an Invercargill mana whenua representative to stand for council.Pania Coote has represented Te Rūnanga o Awarua at Invercargill City Council since 2021 when two mana whenua roles were introduced.The appointees were given voting rights at committee level but not full council.Coote said she had gained an in-depth knowledge about council operations, but the voting restriction had shown the “limits of symbolic inclusion”.“Literally I could participate on the sub committees and contribute greatly, but when it came to the final decision at the council table, unfortunately I didn’t have the vote.“Representation must be more than just a presence and must have influence, so that’s why I’m standing for council.”Coote said her commitment was driven by responsible leadership, efficient governance and tangible progress on issues which mattered most to the community.Council needed to be driven by energy, vision and practical-type leadership, she said.Voters don't select mana whenua representatives at local body elections, but rather they are put forward by their respective rūnanga.In response to questions, council manager governance and legal Michael Morris explained the Local Government Act meant only elected members could vote at full council.Including mana whenua roles on committees was a decision made at the start of each term by way of a vote, he said.“This is usually put to council at the inaugural meeting, so I’d expect this to happen at the beginning of November after the October election.”How much the representatives were paid was also determined by the incoming council.Nominations for October's local elections closed at midday on Friday.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Planning to make Fiordland's embattled Te Anau Airport Manapouri viable and self-sustaining has seen three members of the facility's governing group visit North Island regional airports recently for practical insights into the management and operation of a regional airport.Originally constructed in the 1960s, the airport was upgraded in 2008 after being taken over by the Southland District Council (SDC). However the facility has since been plagued with high costs, low visitor numbers and restrictive building conditions which have all been blamed for its continual losses and a drain on local ratepayers.In May 2023 the SDC set up an airport review committee and tasked Great South with coming up with an initial report. In January 2025 the decision was made to proceed with a business plan which is expected to be completed by June 2026.Southland District Council (SDC) Mayor Rob Scott, Councillor, and the group's chair, Sarah Greaney, and SDC’s Fran Mikulicic visited Taupō, Whakatāne, and Tauranga airports.Progress on the ground has also seen a new hangar leased last month (Jul), and negotiations currently underway for three more.Initial concept designs for “hangar homes” - including standarised colour palettes - have also now been developed, with sizes expected to range from 500 to 900 square metres.Efforts to rebrand the airport include a new logo and entrance signage, with space to promote tenants and create a more welcoming first impression.The airport’s designation conditions have also been reviewed and met, and a new designation—incorporating future development and flight path changes—with an updated timeline for public consultation expected in August.Infrastructure planning is progressing, with wastewater designs ready for tender and work underway on water, electricity, and firefighting systems.An application to MBIE’s Regional Investment Fund seeks support for runway maintenance and emergency upgrades, has also been submitted.889 lands and one event have taken place at the airport in the first six months of 2025.Overseeing the transformation is a governance group, chaired by Cr Sarah Greaney and including Mayor Scott, Fran Mikulicic, SDC Chief Executive Cameron McIntosh, and Fiordland Community Board Chair Diane Holmes.

Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark is not backing his brother’s attempt to take over his job when he finishes up this election.Nelson-based Andrew Clark is running for mayor in the southern city while simultaneously standing for Tasman district mayor.Up there, he is running as Maxwell Clark.Andrew Clark, who also goes by middle name Maxwell, is standing for mayor at opposite ends of the South Island. Credit: Supplied.The move has irked big brother Nobby, who is finishing up as mayor after just one term at the helm.“I do not support my brother’s nomination,” mayor Clark told Local Democracy Reporting.“Why is he using Andrew and not using his known name (Maxwell) – while he is also standing for the Tasman mayoralty for the fifth time?”Andrew Clark said he told Nobby he was running for mayor on Thursday after his nomination went in.He hadn’t said anything earlier because he didn’t want to rely on "connections".It could be difficult to get hold of Nobby, he said, and he didn’t want to overload him in light of recent health issues.The Invercargill mayor was hospitalised in late June following a minor stroke.Andrew wasn’t sure why his brother hadn’t taken the news well, but said the two were conversing.“I think there’s a lot of stresses and strains in his life,” he said.As for Invercargill, Andrew said he had been there “a few times” and would move down if successful.“I have a belief that ratepayers should come front and centre, and as a mayor I would treat the public’s money in the same way I treat my own — carefully, intentionally and with accountability.”The mayoral hopeful is not completely unfamiliar to council.At a June 2024 meeting, he surprised elected members by making his way to the table mid-meeting to introduce himself and thank them for being supportive in a time of need.Mayor Clark was under fire at the time for a code of conduct matter relating to comments he’d made at a private event a few months earlier.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air