.Many of these roadworks are subject to good weather, so dates may change if this is not the case.Highways South work with temporary traffic lights or stop/go and temporary speed limits this week:SH1 Bluff highway at Awarua for pavement renewalSH1 Tay St between Kelvin and Deveron St, eastbound closure from 6pm – 6am Sunday 23rd Feb for asphalt renewalSH6 Winton-Lorneville highway at Counsell Road for pavement repairsSH6 Winton-Lorneville highway at Branxholme-Makarewa Road for pavement repairsSH6 Winton-Lorneville highway at Flora Road for pavement repairsSH94 Milford Road in Te Anau for chipseal resurfacingSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway from Hillside-Manapouri Road to Wilderness Road for chipseal resurfacingSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway at The Key for chipseal resurfacingSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway at Gorge Creek for chipseal resurfacingSH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway at Springhills for pavement repairsSH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway at Oreti Plains for pavement repairsSH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway between Drummond Oreti and Spar-Bush-Winton Roads for chipseal resurfacingSH96 Glencoe highway at Glencoe for pavement renewalSH99 Riverton-Wallacetown highway at Bickley Road for chipseal resurfacingSH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki highway between McCracken's Rest and Tuatapere surface repairsSH99 Main Road Tuatapere near Jenkins Road for pavement renewalThird party work and events with traffic management in place this week:SH1 Clyde St Invercargill, lane drop for watermain workSH1 Clyde St/Tweed St roundabout, lane drop for kerb and channel repairsSH95 Manapouri-Te Anau highway at Manapouri, stop/go for trenchingSH95 Manapouri-Te Anau highway near William Stephen Road, stop/go for tree maintenanceSH98 Lorne Dacre Road near Lorneville, stop/go for drillingSH94 Te Anau-Mossburn highway at Centre Hill, stop/go for tree fellingUpcoming work/eventsMarch – SH96 at Wreys Bush, pavement renewalMarch/April – SH99 at Lorneville, pavement renewalUseful 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.

A reimagined "player of the day" certificate - called the Manawa Tītī award, has been introduced by a number Southland sporting codes. It is hoped the new award, which includes free passes to Splash Palace, will promote healthier lifestyles for tamariki.Te Wharekura o Arowhenua principal Gary Davis named the award in honour of the muttonbird's heart, symbolising strength, determination, and whānau connections.The initiative has already garnered support from nine Southland sports codes, including touch, rugby league, football, cricket, hockey, netball, softball, water polo, and Kī-o-Rahi, with 7,000 passes available in the first year.Invercargill City Council's Steve Cook praised the program for encouraging healthy living through positive incentives."The aquatic centre offers a space for tamariki to create memories with their whānau and friends," he said.The initiative has received widespread backing from local sports organisations, including Southland Cricket and Southland Football.

A southern council failed to care for its wetlands, with a judgement describing those in the region as “significantly degraded in recent decades”.Legal proceedings were lodged against Environment Southland in September for a range of issues including not taking appropriate action against wetland drainage or investigating and enforcing where it was known.The applicant, Environmental Law Initiative, claimed more than 2709ha of wetlands were lost in Southland between 1996 and 2018 — almost half of the country’s total loss since that early date.A High Court ruling was released on Tuesday stating the council had failed to monitor the state of the environment for wetlands and their drainage, as was required by the Resource Management Act.It had also failed to take appropriate action, and did not comply with sections of the Resource Management Act in regards to proposed and operative plans, the judgement said.ELI senior researcher Anna Sintenie said her group was "really happy" with the outcome.“We’re hoping that the council really reflects on the decision and where their failures have been shown to exist.”A lot of ecosystems hinged on the existence of wetlands but there were not many left compared to historic amounts, Sintenie said.She hoped the ruling would prompt the council to target its response to where the main issue lay — unconsented drainage.“Southland will need to step up a bit in terms of its monitoring . . . and also the rules and provisions that it has, and how it's using those to protect wetlands.”The council released two reports on wetland loss the same month it was taken to court, painting a grim picture of the situation.They showed Murihiku Southland had experienced the greatest amount of wetland loss in New Zealand, and 98 percent was at the hands of farming and forestry.Since 2014-15, there had also been an 8 percent reduction in the total amount of wetland.The court judgement said it was uncontested that the region’s wetlands had been “significantly degraded in recent decades”.“The unchallenged evidence in this case refers to research which reveals that as much as 90 percent of the wetlands in Aotearoa New Zealand have been lost since 1850.”Wetlands were not only important habitats for native birds, fish, and plants but also a taonga for Māori, the judgement noted.Meanwhile, the council had not undertaken any further mapping of wetlands since a report in 2018 and did not accept it had failed to take sufficient action.Court action came on the back of ELI researching the issue and making enquiries with the council.In a statement, Environment Southland said the decision provided "helpful clarification" for how it had fallen short in meeting statutory obligations.The council was aware of issues with its water plan and was replacing it with a new one, as well as developing a wetland programme for monitoring purposes.The court ruling did not result in any orders being issued, but a noting that the council did not meet its statutory obligations.LDR is local body reporting co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air

Milford Road OPENNO Avalanche HazardSH94 will have resealing undertaken on Sunday 23rd & Monday 24th February from Te Anau Primary School to Caswell Road.Expect delays and minor detours during daylight hours.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Showers early morning and late afternoon.Tomorrow: Showers clearing afternoon.Sunday: Mainly fine.Monday: Showers.Tuesday: Rain.

DairyNZ research shows more than 40 percent of Canterbury and Otago-Southland farmers have moved to flexible milking to allow better work life balance.DairyNZ has tracked farmers adjusting their milking frequency depending on changing conditions, workplace enjoyment and better staff retention.Senior Scientist at DairyNZ Paul Edwards said flexible milking described patterns that fell between the standard once or twice a day frequencies, which had been around for a long time."The most common one is probably milking three times in two days or three in two as we call it, but there are variations of that such as milking 10 times in seven days which sets a weekly pattern."Paul Edwards said they conducted a study on a small range of farms to see how flexible milking affected sleeping patterns and found on average farmers got an extra 30 minutes of sleep per night.He said whether farmers gave flexible milking a go was down to personal preference."Some people like to spend the afternoon with the kids and then go back out and milk afterwards, others want to get the day wrapped up really early and others want to have that sleep in element of every second day."It's very much a case of different strokes for different folks."Edwards said at a national level about 21 percent of farmers were using fleixble milking during part of the season, but there is a bit of regional variation.Published by permission

There’s been a massive increase in Southland women seeking help, information or support for fertility issues in the past year with the estimated number increasing by almost 120% from 521 at the end of 2023 to 1140 at the end of last year.Fertility NZ CEO Lydia Hemingway says they’ve had to change how they do things with more focus on online support as a younger generation is coming through in their 20s and 30s.“We’re now getting women in their late 20s seeking help. They have a different communication style, and their preference is online.”“Usually we see late 20s, early 30s, even through to mid-40s now reaching out for support on their fertility journey,” Hemingway says.Some are waiting until they own a house to start families, or until their career is further ahead, concerned that they’re going to run into difficulty with age, she says.“It’s certainly tough, particularly with all the struggles people are going through with housing and jobs. It’s harder to start families.”One in four people in NZ are affected by infertility and in 50% of cases it’s the male not the female who is infertile while some infertility is merely unexplained, she says.Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle and keeping a healthy BMI can give both men and women a head start,” Hemingway says.“Keeping fit, avoiding alcohol and coffee, certainly no smoking and recreational drugs, and avoiding stress is important.Fertility treatment is generally publicly funded from 35 to 40 depending on individual circumstances, younger if women present with other issues, however, that can cut off much earlier if a woman’s BMI is too high, she says.“Unfortunately, that’s very hard for some cultures like Pacific people and Māori who naturally have a higher BMI and we support those women through,” she says.They’re also seeing more older women up to their mid-40s having babies.While medical infertility is the main issue, ‘social infertility’ is also on the rise where there’s no medical reason.This includes single women who haven’t found a suitable partner, or the likes of same sex couples who don’t have the natural attributes to produce a child and can’t find sperm donors or surrogates, Hemingway says.Egg freezing - ‘fertility preservation’, is also on the rise. “More and more we’re seeing women in their late 20s or early 30s asking about this, even people in relationships who aren’t ready to have a child yet,” she says.This can be hard on the body, due to hormone treatment, and the wallet, starting at just over $13,000, all privately funded.“Most people we help are wanting a baby now and we’re supporting them month after month. More and more people are seeking help.”While Queenstown, where they’ve seen a similar almost 120% increase from 142 to 311 women seeking help with fertility issues, has an in-person Fertility NZ branch support group, Southland’s is currently all online.Fertility NZ doesn’t receive any direct government funding, relying solely on the generosity of individuals, businesses and grant funding. Hemingway says it’s getting increasingly difficult with the big increase in women seeking support.“One in four women is a staggering figure. We have an army of incredible volunteers, but fundraising is really challenging out there now.”Southland mum Katie Sellwood is part of that army, and a fertility success story, now Mum to two beautiful daughters, four and two, after a six-year journey. She says women should always have hope.“There weren’t a lot of women in my age group (mid to late 20s) trying at that time so the in-person support groups we had then were great. I knew I wasn’t alone, although that’s now moved online,” she says.“It’s all about acknowledging people’s feelings, letting them know those emotions are valid and real, listening and providing information if it’s needed,” she says. “It can be quite isolating and all consuming. That was the hardest part.”Hemingway says it can also be hard for women who need to travel to the likes of Christchurch for their fertility treatment, repeatedly asking for time off work and having to explain why, so it’s important they have an understanding boss. Most are, she says.“It’s a privilege to be able to walk alongside people through their fertility challenges, whatever that looks like, and I’m so pleased that we can offer these services.”For information see: www.fertilitynz.org.nz

A large-scale search and rescue operation near Milford Sound, caused by a fishing boat failing to update rescuers after activating their emergency beacon, has led Police to urge better communication with authorities.Sergeant Alun Griffiths of Southland Police Search and Rescue says Police were called after the Rescue Coordination Centre’s Maritime Operations received a Mayday call for a vessel in distress in Poison Bay, 8 nautical miles southwest of Milford Sound, at 6.43pm on Thursday, 13 February.“A joint operation led by RCCNZ and supported by Police was launched, then at 7.14pm a personal locator beacon was activated from the vessel, a 7-metre alloy recreational fishing boat,” Griffiths says.There was no further communication so Southern Lakes Helicopters and Otago Helicopters carrying medical assistance, and Fiordland Marine Search and Rescue swimmers were deployed to investigate.“They located the vessel which had been towed off the beach area by another recreational vessel,” Griffiths says. “It was established they were no longer in any danger.”Police and RCCNZ want to reiterate that the activation of any distress signal will always result in a rescue response that will continue until authorities receive confirmation that the people involved are safe or have been rescued.“Unfortunately, the people involved failed to answer calls or communicate with authorities once safe, resulting in significant resources being deployed,” Griffiths says.“RCCNZ would like to remind boaties to always carry two forms of communication – a marine radio and a distress beacon,” he says. “Once a distress call is made by any means please ensure every effort is made to communicate with authorities.”

Farmer confidence in Southland has surged to its highest level in over a decade, rebounding from record lows in recent years, according to Federated Farmers’ latest Farm Confidence Survey.The report highlights that falling interest rates, rising incomes, and more favourable farming rules have significantly contributed to this positive shift.Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford noted a significant change in the mood of rural New Zealand."Farmers are feeling a lot more positive," he said."The last few years have been bloody tough for many of our farming families, with falling incomes, rising interest rates, and unpaid bills piling up on the kitchen bench."Langford emphasized the challenges of an incredibly tough regulatory environment and impractical farming rules."These survey results paint a clear picture of a sector finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as some of that weight is lifted," he added.The January survey shows a remarkable improvement in farmers’ confidence in current general economic conditions, surging from a deeply negative -66% in July 2024 to a net positive score of 2%.This marks the largest one-off improvement since the question was introduced in 2016. Additionally, a net 23% of farmers now expect better economic conditions over the next year, the highest confidence level since January 2014.Profitability has also seen a sharp increase, with 54% of farmers now reporting making a profit, double the number from the last survey six months ago.Despite this positive trend, Langford cautioned that confidence is still only just in the positive."It’s been a remarkable recovery in farmer confidence over a short period, but we were coming off an extremely low base. We’ve come a long way, but there’s a long way to go yet."The survey results indicate that regulation and compliance costs remain the greatest concern for farmers, followed by interest rates, banks, and input costs.Langford emphasized the impact of government rules and regulations on farmers’ costs and confidence. "Those compliance costs can make or break your season and significantly impact a farmer’s confidence to keep investing in their business."Interest rates and banking issues have consistently been top concerns for farmers, prompting Federated Farmers to advocate for a banking inquiry."Interest payments are a huge cost for most farming businesses, and farmers have been under massive pressure from their banks in recent years," Langford said.The survey shows that farmers’ highest priorities for the Government are the economy and business environment, fiscal policy, and reducing regulatory burdens."For farmers to have the confidence to invest in our businesses, employ more staff, and grow our economy, we need to have confidence in our direction of travel as a nation too," Langford concluded.The report’s key findings include significant improvements in general economic conditions, farm profitability, and spending intentions, reflecting a sector on the path to recovery.

A much-debated CCTV project in small-town Southland has hit a speed bump amid a budget blow out.Upgrades to Winton’s camera network have been a point of contention ever since the Oreti Community Board voted them down in June 2024 — a move which went against both community and police opinion.But in August 2024, a working group was created to explore the possibility of progressing the project, so long as Southland District Council could provide extra information on particular issues.On Monday, the community board discussed two reports prepared by council staff on privacy, scope and costing.The new information showed the cost of installing up to six cameras had ballooned to as much as $130,000 plus GST, a significant jump on a 2024 estimate of $44,000 plus GST.A major factor was that the earlier estimate did not include all-of-life costs such as signage, consent, new poles and power.Former board chair and current member Colin Smith said the newly proposed budget was a large reason why a decision wasn't reached on Monday.“There wasn’t enough detail in it for all of us."I looked at it and I thought ‘well there’s a lot of money to be saved here’.”Smith said the working group also hoped to speak with Invercargill City Council about the CCTV cameras it had recently installed.Regardless, he felt they had made good progress with talks of a follow-up meeting in March.“Everyone’s sort of in agreement that we have to get on with it, come to a decision.”Discussions about replacing the current CCTV have been ongoing since the 2019 - 2022 triennia, the council said.The proposed changes include replacing four existing cameras which are now more than 10 years old and installing two new cameras at the northern and southern entrances to the town.Prior to the board voting down the CCTV upgrades in June 2024, it passed a resolution to remove the project from the long-term plan in December 2023.An August 2024 community meeting was attended by more than 200 people supporting the project.The $130,000 price tag was based on an independent cost estimate from an Invercargill quantity surveyor, while a $100,000 option was also a possibility but meant some options would be provisional.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Environment Southland has detected toxic algae in the Upukerora River at Te Anau Milford Road, marking the second Fiordland waterway to be affected by this harmful bloom in recent days.In 2023 a pet dog died from suspected toxic algae poisoning after play in the Upukerora River.Algae are a natural part of water ecosystems and often thrive in stable, fine weather conditions.While most algae are harmless, certain species can produce dangerous toxins and bloom rapidly.Key Information:Identification: Toxic algae typically appear as dark green or brown slime on rocks or as dark brown or black mats at the water's edge.Precautions: Water users should remain vigilant and avoid contact with the algae.Monitoring Limitations: Environment Southland cannot monitor all waterways, so similar algae growth may be present in other rivers in the region.Health Risks: Toxic algae pose significant health risks to both people and animals if ingested or through skin contact.Safety Measures: Keep dogs on leads and children away from affected areas. Seek medical attention immediately if health symptoms occur after contact with contaminated water. Take animals to a vet if they have consumed toxic algae or contaminated water.Toxic algae alerts are also in place for the Whitestone River downstream of Manapouri-Hillside Road and the Waiau River near the Excelsior Creek inflow.River users are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the appearance of toxic algae and stay informed through the Environment Southland's website.

A new ‘three-strikes’ system will be introduced across Southland in a bid to clamp down on reckless recyclers.On Monday, the Waste Advisory Group approved the system which meant offenders who received three red tags in one calendar year would lose their bin.A report prepared for the meeting showed the contamination rate in recycling bins for the three years to 2022/23 was around 20 percent.In 2023/24 alone, almost $340,000 was spent redirecting waste from recycling bins to landfill.Under the new system, offenders will have their recycling service suspended until they sign and return a reinstatement form.Southland District Council strategic manager water and waste Grant Isaacs said his council had not been able to enforce a ‘three-strikes’ system in the past but had sent letters which proved effective.“Once they get that education and know what’s happening, they get their act together,” he said.Southland mayor Rob Scott told Local Democracy Reporting a large driver for the new system was cost.Just one bin of waste could contaminate an entire load of recycling, forcing it to divert to landfill, he said.“If one person gets it wrong then it costs the rest of us.”The new system will begin March 31, and follows the reintroduction of bin inspections which began this month.It will only be rolled out in Invercargill and Southland, with Gore missing the cut due to not currently having a recycling service.Other councils around the country which have adopted similar approaches included Dunedin City Council, Tauranga City Council and Auckland Council.An update on the number of bins inspected and how people performed will be provided at a Waste Advisory Group meeting in April.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

In a stunning upset, Dipton shearer Corey Palmer clinched the South Island Shearer of the Year title on the second day of the Southern Shears in Gore.This victory marks one of the most significant achievements in recent Open-class shearing in New Zealand.Palmer, who had not won a final since his impressive run in the 2012-2013 season, including the 2013 Golden Shears Senior title, has been steadily improving.Just a week prior, he secured third place in the Otago Shears Open final.On Saturday, Palmer outperformed his competitors in one of two 20-sheep Open finals, winning by 1.167 points over runner-up Jack Fagan from Te Kuiti. Despite Fagan finishing first in 17 minutes and 19.34 seconds, Palmer's superior quality points secured his victory.Casey Bailey from Riverton took third place, followed by Marlborough's Angus Moore in fourth, Oamaru's Justin Meikle in fifth, and Wairarapa's David Buick in sixth.Palmer's win was the highlight of a busy day that included two preliminary rounds and the Southern Shears Open championship, where he placed sixth. Notably, Northland shearer Toa Henderson, who did not defend his title, focused on the Open final and emerged victorious, beating Bailey by just under half a point.Henderson's performance, including a win in the Otago Shears Open title the previous week, positions him as a strong contender for the upcoming Golden Shears Open title.The Southern Shears also featured impressive performances in other categories.Bruce Grace from Wairoa won the Senior final, South Australian Daniel Michelmore took the Intermediate title, and Oamaru teenager Tye Meikle continued his winning streak in the Junior final.Masterton's Aimee Atkin won the Novice event, and local shearer Emma Martin from Wyndham triumphed in the women's event, adding to her Senior woolhandling victory on Friday.RESULTS of the from the Southern Shears Shearing championships at Gore on Saturday, February 15, 2025:Inter-Island (10 sheep): North Island (Toa Henderson 8m 12.97s, 30.7485pts; David Buick 9m 13.78s, 31.489pts; David Gordon 9m 9s, 32.55pts) 94.7875pts, beat South Island (Leon Samuels 9m 0.03s, 30.8015pts; Brett Roberts 8m 55.93s, 32.0965pts; Nathan Stratford 9m 52.38s, 33.819pts) 96.717pts. South Island Shearer of the Year final (20 sheep): Corey Palmer (Dipton) 18m 12s, 59.5pts, 1; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti) 17m 19.34s, 60.667pts, 2; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 18m 33.84s, 61.092pts, 3; Angus Moore (Ward) 17m 20.72s, 61.986pts, 4; Justin Meikle (Oamaru) 18m 6.72s, 62.036pts, 5; David Buick (Pongaroa) 18m 21.5s, 62.425pts, 6. Southern Shears:Open final (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 16m 22.96s, 53.998pts, 1; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 16m 47.75s, 54.4875pts, 2; David Buick (Pongaroa) 16m 52.97s, 55.5485pts, 3; Rowland Smith (Maraekakaho) 17m 16.03s, 55.9015pts, 4; John Kirkpatrick (Pakipaki) 17m 15.4s, 56.52pts, 5; Corey Palmer (Dipton) 17m 33.7s, 56.635pts, 6. Senior final (10 sheep): Bruce Grace (Wairoa) 10m 14.28s, 37.914pts, 1; Brodie Horrell (Gore) 11m 13.97s, 38.2985pts, 2; John Cherrington (Oamaru) 11m 12.09s, 39.9045pts, 3; Blake McKenzie (Riverton) 11m 15.13s, 41.0565pts, 4; Dre Roberts (Mataura) 11m 18.84s, 41.342pts, 5; Richard Lancaster (Clitheroe, England) 11m 2.03s, 42.6015pts, 6.Intermediate final (5 sheep): Daniel Michelmore (Yorketown, South Australia) 7m 16.06s, 29.803pts, 1; Evan Rowbotham (Pontrhydfendigaid, Wales) 7m 13.44s, 30.472pts, 2; Connor Wilkinson (Wyndham) 8m 6.53s, 31.5265pts, 3; Paddy Dunne (Wicklow, Ireland) 7m 40.4s, 32.22pts, 4; Jet Schimanski (Gore) 8m 16.2s, 33.031pts, 5; Caleb Brooking (Mataura) 7m 57.19s, 33.8595pts, 6. Junior final (3 sheep): Tye Meikle (Oamaru) 4m 6.31s, 19.6488pts, 1; Joseph Scahill (Mayo, Ireland) 4m 9.68s, 20.8173pts, 2; Paddy Hudson (Hokonui) 4m 52.62s, 20.9643pts, 3; Reuben Wilkinson (Wyndham) 4m 28.22s, 23.7443pts, 4; Galaxy Waihape (Mataura) 6m 36.69s, 30.5012pts, 5; Ryan O’Neill (Alexandra) 6m 28.93s, 33.1132pts, 6.Novice (1 sheep): Aimee Atkin (Masterton) 4m 27s, 16.35pts, 1; Bridee Wilkinson (Wyndham) 5m 37.84s, 19.89pts, 2; Jake Watt (Owaka) 4m 3.91s, 23.2pts, 3; Abbey Mallise (Barraba, New South Wales) 4m 54s, 24.7pts, 4; Ffion Jones (Wales) 6m 16.66s, 26.83pts, 5; Kayden Gaffery (Owaka) 4m 30s, 31.5pts, 6.Women (3 sheep): Emma Martin (Wyndham) 5m 22.6s, 20.8012pts, 1; Emilia Melinng (Norway) 6m 2.78s, 24.139pts, 2; Ally Johnson (Barraba, New South Wales) 6m 43.59s, 25.8462pts, 3; Jana Sinova (Czech Republic) 6m 5.31s, 26.5988pts, 4; Cushla Abraham (Masterton) 7m 35.31s, 29.0988pts, 5; Tarryn Perriam (Gore) 8m 35.06s, 31.753pts, 6.

Southlanders made the most of outstanding conditions at the 2025 MLT Moonshine Trail near Gore on Saturday.A big field of 450 bikers, runners and walkers took part in a range of categories based around the Dolamore Park tracks, Hokonui trails and once-a-year access on private farmland.Active Southland chief executive Vanessa Hughey-Pol said the event was a great way to showcase Dolamore Park.“This area is one of the best parks in Southland and in some ways it’s a bit of a hidden gem,” Hughey-Pol.“The Gore District Council does a great job of maintaining this area and especially presenting it in such an amazing way for this event, and we really appreciate that.”Alexandra’s Jono Miller produced a blistering time in the hot weather to complete the challenging 50km course in 2hr 17min, well ahead of his veteran men’s competition including second-placed Justin Roy, who won the masters (50-59 years) category and third-placed Richard Mackley, who won the 40-49 veteran section.The women’s 50km race was a much closer affair, with just over three minutes separating winner Johannah Jagger from runner up Melissa Dennison and third placed Tania Miller.Competing in the 60 years and over category, Ian Ballam was the fastest home in the men’s 39km race, with Toni Eade winning the women’s race.Nathan Thomson and Emma Gould won the men’s and women’s sections of the 30km race.Craig Iverson and daughter Kimberley took out the 15km trail run, with juniors Lily Wiegersma and Hudson Roy winning the 5km run.Hughey-Pol said it was great to see fields growing across the categories. That included the growing popularity of the e-bike section and the number of families taking part across the 5km run/walk.“This year we also opted to create a new 2km walk and bike to make the event more accessible for young families and those getting a taste of their first event,” Hughey-Pol said.“With the support of the Hokonui Mountainbike Club we also included a new 12km mountainbike race which was a great introduction to some of the trails on offer in and around Dolamore Park.”Hughey-Pol said the successful event was only possible with help of many people across eastern Southland.“The MLT has been long-standing naming sponsor of this event and we are truly grateful for the ongoing support provided by Hokonui Mountainbike Club volunteers John Henry and Mike Johnston.”

One person has tragically died following a crash on the Niagara-Tokanui Highway at Quarry Hills, Southland, last night.Emergency services were alerted at approximately 8:35pm to a ute that had rolled between McManus Road and Quarry Hills Fortification Road.Sadly, one person was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other occupants sustained critical and serious injuries.The Serious Crash Unit is investigating the cause of the accident.

For Lyndon Cleaver, no two days are ever the same — but that’s just how he likes it.On a warm Saturday in February, the Southland harbourmaster is out on Lake Te Anau making sure people stay safe on the water.The following day, he’ll make a trip to Dunedin to check on a cruise ship which is en route to Fiordland.Cleaver will ensure the vessel meets its requirements for entering a UNESCO area and even stay on board until Tuesday when it arrives at Milford Sound.Who knows what Wednesday will bring.But today, he is guiding small aluminum boat Toroa out of the Te Anau marina to check on locals who are enjoying their weekend at the lake.Cleaver pictured next to the Toroa. His team is in charge of not only recreational boating, but also commercial boating and shipping. Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDRHe makes sure swimmers are safe within a marked area near a pontoon and flags down a man zooming on a jet ski.A brief chat about restrictions, and the speed enthusiast is happily on his way.While there’s the odd frosty customer, Cleaver says the majority are just happy to see him out on the lake keeping a watchful eye.It's a key feature of his role as Environment Southland’s harbourmaster, a position he has held in one form or another for 14 years.“We want everybody to go home to their loved ones at the end of the day and sadly Southland is over-represented in the number of boating fatalities,” he says.Behind the scenes, Cleaver’s team works hard to increase understanding of water safety, starting at a grassroots level.When he began in the role, there was no boating safety programme for schools.That has all changed and his team now brings not only their knowledge to the classroom, but also a boat for the kids to explore.It's a fun way of sharing an important message and it seems to be getting through.“Once upon a time you’d come down to the likes of Te Anau, and you would see people going out on their boats and not really wearing life jackets. But now the children are keeping their parents honest.”Southland’s boating habits are different to those further north, he says, with Labour Weekend and Easter bookmarking the season.The hot spots include Bluff, Riverton, Lower Ōreti, Lake Manapouri, and of course, Lake Te Anau.Cleaver says a lot of the people he sees around the lakes and Bluff tend to be from the rural community, taking some time away from the farm.And there’s a strange pattern he’s noticed from people who have made the trip from Winton and Drummond — they always seem to congregate in the same part of Lake Te Anau.Who are the biggest troublemakers?Cleaver says Jetskis have proven a popular entry-level option for boaties, but continue to create problems because of a lack of awareness around rules.It points to a wider issue in New Zealand where anyone can buy a boat with no obligation to register it or complete a safety course.He would like to see those safety measures normalised, as well as a bit more “common sense” around alcohol use.His parting mantra is simple: if in doubt don’t go out, always let someone know where you're going, don't push the limits, and come home safe to your loved ones.It’s not all about enforcing rules. Cleaver knows that the best way of getting through to people is with a calm approach and good conversation — something he's trying to put into action every time he hits the water.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Some speed-safety cameras around the country, particularly in the Wellington and Otago, are temporarily out of action, as Police hand them over to the NZ Transport Agency.NZTA is taking over camera management, after a 2019 cabinet decision.As part of that rollout, most fixed speed cameras in Wellington, and all of them in Otago and Southland have stopped issuing infringements - for now. Fines are still being given out from two fixed speed cameras in Wellington."Before cameras go live on our network, they go through a rigorous testing process," NZTA said. "Other organisations complete the tests and issue certificates."Cameras will not issue infringements while in testing mode."Police are continuing to enforce speeds with officer-issued infringement notices."Two Canterbury and four Auckland spot speed cameras were also being tested, bringing the total to 17 cameras across the country.The transport agency would not say how long the cameras would be out of action for.NZTA began scaling up the transfer of the speed cameras to its network in July 2024.Twenty-five cameras, mostly in Auckland, along with a small number in Northland and Waikato, have been transferred to its network so far.During the transfer period, the transport agency and police both issued infringement notices from different safety cameras.NZTA will issue all notices from cameras, once the transfer was complete. They will also take over responsibility for mobile cameras from Police during 2025.Sixty-two speed-safety cameras and 47 red-light cameras operate nationwide.Wellington cameras removed, missing partsCamera upgrades will also be done while cameras are being transferred to NZTA.Wellington residents will notice that the city's highest-grossing speed camera, located at Ngauranga Gorge, has been temporarily removed for equipment upgrades and testing."We expect the camera to be operational again soon," said a transport agency spokesperson.RNZ has also seen parts missing from a speed camera located on State Highway 1 at Thorndon.Published by permission

Environment Southland has identified toxic algae in the Whitestone River, downstream of Manapouri-Hillside Road.While algae are a natural part of waterways, certain species can produce harmful toxins, especially during stable river flows and fine weather.Key Points:Toxic algae appear as dark green or brown slime on rocks, or dark brown/black mats at the water’s edge.Water users should avoid contact with these algae.Environment Southland cannot monitor all areas, so similar algae may be present in other waterways.Toxic algae pose significant health risks to humans and animals if ingested or through skin contact.Keep dogs on leads and children away from affected areas.Seek medical attention if you experience symptoms after contact with contaminated water.Take pets to a vet immediately if they consume toxic algae or contaminated water.Additionally, toxic algae alerts are in place for the Waihopai River upstream of Queen’s Drive and the Waiau River near the Excelsior Creek inflow.CLICK HERE for more information.

Southlanders are passionate about their motorbikes and vintage vehicles, and our province is bursting with pride for its rich history in motorsport and the dedicated preservation of classic bikes and vehicles.Invercargill’s Classic Motorcycle Mecca stands as the Southern Hemisphere’s ultimate motorcycle museum, and is a true gem for enthusiasts and history buffs alike.And it was thrilling to see hundreds of motorcycle lovers from across the country converge on the South for the recent Burt Munro Challenge—now one of the country’s biggest and most exciting motorcycle events.Those Southlanders who own vintage cars, vintage motorcycles or privately owned motorhomes will therefore be delighted at just announced Government moves to reduce the frequency of Warrant of Fitness and Certificate of Fitness inspections.At present these vehicles must be inspected every six months – an unnecessarily onerous and expensive compliance requirement.The Government intends to consult on reducing the frequency of Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and Certificate of Fitness (COF) inspections for these vehicles.There are around 128,000 vintage vehicles in New Zealand, and about 39,000 private motorhomes, with many of them located here in this province.At present the owners of these vehicles must spend time and money on WOF or COF inspections every six months.That’s despite motorhomes and vintage light vehicles travelling much less per year compared to most modern cars, and evidence showing that faults in these vehicles are half as likely to have contributed to serious crashes involving these vehicles.This is true even when factoring in the smaller numbers of motorhomes and vintage vehicles on our roads.Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds. Photo: SuppliedI think these proposed changes are a positive move and one that will make vehicle enthusiasts in the South very happy.Public consultation on these changes will begin on 24 February 2025.Visit nzta.govt.nz to share your feedback, with the last day being 4 April 2025.Funded by Parliamentary Services

More than one quarter of Environment Southland employees could be affected by a proposed restructure at the organisation.On Thursday, the regional council released a proposal showing 54 of a total 212 current roles could be disestablished or significantly changed.The council has simultaneously proposed the creation of 59 new roles, resulting in an overall increase of five positions.A source said there were “lots of tears and a large group at the pub” as a result of the proposal going live.Local Democracy Reporting obtained a document released to staff which said there were “gaps in functions and capability” under the current model.“We need to continue to be accountable to our ratepayers and a significant aspect of that is that ensuring resources are in the right place,” the council said.The department most affected under the proposal was strategy, policy and science, which risked having 22 of its 56 roles either dissolved or changed.In exchange, it was proposed the team would get 19 new positions, resulting in an overall loss of three people.The integrated catchment management team looked to benefit the most numbers-wise, with a proposed net increase of five people.The council has said the restructure is not a move to reduce staff numbers but would reallocate budget and roles to fill gaps in capability.A three-week consultation begins today and will run until March 6, with a final decision to be announced April 3.No decisions would be made until after feedback was considered.Thursday’s proposal marks the second phase of restructure, which began last year with upper management.Emergency Management roles would not be affected by the proposed changes.Environment Southland have been approached for comment.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air