A report has exposed increasing nitrate contamination in Southland's groundwater, sparking a call from Greenpeace for a nitrate emergency to be declared in the region.The Southland Regional Council report said approximately 15,000 Southlanders could be drinking water polluted by nitrates.It pointed to the intensification of dairy farming as a key cause of growing nitrate levels.The report said nitrate concentrations in groundwater frequently exceeded 3.5 mg/L and in some places exceeded the New Zealand drinking water standard of 11.3 mg/L.More than half of Southland's domestic drinking water supply wells were estimated to have nitrate concentrations above 3.5 mg/L.The Ministry of Health considers the current maximum acceptable value (MAV) for nitrate appropriate, although some public health experts argue the drinking water limit is too high and potentially puts people at risk of pre-term birth and bowel cancer.Greenpeace freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe said the findings were alarming."It's made clear what many of us have known for quite some time, that nitrate contamination is a real crisis in Southland and the main cause of that contamination is the intensive dairy industry," he said."At a bare minimum it's time that Environment Southland declared a nitrate emergency. Environment Canterbury declared one last year for very good reason, it's clear that Southland has a drinking water crisis on its hands and it's a result of nitrate contamination."The report said the region's dairy boom had coincided with a decline in water quality and the region's groundwater was vulnerable to contamination.Between 1990 and 2022, Southland's dairy herd increased by 1668 percent from 38,000 to 668,000 cows.Otago University research fellow Marnie Prickett said Southland needed to reduce its dairy herd, and she was also calling for an independent inquiry into the regional council's land-use rules."Southlanders need Environment Southland to chart a really robust path out of this. It can't be tinkering around the edges it has to be driving confidently forward about what they're going to do," she said.The report said 44 percent of domestic supply wells (612) and 45 percent of registered public drinking-water supplies (18) were located within areas classified as having "high vulnerability to nitrate contamination"."here may be approximately 1,530 people on private supplies and 13,632 on public groundwater supplies at risk of exposure to high concentrations of nitrate in drinking water," the report said.Environment Southland general manager science Karen Wilson said although the report did not present new data, it brought together a range of information to give an integrated view of groundwater quality, nitrate sources, and health risks."This science formed the basis of the Southland Water and Land Plan, which was accepted by the Environment Court. The plan was the first step in responding to Southland's groundwater nitrate challenges," she said.Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick said declaring a nitrate emergency would be an overreaction and unhelpful."Nitrates aren't a new issue for Southlanders at all, and it's not just dairy, as a society and as a people we're all responsible for our challenges that we had. This is a long-standing challenge that the community have been aware of and working on for quite some time now," he said.The report said 71 percent of groundwater sites had shown increasing nitrate contamination over the past two decades.Hotspots included Balfour/Waimea Plains, Wendonside Terrace, Five Rivers/Castlerock, Edendale, Knapdale, Mabel Bush/Woodlands, Central Plains/Waimatuku, and Otahu Flat.Southland Regional Council freshwater principal scientist Ewen Rodway said the council was working to deal with the problem."We're continuing to monitor groundwater quality across the region, identifying these high-risk areas and using those to focus efforts such as focusing farm plans, and working with catchment groups to reduce nitrogen losses in those vulnerable areas," he said.Rodway said a decision about declaring a nitrate emergency sat with councillors.Published by Permission

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Tunnel & highway maintenance this week is ahead of schedule, with tonight (Thursday) being the final evening of work for this week. Expect up to 30-minute delays between 7pm & midnight, from the Divide to the Hollyford Turnoff. Please call 03 249 7004 with any queries.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Rain, heavy at times, clearing late morning. Tomorrow: Mainly fine. Saturday: Mainly fine. Sunday: Showers, mainly south of Lake Gunn, and fine spells. Monday: Mainly fine.

Antarctica New Zealand is on the hunt for 40 people willing to brave the sub-zero temperatures and work in one of the most remote places on Earth.The organisation is looking for everything from medics to chefs, electricians and engineers for its next summer and winter seasons at Scott Base.Antarctica NZ chief executive and scientific advisor Professor Jordy Hendrikx told Morning Report it's not necessary to have been to Antarctica."Basically, we are running a small town down there. We have to manage our own water, we have to manage our own power, manage our own sewage and also all the food and all the services will be provided to support science," he said."Any of those support roles are really critical for us to ensure that we can be successful with our mission down in Antarctica."Hendrikx said the majority of roles are for the 'summer season', which runs in Antarctica from September through to February. During summer in Antarctica, the sun doesn't set.About 12 staff stay all through winter until October, which is a 13-month season at Scott Base.The positions are in hot demand, as going to Antarctica, for many people, is a bucket-list opportunity.Hendrikx said successful applicants will have specific qualifications and a good, can-do attitude."We need that real can-do attitude and a willingness to be part of a family, and to work down there and to live down there as part of a really tight community," he said."It's more than a job."Published by Permission

Entertainment and Info with the Southland App – Where Southlanders Stay Connected!Looking for what’s happening around our region - or wanting to share something of your own? The Southland App is your one-stop destination for everything local, from major events to everyday community news.🎉 Events: Stay up to date with Southland’s biggest occasions - concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Don’t miss out on the moments that bring our region together. Have an event to promote? Feature it here and reach thousands of locals.A taste of upcoming Events:The Rock OrchestraGuided Tour of St Mary's BasilicaTussock Country - New Zealand's Country Music Festival📢 Public Notices: Find what’s happening closer to home - fundraisers, club meetings, school fairs, and community updates. It’s the perfect place to advertise your smaller events or share important local information.📲 Be Seen. Be Heard. Get Involved. Explore Events and Public Notices on the Southland App today - or advertise with us to make sure your message reaches every corner of Southland!💌 Want to advertise? We’d love to help spread the word for you. Email us at [email protected] to find out more.

A warning has been made about protecting assets at an Invercargill park that was once considered the city’s finest.Located near the centre of town, the Ōtepuni Gardens stretches about 1km from Clyde St on the west to Elles Rd on the east.But a report prepared for a city council meeting on Tuesday raised concerns about how heritage vegetation would be managed at the park under an Environment Southland bylaw.Iwi groups and individuals with permits could harvest flax at the gardens, and records from the early 1990s highlighted the importance of indigenous planting at the site, the report said.“If vegetation management was to be directed on similar lines under this bylaw as has been undertaken in the Waihōpai and upper Ōtepuni area then what remains of this heritage asset will be either significantly impacted or completely lost.”A key consideration for the gardens — which contains floodbanks — is its dissection by the Ōtepuni Creek.Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell said the gardens were an important heritage site and pointed out flooding had happened there in the past.Having walked through on Monday, he noticed heavily vegetated areas and hoped it was being managed in a way which allowed for both flood protection and the gardens.Council manager parks and reserves Caroline Rain said the balance was correct.The council report noted better modeling was necessary to understand the implications of the creek flooding because it currently relied on old information for the Ōreti and Waihopai Rivers.Councillor Andrea de Vries was concerned about rubbish and pollution in the stream, and queried how Environment Southland reported back to the city council.Rain said council staff working in the area removed things when it was safe to do so, but normally did that work alongside Environment Southland staff.Discussion about the area followed Environment Southland seeking feedback on its proposed flood control and drainage management bylaw, which was last updated in 2020.Ōtepuni Creek is a tidal stretch of water which runs between Kennington in the east and the Waihopai River in the west.The council said the Ōtepuni Gardens was considered the city’s “premier park” prior to Queens Park.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Tunnel & highway maintenance scheduled for evenings between 7pm & midnight, continuing tonight (Wednesday) through to Friday 27th February. Expect up to 30-minute delays between Homer Tunnel & Donne River Bridge during these times. Please call 03 249 7004 with any queries.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Cloud increasing, rain developing later. Tomorrow: Rain, heavy at times, clearing late morning. Friday: Mainly fine. Saturday: Mainly fine. Sunday: Showers.

Specialist Point to point ‘average speed’ cameras are to be installed on State Highway 6 between Kingston and Five Rivers by June in a bid to slow speeding drivers, after NZTA says a survey showed 26% of drivers were speeding in this area.Police, the Rental Vehicle Association of NZ, Fire and Emergency NZ and Te Anau locals are all very concerned that there’s a serious accident waiting to happen between Queenstown and Milford, with Te Anau Police attending crashes, not all due to speed and mostly involving overseas drivers, every day.New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) Maintenance and Operations Regional Manager Peter Brown says these cameras will calculate an ‘average speed’ clocked by drivers along that stretch and they will be ticketed accordingly.“These cameras are proven to help change driver behaviour,” he says.Police say long lines of drivers also become impatient when unable to pass slow drivers unfamiliar with the roads safely in areas like the southern Devil’s Staircase and that frustration can cause accidents.Brown agrees that speed on the Queenstown to Milford route is “a serious issue” and “the single biggest risk to both road users and road workers”.A rental van makes its way to Fiordland's tourist gem, Milford Sound. Photo: Southland App“We strongly encourage people to allow sufficient time for the journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound, and to consider basing themselves in Te Anau, or travelling by bus,” Brown says.An Intersection Speed Zone (ISZ) is also proposed for the State Highway 6-State Highway 97 intersection at Five Rivers using electronic signs to automatically and temporarily lower the main highway speed limit when a vehicle is approaching or turning from a side road.“The proposed ISZ at Five Rivers would temporarily show an enforceable lower speed limit of 60km/h, compared to the usual 100km/h,” Brown says.This would make it easier and safer for people to pull into or out of State Highway 97 across a high-speed rural road, while avoiding unnecessary delays.Safety upgrades on the site already have included improved lighting and a right-turn bay.Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the speed limit on State Highway 94 between Homer Tunnel and Milford Sound would remain at 80km/h.Southland MP Joseph Mooney says he’s long been pushing for passing bays between Queenstown and Kingston and between Mossburn and Te Anau.Fiordland locals have too, amid serious concerns about the dangers being posed to all road users.They’re concerned there are no ‘Keep Left’ passing lanes or pull over bays between Queenstown and Milford.Te Anau's John Turner said he has been pushing for pull over or passing bays on the Queenstown to Milford Road for years. Photo: Southland AppResident John Turner’s been pushing for these for a number of years as part of a Mossburn Lions Project, fully supported by the local National Party branch, the Police, the Mossburn and Te Anau Fire Brigades, and the community.However, NZTA’s Brown says there are “currently no plans for the addition of passing lanes to the Queenstown-Milford route (SH6-SH97-SH94)” as these are “normally considered for roads with higher traffic volumes”.However, slow vehicle bays will be put forward for funding consideration for the next National Land Transport Programme (2027-30), he says.The Milford Road Alliance (NZTA-Downer) is also working with DOC to improve access to existing stopping points (way-stops) along the journey and investigating additional way-stops to assist traffic flow and ease congestion at Milford Sound itself, Brown says.Mooney says the bid for passing bays made it onto National’s campaign policy for the 2020 election “but other priorities around NZ had to receive funding ahead” due to things like weather events.“We will keep lobbying for NZTA and the Minister of Transport to make these available,” he says.Mooney says there seems to be no immediate answer to the problem and he’s open to hearing good ideas. Education when tourists collect their rental vehicles would seem like a good idea, he says.“If someone is not familiar with our road rules, driving on the left-hand side of the road, it would be good for them to get some information in a readily digestible way so they can understand the fundamental road rules.”Transport Minister Chris Bishop told Southland App recently “all foreign drivers should learn New Zealand’s road rules before driving”.“Most crashes involving overseas drivers happen for the same reasons as those involving locals; only a minority are due to not adapting to New Zealand conditions,” he says.“Excessive speeding and dangerous driving are serious issues that put lives at risk.”The Government is investing $1.335 billion from the National Land Transport Fund in road policing from 2024 to 2027. Efforts focus on tackling risky behaviour, like speeding, Bishop says.Police Minister Mark Mitchell also said recently it is “incumbent on all drivers to understand and abide by our road laws”.“Those who do not put their own safety and the safety of others at risk. This is unacceptable, and I expect Police to take appropriate action by enforcing the law.”Rental Vehicle Association of NZ CEO Ben McFadgen says they’re very concerned about the alarming increase in speeding drivers and near misses and he’s keen to talk to Police and the community about the problem.They’ve already approached the authorities about getting the heads up ahead on speeding drivers.Some members have already put immobilisers into vehicles so at 135km/hr to 140km/hr drivers are warned. Next time they reach that speed the vehicle is immobilised after they’ve stopped.He said recently they would “conceivably look at some sort of intervention if the community believed there was a need due to the perceived risk of driving into Milford”.“It’s in our interests as we get all sorts of damage otherwise,” he said.McFadgen is meeting with NZTA representatives again this week in a bid to get some urgent action and find suitable solutions, after an initial meeting last week.Brown also says outside of the ongoing enforcement by Police and road safety campaigns by NZTA, “a number of initiatives are proposed, underway or have been carried out to increase the safety of users of this route”.Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

New powers allowing police to move homeless people out of public spaces will just take the issue "out of sight", a Southland social service agency says.But two of the region’s mayors have not shown the same concern, questioning whether the change would impact their patch.On Sunday, the government announced it would give police greater power to issue “move-on orders” to address disorderly behaviour in public.The powers also apply to all forms of begging and rough sleeping, and require people as young as 14 to move a reasonable distance as decided by police.Salvation Army Invercargill community ministries manager Cathy Strong said her initial reaction was that “homelessness is not a crime”.People came into the Salvation Army every morning for food and coffee, she said, and liked to connect, be seen, and be heard.Salvation Army Invercargill community ministries manager Cathy Strong and major Murray Sanson at the organisation's food bank in November. Credit: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR."It appears that they’re trying to hide them and move them on so they’re out of sight.”Strong said what was actually needed was more support for the likes of housing, mental health and addictions."It would just make more sense to invest in that for a long-term change rather than just move them out of sight."Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell said rough sleepers tended to sleep in parks and the outskirts of the city.“We don’t really have people sleeping right in the city centre, so I would be surprised if the police were going to be concerned about that,” Campbell said.The mayor would not be pressed on the government’s announcement, saying there was no reason for him to weigh into the debate.Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell said rough sleepers did not stay in the city centre. Credit: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR.In November, the Salvation Army shared issues at play in Invercargill, including homeless being displaced from the city’s parks due to the October storm.Gore mayor Ben Bell also did not think the change would have much impact, particularly in rural areas.“There’s still a lot of water to run under the bridge. I think ultimately, you’ve got to deal with systemic issues rather than just moving people on and hoping the problem goes away, but I’m sure that will be ironed out as the legislation passes through.”Bell said he had heard the initiative was mainly targeted towards those who didn’t want to accept help from social services or the government and preferred to "sleep on the streets and act like they own them”.Southland mayor Rob Scott could not be reached for comment.The new powers are being implemented under the Summary Offences Act and apply to a range of activities and behaviours including threatening and obstructing entry.In a statement, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said currently police have limited options to respond, particularly when it doesn’t reach the level of offending.“Our main streets and town centres have been blighted by disruption and disturbance. Businesses are declining as some bad behaviour goes unchecked. It needs to stop."LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Police have now spoken with the driver of the vehicle involved in a fatal crash with a pedestrian in Te Anau's Town Centre yesterday (23 Feb).Emergency services responded to the crash at around 8.45am yesterday, which resulted in the closure of part of the Town Centre and Miro Street.Police said they were continuing to appeal for any information from witnesses of the incident, or anyone who may have dashcam footage of the crash, or the moments before it.Anyone with information is asked to contact Police as soon as possible online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105.Please use the reference number 260223/7970.Police said they would be releasing information about the pedestrian, who sadly died, when we are in a position to do so.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Tunnel & highway maintenance scheduled for evenings between 7pm & midnight, continuing tonight (Tuesday) through to Friday 27th February. Expect up to 30-minute delays between Homer Tunnel & Donne River Bridge during these times. Please call 03 249 7004 with any queries.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Cloudy, becoming fine Tomorrow: Cloud increasing, rain developing later Thursday: Rain, heavy at times, easing later Friday: Mainly fine Saturday: Cloudy

A pedestrian has died following a serious crash in Te Anau this morning.Police said the driver of the vehicle involved left the scene, and they would now like to speak to them.They are also calling on help from the public.The crash, involving a car and a pedestrian, happened around 8.45am this morning (23 Feb) and resulted in the closure of part of the Town Centre and Miro Street.Police would also like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident, or anyone who has dashcam footage of the crash, or the moments before it.Anyone with information is asked to contact Police as soon as possible online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105.Please use the reference number 260223/7970.

From the highlands of Scotland to the hills surrounding Gore in Southland, Mary McRae's legacy of distilling lives on at the Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Distillery.Arriving on New Zealand shores in the 1870s, along with her seven children, the widowed McRae brought with her a beautiful little petite whisky still which had been passed down to her.And so, trained in the art of distilling by her mother and grandmother before her, the healer and midwife brought the tradition of Highland Scottish whisky making to rural Southland."She also continued in the tradition of not paying excise on the sale of any of that product," explained the museum's curator Jim Geddes, adding that the McRae family refused to pay excise tax in Scotland on moral and political grounds.Making the spirit was part of their culture, they believed, and used for medicinal purposes and family celebrations.Follow Country Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.The McRae's whisky, distilled in the rugged Hokonui hills was considered a "very high-quality spirit", Geddes told Country Life on a tour of the museum.Hers was in "stark contrast to the adulterated spirit" that importers were sending to Southland - this was the "real deal".Townsfolk had grown tired of the poor behaviour stemming from local imbibers, who Geddes described as "hard-working" and "hard-drinking".But the McCraes had a more measured approach."The McCraes had always had a policy of not putting their product into a home where it would do any harm. So they pretty much minded their own business and they were able to do that in the shadow of the Hokonui Hills."Museum curator Jim Geddes alongside a portrait of Mary McRae, the 'moonshine matriarch'. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life.But like other whisky makers and producers of "moonshine" - a lesser quality spirit - the McRaes would be caught up in the temperance movement which swept through much of the region and eventually saw Gore become a 'dry' district where the sale of alcohol was prohibited."From the 1st of July 1903, the Mataura licensing district was dry and it stayed dry for 51 years."Despite the closure of the 15 hotels in the licensing district, demand for alcohol remained high, giving way to a number of illicit moonshine-makers capitalising on the now lucrative tradition of distilling.The museum also explores the temperance movement of the last century. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life.The skull and cross bones symbol which featured on a moonshine label. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life.The booming trade also gave rise to police and customs officials determined to put a stop to it."Hokonui was always high quality spirit, strongly connected with the McRae clan. Hokonui moonshine was something else. It was a grain spirit, straight out of the still and gone."The Prohibition era led to over 30 prosecutions, the last of which was in 1957.In nearly all of them there was a McRae link, Geddes said, and often a tenuous one.The distillery attached to the museum is named for its patron, whose family history is entwined with that of Southland moonshiners. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life.Today's working still. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life..The tradition still lives on today - now legally - with a modern distillery built in 2020 alongside the museum."Working with Bill "W.D." Stuart, the great-grandson of Mary McRae, we were able to source a family recipe," Geddes said.With guidance from others in New Zealand's burgeoning spirit industry - now worth $40 to $50 million in exports, the distillery functions in a non-profit capacity."The spirit that we make is from grain which is grown in the area. So we have engaged with families who have been farming here for generations. All the ingredients are local. The recipe is local."Country Life: Gianina SchwaneckePublished by Permission

A pedestrian has been transported to hospital with serious injuries after an accident involving a car in Te Anau's Town Centre this morning (23 Feb).Emergency services were alerted to the accident at 8.45am.The southwest lane of the Town Centre road currently remains closed, as well as Miro Street.Diversions are in place and motorists will need to avoid the area and expect delays.The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.

Gore's iconic statue is no longer with-trout a nameThe brown trout statue has been proudly leaping in the Southland town since 1989 after being locally designed, built and fundraised.Trevor was officially announced at the On The Fly Festival on the banks of the Mataura River on Sunday afternoon.The Gore District Council teamed up with Hokonui FM to name the famous fish, asking for name suggestions before public voting this month - yes, Trouty McTroutface was floated.The five finalists were Trixie, Scout, Trevor, Gordon or Finn.But council senior events coordinator Florine Potts said Trevor was a clear winner after receiving more than a third of votes."People from far and wide come to Gore, come and take a photo with the trout. We see it happen every single day. Buses full of tourists stop here and they come and grab a photo and people love it and now we can all embrace Trevor the trout," she said.Gore District Council senior events coordinator Florine Potts said Trevor was an icon. Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ.The Gore Lion's Club gifted the statue to the town to celebrate its 25th anniversary with lots of fundraising to make it happen, she said."Like a celebrity cocktail party with some big names coming to Gore, a fishing race with little fish going down the Mataura River."Fly fishing guide Shelen Boyes was showing people how to fly fish at the festival.Fly fishing guide Shelen Boyes was delighted to see more women and younger people getting involved in the sport. Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ.There were a lot of moving parts to make the magic happen, she said."You're having to not only cast a rod with a really light fly on the end of it, have accuracy, deal with the wind, deal with the elements, and then also have to pretty much hook it yourself and reel it in yourself without losing it," she said."So yeah, it's quite a lot."It was a great way to bring people together, was quite meditative and encouraged people to think about river health, she said.Fly fishing in the Mataura River at the On The Fly Festival. Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ.The Mataura River was a wonderful place to take people, Boyes said.She described the Mataura as a "gold medal, blue ribbon fishery"."It's got 700 fish per kilometre. You can easily spot fish all over the river system."Fly fishing has been Mike Weddell's career and passion - he has been flying fishing for more than 60 years.He was been showing people how it was done at the festival.Mike Weddell said fly fishing has been both his career and passion. Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ."It's a fantastic sport. What you used to see in the village back home, all the kids that fished all the time never got into trouble, except for coming home too late at night, he said.Trevor will have an official naming ceremony later this year.Rainbow trout on show at the On the Fly Festival. They are not the same as what are in the Mataura River. Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZPublished by Permission

Payback time for lack siglets in trnstasman shearing test The New Zealand shearing team reclaimed transtasman supremacy with a win by almost six points over pre-post TAB favourites Australia at the 60th anniversary Southern Shears shearing and woohandling championships in Gore on Saturday night.Australia had won the three-most recent tests, in West Australia in October 2024, Masterton in March last year and South Australia four months ago, and had won 15 of the last 20 home-and-away matches since 2014.New Zealand had the experience all-round, with Pongaroa shearer David Buick teaming with the South Island pair of Angus Moore, of Seddon, and merinos specialist Chris Vickers, of Shag Point, North Otago.Australia had series legend Daniel McIntyre, from Glen Innes, NSW, with 17 wins in 22 transtasman tests behind him, but two new teammates in Sam Bacon, of Jamestown, South Australia, and Sam Byers, of Ross, Tasmania.The star of the night was Moore, who shore the six merino ewes, three long-wooled strong wool ewes and three second-shears in 15min 3.44sec, almost 1min 24sec quicker than next-man-off McIntyre.Marlborough shearer Angus Moore at national anthem time before dominating the transtasman shearing test match in which New Zealand beat Australia in Gore on Saturday. Photo / Barbara Newton.Moore and had the second-best overall quality points, to claim individual honours by just over seven points from teammate Buick, who had the best quality points, including the best pen, and was second-to-last on time.Vickers was last to finish in 17min 40.34sec, and had special reason for celebrating, after being on the losing end in all his three previous tests.It completed a cleansweep of three home transtasman tests for the Shearing Sports New Zealand teams, following a blades win in Waimate in October and a wooolhandling win at the Otago Shears last week. In other events in Gore, New Zealand’s hopes for the 20th Golden Shears World Championships in Masterton on March 4-7 soared when championships team members claimed the two major Southern Shears titles.Reigning Golden Shears and New Zealand Shears champion Toa Henderson, from Northland, won the open shearing final, and Joel Henare, of Motueka, claimed the Open woolhandling title, the 150th Open win of his career.Leon Samuels, of Roxburgh, won the South Island Shearer of the Year final, and a North Island team of Buick, Jack Fagan and John Kirkpatrick won the South Island leg of a annual two-match inter-island shearing.Angus Moore shears to the lead and an ultimate win for New Zealand in Saturday's transtasman shearing test match in Gore. Photo / Barbara Newton.The anniversary was a huge success with 219 entries, including numerous shearers and woolhandlers from overseas ahead of the World championships.It was most stark in the Junior shearing final, with five of the six being from the Northern Hemisphere, including winner Tane Maguire, from Wales.The competitors comprised 140 shearers (Open 49, Senior 31, Intermediate 22, Junior 24, Novice 14) and 79 woolhandling entries (Open 37, Senior 15, Junior 28, Novice 9).Results from the 60th Anniversary Southern Shears shearing and woolhandling championships at Gore on Friday-Saturday, February 20-21, 2026:Transtasman Shearing Test (12 sheep - 6 merino ewes, 2 long strong wool, 3 second-shear): New Zealand (Angus Moore 15m 3.44s, 60.0053pts; David Buick 17m 27.37s, 67.0352pts; Chris Vickers 17m 40.34s, 75.9337pts) 202.9742pts beat Australia (Daniel McIntyre 16m 27.37s, 67.4515pts; Sam Byers 16m 58.88s, 68.6107pts; Sam Bacon 17m 18.09s, 72.7378pts) 208.8pts. Inter-island shearing (15 sheep): North Island (Jack Fagan 14m 3.02s, 50.0177pts; John Kirkpatrick 15m 1.81s, 51.4238pts; David Buick 15m 12.07s, 53.2035pts) 154.645pts, beat South Island (Corey Palmer 15m 7.5s, 51.9083pts; Casey Bailey 15m 30.94s, 52.4137pts; Angus Moore 14m 33.34s, 53.5337pts) 157.8557pts. Open final; (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 17m 14.44s, 57.122pts, 1; Leon Samuels (Roxburgh) 17m 24.07s, 58.8535pts, 2; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti) 17m 15.57s, 59.3285pts, 3; Nathan Stratford (Invercargill) 18m 25.56s, 60.178pts, 4; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 18m 50.84s, 60.492pts, 5; John Kirkpatrick (Pakipaki) 18m 46.97s, 61.4985pts, 6. South Island Shearer of the Year final (20 sheep): Leon Samuels (Roxburgh) 17m 45.12s, 61.156pts, 1; to Henderson (Kaiwaka) 17m 41.21s, 61.2105pts, 2; David Buick (Pongaroa) 18m 30.15s, 62.5575pts, 3; Nathan Stratford (Invercargill) 19m 14.09s, 62.7045pts, 4; Casey Bailey (Riverton) 19m 24.97s, 63.4485pts, 5; Angus Moore (Seddon) 17m 42.47s, 64.1235pts, 6. Senior final (12 sheep): Dre Roberts (Mataura) 13m 40.15s, 47.1742pts, 1; Cody Waiape (Gore) 13m 40.12s, 48.8393pts, 2; Keahrey Manson (Piopio) 14m 8.18s, 50.659pts, 3; Richard Lancaster (Clitheroe, England) 14m 41.5s, 50.9917pts, 4; James Wilson (Winton) 16m 28.35s, 50.0008pts, 5; Jimmy Napier (Gore) 17m 46.54s, 59.827pts, 6.  Intermediate final (6 sheep): Tye Meikle (Oamaru) 8m 7.04s, 28.852pts, 1; Michel Buick (Pongaroa) 8m 11.44s, 31.7387pts, 2; Mitchell Yates (Kimba, South Australia) 8m 45.9s, 32.295pts, 3; Joseph Scahill (Mayo, Ireland) 7m 38.34s, 32.5837pts, 4; Conor Wilkinson (Wyndham) 9m 27.06s, 36.353prs, 5; paddy Hudson (Hokonui) 8m 13.41s, 39.6705pts, 6.Junior final (4 sheep): Tane Maguire (Powys, Wales) 7m 49.38s, 33.469pts, 1; Sean Dunne (Wicklow, Ireland) 7m 42.47s, 34.3735pts, 2; Reuben Wilkinson (Wyndham) 7m 40.04s, 35.752pts, 3; Jess Parkhouse (Devon, England) 9m 14.47s, 37.4735pts, 4; James Hopkins (Westport, Ireland) 10m 7.66s, 37.883pts, 5; Maureen Cadet (Brittany, France) 9m 45.93s, 42.7695pts, 6.Novice (1 sheep): Charis Morrell (Alexandra) 3m 45.31s, 18.27pts, 1; Dylan Holland (Gore) 4m 53.16s, 18.66pts, 2; Brooklyn Frazer (Invercargill) 3m 47.75s, 20.39pts, 3; Jake Anderson (Taihape) 4m 18.85s, 20.94pts, 4; Ffion Haf Jones (Corwen, Wales) 4m 26.19s, 21.31pts, 5; Noah Monson (Methven) 5m 6.53s, 24.33pts, 6.         WoolhandlingOpen final: Joel Henare (Gisborne/Motueka) 131.318pts, 1; Pagan Rimene (Alexandra) 190.5pts, 2; Vinniye Phillips (Taumarunui) 225.08pts, 3; Foonie Waihape (Alexandra) 4. Senior final: Tre Sciascia (Taihape) 108.832pts, 1; Lucy Elers (Mataura) 113.844pts, 2; Ashley Clarke (Gore) 117.27pts, 3; Terri Lee Walker (Taihape) 148.818pts, 4.  Junior final: Shahni Whitu (Roxburgh) 96.594pts, 1; Mady Little (Alexandra) 110.096pts, 2; Brooklyn Frazer (Invercargill) 113.95pts, 3; Peighton Kimura-Boyes (Gore) 117.05pts, 4.Novice: Jayda White (Milton) 56.562pts, 1; Law Kawenga (Mataura) 82.75pts, 2; Sophie Newby (Gore) 86.57pts, 3; Maureen Cadet (Brittany, France) 89.81pts, 4.

Close finishes were prevalent throughout two days of motor racing action at the Ascot Park Hotel Classic SpeedFest at Teretonga Park over the weekend. Saturday’s races were held in dry conditions while there was some rain on Sunday morning before track conditions dried again. As well as two days of racing the iconic TKR All Black V8 Supercar, the Commodore that Jason Richards and Angus Fogg first raced at Bathurst in 2000, was on track for laps during the lunch break on both days. Leon Hallett of Mosgiel won two of the four HVRA races in his Falcon. The first on Saturday saw him head off Paul Burnet of Auckland in a Ford Mustang and Brent Findlay of Timaru in a Datsun 1200. Saturday’s second race was a handicap event which saw Marvin Turton of Porirua in a Leyland Mini greet the flag from Findlay with Jamie Greene of Dunedin in another Datsun 1200 third. Hallett won Sunday morning’s race by .059 of a second from Trev Lines of Amberley in a Leyland Mini with Stacy Lines of Invercargill third in his Austin Mini before Burnet won the last from Ken Williams of Auckland in a Mercedes Benz and Hallett.Mike Baker of Picton in a Porsche 964 leads the way in one of the Classic Saloon races at the Ascot Park Hotel Classic SpeedFest at Teretonga Park this weekend. Credit: Dave Loudon. The large contingent of international drivers in the Formula Junior races took all the spoils in some very close races. Robin Longdon of Great Britain in a Lola won two of the four contests with a second and a third in the other two while Geoff Underwood of Great Britain took the other two wins in a Brabham BT2 and added a third place. Others to the fore were Robert Hoemke of the United States in another Lola with two seconds and a third while Adrian Russell of the United Kingdom in a Lotus 22 scored a third and a second. On Saturday Graeme Fraser of Tauranga in a BMW M3 won the first Classic Saloon race from Mike Baker of Picton in a Porsche 964 with Marcus Stewart of Christchurch third in a similar Porsche. Baker won the second from Stewart and Harry Wilson of Invercargill in a Falcon. On Sunday Baker won the first from Fraser and Wilson before Stewart won the finale from Baker and Fraser. Ben Stiles of Mount Somers in his Formula Renault made a clean sweep of the Formula Libre races. Karting star, twelve-year-old Nixon Cripps of Edendale, in his first motor race event was second in all four races with 1974/75 NZ Formula Ford Champion, Grant Walker, now resident in Australia, driving the Titan that he won that title in was third in three of the four races. He failed to finish one of Saturday’s races, local driver Rachael Beck taking third on that occasion. The Vintage Racing Car clashes featured some close finishes. Royce Bayer of Rangiora (Beowulf) and Paul Coory of Mosgiel (CAE Sprintcar) shared Saturday’s wins before Coory and Tracey Barrett of Christchurch (Lotus 23C) took a win apiece on Sunday. Barrett also took two second places while Coory had a second and third. Roger Greaney of Napier (Lotus 20/22) took a second and third while Bill Cowie of Blenheim (Spangeralli) and Mick Toll of Mapua (Bealtie LT16) took a third place each. Mini 7 South and the Mazda MX5 Heritage Cup ran together throughout the weekend. In the Mini’s Justin Neill of Christchurch won three of the races with Adam Box of Rolleston winning the other. Box also scored two second places while Paul Hughes gained a second and third with Christchurch drivers, Lachie Penrose, Paul Bennison and Chris Armitage also taking a third place apiece. In the MX5 Class Matthew Smith of Christchurch won the first two races before Dom Fransen of Lower Hutt and Jamie Hannah of Wakefield won the next two. Smith also scored a third and a second while Hannah added two second placings to his win. Fransen had two thirds and Everard Petrie of Rolleston had a third and a second. Steve Ross of Dunedin won three of the four Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloon races in his Ligier JSP3 with Arron Black of Dunedin winning the other in the wet. Mike Baker took two seconds and a third and Marcus Stewart two thirds. Honda Civic drivers Warren Walker of Dunedin and Lynden Prebble of Dipton were second and third in the race won by Black while Jason Crosbie of Invercargill scored a second place in his Mustang in the Flying Farwell. The next race meeting at Teretonga Park is the annual Southern Thunder event featuring NZ Super Trucks and Mainland Muscle Cars plus plenty more over the weekend of 14/15 March.

SH 99 Lorneville to Wallacetown - Both directionsDue to culvert strengthening and highway renewal works, this section of road will be closed in both directions at all times from Monday 23rd February at 6:30am to Monday 9th March at 7pm. In addition, there will be traffic signals in operation on site from Tuesday 10th March to approximately early April between 7am and 6pm each day. Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for your travel. Please note these works are weather dependent and may be postponed at short notice.Road Closed - 23 February 6:30amDuring closures, detour via Ryal Bush-Wallacetown Road, Collinson Road, and SH6/Winton-Lorneville Highway. During traffic signal operations, expect up to 20 minute delays.Expected Resolution - 17/04/2026 18:00pm

Weekend shears double for Henderson as World Champs loom Northland shearer Toa Henderson is hitting the ground running with two big Open final wins at the weekend as he builds up to the World shearing and woolhandling championships in Masterton next week.Reigning Golden Shears champion Henderson won the titles at the 60th anniversary Southern Shears in Gore on Saturday and the Counties Shears on Sunday in Pukekohe, where he was also the top individual as New Zealand beat Wales to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match Wools of New Zealand series.Toa Henderson (right) pictured celebrating his latest open final win. At left is Counties Shears organiser Sam Welch, Photo /Ange Bridson.Shearing 20 sheep in 15min 29s he won Sunday’s Open final by almost three points from runner-up and Te Kuiti shearer Jack Fagan, with third place going to Welsh shearer Llyr Jones.Henderson and Fagan then beat Jones and reigning World champion Gwion Evans by 7.35 points in the test match.The test followed a separate New Zealand team’s win over Australia in Gore on Saturday, a match of three-a-side and including merino sheep.The last test between New Zealand and Wales will be shorn at the Taumarunui Shears on Friday, the start of a big weekend leading into the 20th World championships, with 27 countries competing for machine shearing, blades shearing, and woolhandling individual and teams titles in Masterton on March 4-7.  In the Senior final on Sunday, Napier shearer Kaivah Cooper beat Dylan Young, of Gisborne, by just 0.25 points, Luke Marsden, of Taumarunui, scored just his second win by claiming Intermediate honours, Kingston Pue, of Raetihi, won the Junior final, and Mali Jones, from Wales, won a Novice event in which 2025 national Young Farmer of the Year Hugh Jackson, of Te Akau, was third. RESULTS from the Counties Shears at the Franklin A&P Show on Sunday, February 22, 2026:Wools of New Zealand International Shearing Series Second Test (15 sheep): New Zealand (Toa Henderson 11m 22s, 41.7pts; Jack Fagan 11m 51s, 43.95pts) 85.65pts, beat Wales (Gwion Evans 12m 22s, 45.63pts; Llyr Jones 12m 26s, 47.37pts) 93pts. New Zealand won by 7.35pts and lead the two-test series 2-0.Open final (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (Kaiwaka) 15m 29s, 52.75pts, 1; Jack Fagan (Te Kuiti) 15m 56s, 55.7pts, 2; Llyr Jones (Wales) 15m 38s, 56.8pts, 3; Rowland Smith (Maraekaskaho) 17m 21s, 57.4pts, 4; Digger Balme (Te Kuiti) 17m 12s, 62.8pts, 5. Senior final (10 sheep): Kaivah Cooper (Napier) 10m 26s, 40pts, 1; Dylan Young (Gisborne) 10m 17s, 40.25pts, 2; Duncan Adams (Banchory, Scotland) 11m 29s, 40.65pts, 3; Sarah Bryant (Arohena) 12m 11s, 43.65pts, 4; Atawhai Hadfield (Wairoa) 12m 58s, 49pts, 5.Intermediate final (6 sheep): Luke Marsden (Taumarunui) 6m 58s, 28.4pts, 1; Tom Charnley (North Yorkshire, England) 7m 58s, 30.73pts, 2; Peter Hogarth (Tain, Scotland) 8m 55s, 33.75pts, 3; Kevin Noome (Donegal, Ireland) 8m 50s, 34.5pts, 4; Baska Erdenetsogt (Mongolia) 8m 21s, 36.38s, 5.Junior final (4 sheep): Kingston Pue (Raetihi) 6m 7s, 23.6pts, 1; Ashlin Swann (Wairoa) 7m 31s, 27.3pts, 2; Shawna Swann (Wairoa) 8gm 39s, 31.7pts, 3; James Anderson (Pukeatua) 8m 34s, 35.7pts, 4; Kathryn MacPherson (Scotland) 9m 30s, 37.5pts, 5.Novice (1 sheep): Mali Jones (Bala, Wales) 3m 39s, 21.95pts, 1; Cleveland Pue (Raetihi) 5m 4s, 23.23pts, 2; Hugh Jackson (Te Akau) 4m 20s, 33pts, 3; Alexis Young (Gisborne) 3m 30s, 33.5pts, 4; Bazza Ganbaatar (Mongolia) 4m 32s, 46.6pts, 5.Veterans: Peter McCabe (Katikati) 37.6pts, 1; Lee Cheyne (Te Kauwhata) 45.6pts, 2; David Hodge (Te Puke) 47.8pts, 3; Barry Jones (Pukekohe) 51.1pts, 4; Jeff Wood (Ruawai) 51.3pts, 5.  

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Tunnel & highway maintenance scheduled during evenings between 7pm to midnight, from tonight (Monday) through to Friday 27th February. Expect up to 30-minute delays between Homer Tunnel & Donne River Bridge. Please call 03 249 7004 with any queries.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Mainly fine before rain developing later, heavy at times Tomorrow: Showers clearing, becoming fine Wednesday: Cloud increasing, rain developing later Thursday: Rain, heavy at times, easing later Friday: Early showers, becoming fine