Rental vehicle operators are keen to meet with the Te Anau community and Police about the alarming increase in speeding drivers and near misses with mostly overseas visitors in rental vehicles racing to Milford.Rental Vehicle Association of NZ CEO Ben McFadgen says some companies using GPS monitoring have clocked rental vehicle drivers at 140km/hr and even more “horrendous” speeds, ringing to warn them if they don’t slow down that the car will be taken off them.It’s understood one driver was clocked at 170km/hr by the police.McFadgen says: “At that speed you just lost your car and your licence. Enough is enough.”The Milford Road, and whole state highway from Queenstown to Milford, is a major problem and rental companies, like Police, are very concerned that an accident is waiting to happen.They’re prepared to meet with the local community and, if it proved necessary, operators may even consider more stringent measures.Rental Vehicle Association of NZ CEO Ben McFadgen says companies are keen to meet with locals and Police to find a solution to speeding rental vehicles. Photo: Supplied“We 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,” McFadgen says.“If it comes from the community, then we’d absolutely look at it.""Our operators would definitely be in support. It’s in our interests as we get all sorts of damage otherwise."“Some of our guys are putting immobilisers in so at 135km/hr to 140km/hr drivers are warned and next time they reach that speed the vehicle is immobilised after they’ve stopped."The association has also approached the authorities about supplying rental companies with a heads up about using speed camera data as infringement notices can take a few days to issue.“If we could get a heads up from the Police or NZTA that somebody was going too fast we can reach out to customers and say, ‘You’ve been caught on speed camera and warn them to slow down.”The speedsters include Brits, Americans, New Zealanders and Australians, as well as those from Southeast Asia where some cultures do not customarily wear a seat belt.McFadgen says one overseas rental driver was allegedly clocked at 140km/hr-plus, pulled over and allegedly found to be unrestrained as were the child sitting on his lap and the two children in the back seat.“Honestly… when in Rome do as Rome does. These people are potentially putting everyone at risk,” he says.“Some of them have no experience on our roads and still drive their rental like they stole it. People think they can. Thanks ‘Top Gear’…” McFadgen says.It’s in rental companies’ interests to ensure these people drive safely, as damaged vehicles also cost them money and means their income potential is off the road.McFadgen says speeding to Milford is a serious problem and, while it’s very expensive, some operators are monitoring speed and a few have even introduced Telematics to collect data on driver behaviour.“Some of that information is pretty scary,” he says.Telematics provides computer monitoring of driver position and behaviours, including speed, using sensors which feed information back through the Cloud.“It’s becoming very sophisticated. We warn in all contracts now that vehicles can be monitored.Around 2500 vehicles are recorded daily on the Milford Road, according to NZTA figures. Photo: Southland App“In summer, overseas drivers don’t understand the Milford Road, particularly the distance from Queenstown, and they try and bomb it to Milford and back in a day.""That’s a huge amount of driving in a ridiculously short amount of time.”Rental companies are starting to see overseas drivers now with digital licences and in future there may be a global system in which any misdemeanours show up internationally.But McFadgen says that’s a long way away.In the meantime, “pretty much anyone with a valid driver’s licence can rent a car and go anywhere in NZ”.The only requirement is that if a licence isn’t in English, they’re required by law to carry a translation, McFadgen says.Insurance is expensive and the costs and excesses have risen dramatically.With what’s usually a $5000 excess most rental companies just end up paying for minor damage themselves, but if it’s the driver’s fault they must pay.Milford Road Alliance manager Kevin Thompson, whose job it is to keep the Milford Road (State Highway 94) safe and maintained, says speeding and dangerous driving on the road is a real concern.“It’s something we in our team talk about and see every day. It’s at the forefront of our minds,” Thompson says.“We do a lot of interesting things involving rocks, avalanches and trees, but our number one hazard on the Milford Road is driving, and interaction with drivers.”He says he and his staff are “typically the first responders” in the event of any accident just because they’re up there.“We see something occurring and hold the fort until the cavalry come.“We do see a lot of these and it’s increasing. I’m certainly concerned about it and how we support our team through that as it can be traumatic for the team.”Thompson says people often underestimate the time to get to Milford from Queenstown.Visitors are rushing - sometimes at breakneck speeds - to see Fiordland's crown jewel 'Milford Sound'. Photo: Jay Flood/Southland App“There may be roadworks, traffic delays and stops for photos.""We’ve seen it all between stopping in the middle of the road to take a photo, to poor judgement in passing, and speed.”While in summer there are more foreign drivers involved, they also see issues with New Zealanders and locals in winter.The main issue is not driving to the conditions, and Thompson says they’d like to see more people taking buses as there’s been a trend in recent years toward more small independent vehicles.Thompson says it would be great to see some more slow vehicle bays on the Milford Road.Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

Defending champion Josh Burnett will return for the rescheduled SBS Bank Tour of Southland, aiming for a third victory in his home cycle race.Traditionally staged in early November, the 69th edition of New Zealand’s longest-running stage event had to be postponed in the aftermath of Southland’s dramatic October 23 storm which plunged the province into a state of emergency.Burnett, however, was set to miss the November race due to a badly broken arm suffered in a riding accident, with the delay providing him with a summer to prepare.Contractual commitments and world cycling regulations mean the professional rider will be riding for PowerNet rather than the NZ Cycling Project team he won with in 2022 and 2024.Tour race director Waine Harding was excited to have Burnett back in the #1 race number for the rescheduled race.“With Josh heading to Europe to pursue a professional cycling career we thought it might be several years before we saw him racing in this part of the world again. It’s no secret how much this race means to him,” Harding said.Josh Burnett. Credit: Tour of Southland.“We are really grateful that the majority of our teams, riders, sponsors and volunteers have continued to support the race despite the postponement.”A January Tour of Southland will have a different look, with much interest in how the summer weather will impact the peloton. Infrastructure works around Queens Park have seen the street circuit which starts and ends the tour moved from the centre of Invercargill to nearby Waikiwi.The Creation SIgns-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project team looks the strongest on paper with the likes of George Jackon and James Gardner and New Zealand team pursuit riders Marshall Erwood and Keegan Hornblow.Matthew Wilson (Cambridge), who finished just under 2min behind Burnett in 2024, returns with his Advanced Personnel Cycling team, while Australian Samuel Jenner, who was third overall in 2024, is back with Central Benchmakers-Willbike.New Zealand men’s endurance riders Tom Sexton (IBuilt) and Nick Kergozou (Open Country TES) will add serious horsepower to the race.Whanganui’s Glenn Haden (Coupland-Cycling Tom Racing Team) eturns fresh from smashing the national one hour record, and setting a new world mark for a rider aged over 40, in December.As always, the tour has a strong international flavour, with riders from Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada included in the peloton. Auckland’s Hunter Dalton will carry on a strong tradition when he lines up in the same race that his famous grandfather Warwick won three times (1959, 1961 and 1969).The SBS Bank Tour of Southland gets underway in Invercargill on Saturday, January 18, finishing back in Gala St on January 24.

Fiordland locals have been pushing, with backing from Southland MP Joseph Mooney, for the government to create safe pull over bays or passing lanes between Queenstown and Milford.The community says there are currently none of these on the busy stretch between Queenstown and Milford where Police are very concerned about safety and driver behaviour.Slower drivers, often unfamiliar with the roads, can be a problem as well as speedsters, causing frustration for long lines of drivers trapped behind them.John Turner, who first started looking into the issue as part of a Mossburn Lions project a number of years ago, says the call for action has been fully supported by the local National Party branch, the Police and the Mossburn and Te Anau Fire Brigades, as well as the local community.Turner was copied into an email letter addressed to Mooney yesterday (13 Jan) from Transport Minister Chris Bishop.It states that an area of concern for speeding and dangerous driving between Mossburn and Te Anau was considered at the “lower end of the scale” in terms of safety risk due to the vehicle numbers.John Turner is advocating for passing lanes on the road from Queenstown to Milford Sound. Photo: Southland AppTurner says that road “may be low risk in terms of their calculations”, but a number of times it’s been the local fire brigades who’ve supported the community and had to clean up the mess.“The road is riddled with tourists travelling slowly, watching the views, especially from campervans.""We consider it very high risk with the near misses we’ve seen."“Tourists build up behind these people and wait, taking undue risks to pass. I’ve seen some terrible, terrible incidents, near head ons.”He says a truck and trailer unit carrying a load of cattle tipped over on Gorge Hill in last month (December) while trying to pull over to let traffic by.The two pull over bays they’ve requested would cost less than $500,000 and Turner says that’s “a low cost in comparison to the potential ACC payouts”.Bishop’s letter says NZTA staff have told him full passing lanes are required when traffic volumes reach more than 4000 a day.The department’s latest figures on that stretch showed volumes of 2019 to 2682, the letter says.Fiordland Community Board chairperson Diane Holmes says it’s been a concern for the community for some time.“I get a lot of concerned comments about driving between Queenstown and Milford,” she says.“But we also need to ask if the roads are fit for purpose around here."“I don’t know how many other busy tourist roads in NZ have zero passing bays or lanes, but there are none between Queenstown and Milford.""I drive it often. There’s no ‘Keep Left’ passing bay, not one.”She says if drivers are in a hurry at 70km/hr and there’s no hope of passing a slower vehicle then “sooner or later some do dreadful things”.Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

A large black coral believed to be centuries old is one of the largest ever found in the waters of New Zealand, researchers say.The coral, measured at 4m high and 4.5m wide, was found in the waters of Fiordland.It was likely to be 300-400 years old.Victoria University marine biologist Professor James Bell said the coral was "absolutely huge"."It's by far the largest black coral I've seen in my 25 years as a marine biologist. Most black corals we come across when we're diving are small, with the bigger ones usually less than two to three metres tall, so finding this one was really cool."The discovery was considered significant as large corals provided vital breeding stock for the species, which were slow to grow."Pinpointing where large corals occur means we can better protect them by letting people know where not to anchor their boats or drop pots," Bell said.Despite its name, the black coral was white in colour and only its skeleton was black.Department of Conversation (DOC) staff were also on the dive when the coral was found.Senior biodiversity ranger Richard Kinsey said seeing the large coral looming out of the darkness was "pretty special"."I've been a marine ranger in Fiordland for nearly 20 years and it's rare to see a coral so big. It's easily the largest one I can remember seeing."Victoria University researchers were working alongside DOC and the Fiordland Marine Guardians to study and map the distribution of protected coral species in the fiords."We'd love to receive reports from anyone who knows of particularly large black corals that are greater than four metres so we can map their distribution and find out how common such large coral colonies are throughout Fiordland," Bell said.Under the Wildlife Act the coral was listed as a protected species, meaning it was illegal to deliberately collect or cause damage to it.Published by Permission

Teretonga Park in Invercargill maintains its tradition of bringing some of the most exciting sporting stars from around the globe to our region when the Ascot Park Hotel Teretonga International round of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship takes place over the weekend of 24/25 January.Nineteen drivers from eleven different countries will be on the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy grid, most of them aged between 17 to 19-years-old.Ugo Ugochukwu, an 18-year-old New Yorker, looks to be one of the hot prospects. Ugochukwu won the 2024 Macau Grand Prix and was until recently part of the McLaren Development Driver Programme. He has competed successfully in Britain, the UAE, Italy and throughout Europe. After this series he will return to Europe to contest his second year in the FIA F3 Championship.From the UK comes 17-year-old Freddie Slater, the winner of the 2025 FRECA Championship. Slater was a 2020 World Karting Champion, a dual European kart champion and has won both the Italian F4 Championship and the UAE F4 title.One man in the field is already a double World Champion. At just twenty-five years of age Kalle Rovanperä of Finland has already won two World Rally Championship’s and has retired from rallying to pursue a single seater journey which he hopes will take him to the top. Rovanperä was the youngest ever podium finisher, rally winner and World Champion in World Rally Championship history.Kiwi Ryan Wood, ‘Woody’, is an immense talent who has raced at Teretonga Park many times. A race winner in Australian Supercars Wood is competing in single seaters for the first time to learn and prepare for the 2026 season.He heads a line-up of talented kiwis including Louis Sharp, Zack Scoular and Sebastian Manson. Sharp finished fourth in the 2022 British F4 Championship despite missing the early races while he waited to reach the age to compete. He was the winner of the 2022 UAE F4 Trophy Championship, won the 2023 British F4 title and the 2024 GB3 Championship and is now entering his second year in F3 at the age of just eighteen. Dubai based Scoular was runner-up to Arvid Lindblad in last year’s championship while Manson won two races on his way to sixth overall last year. Since then, he has competed in the US and Japan where he finished second in the Japanese Formula Regional Championship.Japanese duo, Kanato Le and Jin Nakamura have both shown early speed in the series. Le has won a European Karting title in the past while Nakamura was the Japanese F4 runner-up in 2023 and is headed to F3 in 2026.Fionn McLaughlin of Ireland narrowly missed the 2023 FIA Karting World Championship title and was a dominant 2025 British F4 Champion and is a member of the Red Bull Junior Programme.Nolan Allaer is another American in the field and races in Indy NXT, the Indycar feeder series. Countryman Cooper Shipman from Austin, Texas, was a dominant 2025 USA F4 Champion with nine wins while Trevor Latourette was fourth in the 2025 US F4 Championship despite missing four races.Yuanpui Cui hails from China and has had karting success while two Australians who are based in Europe, Jack Taylor and James Wharton also grace the grid. Taylor was the 2025 GB4 Champion while Wharton will face his second year of F3 in 2026 although he has had a taste of F2.Ernesto Rivera of Mexico is another Red Bull Junior and will race in Formula 3 this year while the field is rounded out by Brazilian Ricardo Baptista and Yevan David who will become the first Sri Lankan to race at Teretonga Park and is another destined to race in F3 this year.

She may claim to have been “an average student” in her day, and from the wrong side of the railway line, but former Southland Girls High School principal Yvonne Browning has certainly helped produce some internationally acclaimed academic achievers – something she’s passionate about.Yvonne spent 22 years as principal of Southland Girls’ High School, ensuring that girls achieved qualifications that ensured they had choices in life – a better job, a trade or a university education.“I’ve got my mother to thank for that. It was a big thing for her – her goal was to send us to Southland Girls where she herself started, aged 10, in the third form,” Yvonne says.Principal Yvonne Browning, before her resignation from Southland Girls High School in 2025. Photo: Supplied“She was really bright – the dux of her primary school two years running."“She was my major influence and always insisted we obtained maximum qualifications and kept our own bank account to always be independent in life.""Women didn’t traditionally have a bank account in her day.”Southland Girls was a highly esteemed school with only a few girls accepted from South Invercargill, when Yvonne entered her third form year.“The only reason I got in was because Mum was an Old Girl.”Hers was a happy childhood, the daughter of well-known Invercargill picture framer Victor Middlemiss, also a highly respected potter who exhibited nationally.Yvonne was a sporty kid right from Newfield Primary days – a keen netballer and tennis player, dab hand at four square and even beat the boys at marbles.Her parents saved for her piano lessons, Yvonne in deep trouble after wagging piano to play netball.After three attempts to get into Teacher’s College, starting in the sixth form, Yvonne was finally accepted – ‘always persist and don’t give up’ being her motto.“I was Miss Middlemiss then and I remember the next-door teacher bringing a little boy with a lisp in to see me and asking him, ‘Who’s this?’He said, ‘Miss Piddlepiss’ in all seriousness which was pretty funny.”However, after three years and the lack of intellectual stimulation teaching in a primary school Yvonne headed off on a two-year OE to London and Europe, returning to teach PE at Cargill High, where her sister taught.After three years teaching PE she took her sister’s advice and studied economics extramurally, eventually becoming an economics teacher, and later head of accounting and economics at Verdon College.An ambitious young woman intent on climbing the career ladder, Yvonne had struggled with male chauvinism in primary school leadership.“My hardest battle was against male dominance,” she says, totally deterred by one male deputy principal when she told him she was interested in leadership.“’Why would you want a leadership role when you’ll only get married and have babies?’Or the principal who, when we got a new photocopier and the female staff weren’t allowed to use it, said we had to ask the men to do the photocopying for us.”However, Yvonne enjoyed one of her principal role models while at Verdon College. Brother Arnold (Turner) was far more inclusive of women.“He was amazing and taught me the importance of community inside and outside of school.""He was full of care and concern, knew everybody’s birthdays.”Yvonne says former Girls High principal Linda Braun was also a strong influence.“She taught me a lot about leadership.""She was aspirational for girls and future focused, forward thinking and very smart.""That resonated with me.”Yvonne wasn’t always on the right side of the principal’s door, recalling “those steely blue eyes” of long-time principal Elizabeth Clarkson when their whole fourth form class was lined up outside Mrs Clarkson’s office by the maths teacher for misbehaving.“We all had to go in,” she recalls.Mrs Clarkson was also ahead of the times and said she didn’t expect us to work in a shop or be a secretary,” Yvonne says.“I was still nervous of her when she came into my office in 2004 when we were organising the school’s 125th anniversary,” she grins.She is proud of how SGHS created a new Form 7 – 13 girls’ school after The Network Review saw the closure of next-door Tweedsmuir Intermediate, along with others, after 18 months of persistence to bring about that change.“If you’re thrown a negative then you turn it into a positive so in September 2004 we started.""We had three months to turn two sites into a new single sex school.”That involved a lot of research and meshing ideas from the likes of Melbourne schools, but it added another 500 students to the roll.“We changed up our curriculum to the 21st Century more tailored to the interests, needs and abilities of girls now and focused more on pastoral care, a more holistic approach.”Year level coordinators replaced deans in a move away from the old discipline focus to more of a nurturing social, emotional, physical and academic wellbeing approach encompassing the whole student.“I find learning the pastoral way is the best.""If students have problems learning, it’s either too difficult or they’re bored.""It’s just a manifestation of their frustration.""It worked amazingly well revealing why they were misbehaving.”Yvonne joined Southland Girls in 1995, working her way up from senior dean and deputy assistant principal to assistance principal, then deputy principal and finally principal in 2003.She says her greatest achievement as principal at Southland Girls has been better gearing learning towards girls.The results show – some Year 9’s already doing Year 11 level studies as they’re so bright.“Learning for girls has nothing to do with age, but needs and abilities,” she says.“Ability grouping and multi-level learning is something very unique to Southland Girls, something we started in 2005,” she says.The more challenging Cambridge University exams were also introduced back in 2006 to extend the more intellectual girls who needed that – a move another local high school only introduced last year, she says.Like a proud mum Yvonne, rattles off the countless high achievers, many of them now internationally successful, both academically and in sport, who’ve graced the prestigious prizegiving ceremonies on the Southland Girls’ stage.“We’ve had a girl attend Harvard and one at Brown University, seven or eight on sports scholarships to American universities and recently Year 12 student Sophie Ineson won the Prime Minister’s Space and Technology Award – the only one in NZ, which is worth $50,000.""We’ve had a national rugby title in 2016, top four in NZ netball and our Femme Choir among the top 20 in NZ for the last eight years,” she says.There’s been an assistant to former Prime Minister Helen Clark, a Polish ambassador, Rhodes scholar, an NZ Black Fern, Black Stick and Olympic silver medal rower, all of whom she’s immensely proud.Yvonne Browning was presented her Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) - for services to education and youth - by the Governor-General, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, in September 2023. Photo: SuppliedYvonne was honoured and surprised to be awarded an Order of Merit – MNZM for her work in education and youth, but her “biggest achievement”, she believes, was the establishment of the Tiwai Aluminum Smelter – Southland Girls High partnership to encourage more girls into engineering, something dear to her heart.“A group of girls goes to Tiwai every year to focus on applying chemistry and physics learning to engineering.”The programme has won a Deloitte’s Award.But most importantly, since it was established in 2008, there have been 63 Southland Girls’ graduates study engineering at Canterbury University.“That’s the thing that stands out for me.”Yvonne’s late husband Neville, who worked at the Smelter and passed away in 2022, was a key reason she’d succeeded so highly in her career, she says.“He was a very supportive husband.""If it hadn’t been for him so willing to step in at home I couldn’t have done what I did.”Of course, there’s one more thing about Girls High that stands out – those ‘jolly red’ regulation shoes as well-known 1970s deputy principal Dorothy Grantham used to call them.They’ve been a distinguishable part of the school’s uniform since early principal Muriel May deemed the “dull” black ones rather boring back in 1952.“We’re the third oldest girls’ school in NZ and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere, and probably the world, that has red shoes,” Yvonne says, proudly.“The girls love them, especially this generation. They’re a unique point of difference, part of the sisterhood bond.”Yvonne and daughter Annalise enjoying special time together in Melbourne. Photo: SuppliedAs for Yvonne, she may have resigned from her role last month (December) to move to Melbourne closer to her daughter and grandchildren, but she’s quick to point out that’s “resigned, not retired”.“I’d like to find work here. I’ve got my feelers out,” she says.“The more active your brain is the longer you live.”Not time to stop learning yet, Yvonne.Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

Charismatic, gregarious, exuberant, a joker, a showman, a larrikin: such are the epithets for long-serving mayor Tim Shadbolt, who died age 78 last week.His public funeral service was due to be held in Invercargill on Friday January 16, 2pm at the Civic Theatre.He would be remembered there not only for a life of service to the community but for his own style, charisma and upbeat charm.A mayor for about 32 years - split between two cities and three incumbencies - Sir Tim was a dedicated champion of local politics, but was perhaps remembered more for his colourful life and antics.Coming to prominence as a young anarchic Vietnam war protester, he was confident the movement would have a lasting legacy as an examination of colonialism.As an activist he was famously arrested 33 times - including for refusing to pay a $50 fine after using the word 'bulls...', and spending 25 days in Mt Eden.This was allegedly when he wrote his first published book, Bulls... and Jellybeans, published in 1971 independently by Alister Taylor - who was working for the publishing house that previously rejected it.The student activist soon became something of a political butterfly, running for both New Zealand First and the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, and for mayoral, council or government roles in multiple locations.Richard King worked with Sir Tim as Invercargill council's chief executive for 20 years, but first knew him in those student days, having gone along to his rallies, saying they were "quite boisterous".He related a tale his friend told him from when he first moved from activist to politician, appearing in court on "various charges"."The judge looked up and said 'you again, Shadbolt', and he'd just been elected mayor of Waitematā, so the judge said 'I suppose I'm going to have to call you Your Worship now'."Tim looked at him and said 'tell you what, I'll Honour you, and you can Worship me'. And the case didn't go that well for him."Having worked as a concrete contractor, in the '80s Shadbolt celebrated that first successful election by towing a concrete mixer behind his mayoral car in the annual Christmas parade.He later repeated the stunt as mayor of Invercargill, this time towing his mixer behind a mobile green couch for charity - and later swapped the mixer for electric scooters in the southern Christmas parade.But perhaps his most well remembered media appearance was in cheese ads in 1994, where an increasingly manic Sir Tim - then simply mayor Shadbolt - repeated back the line 'I don't mind where as long as I'm mayor' - a self-deprecating dig, perhaps, at his shift from Auckland to the less tropical climes of Invercargill.That kind of humour was a trademark of his - and was to his benefit on Dancing with the Stars in 2005, where he came third despite a couple of tumbles."I might have had a little lie down and a cup of tea," he said of one of those falls.The man certainly had a way with words.At 30, he secured the Guinness world record for the longest political speech on a soapbox.Some 35 years later in 2012, he set another Guinness world record - for the longest TV interview by successfully reaching his goal of 26 hours on the regional TV freeview channel CUE, across from interviewer Tom Conroy.Topics covered included his cameo on The World's Fastest Indian and supposedly meeting Sir Anthony Hopkins' "leg double" and "big toe double", but after reaching 26 hours - about 2am - the mayor was cut off.Speaking to RNZ the next day - mere hours after also launching New Zealand's Got Talent he credited the Guinness official's advice with keeping his vocal chords up to scratch."He said 'you've got to crush up fresh pineapple', he said 'that's the way, that'll get you through it', and it seemed to work, so that was a lucky break."The marathon chat in 2012 raised more than $10,000 for St John Ambulance - one of the mayor's many charitable efforts.But big personalities often clash, and Sir Tim also had his share of rivalries and public clashes. Despite occasional acrimony, he clearly wanted to continue championing hard workers, underdogs, and the South.As an example, criticising his own deputy mayor Neil Boniface in 2009 for a drink driving incident - and on the eve of a chilly trip to Norway - Sir Tim called Invercargill, by comparison, "a paradise, the mediterranean of the South Pacific".In 2021, he claimed his deputy Nobby Clark and chief executive Clare Hadley had refused for years to have the council pay for a smartphone worth more than $300 because he was "considered unable to fully use all the features".They appeared on paper to relent in 2020 with a $951.20 iPhone 8+ with accessories, but the mayor claimed he never received it - and the council refused to confirm or deny if it was delivered to him.The council also refused that year to pay for Shadbolt's annual mailout of Christmas cards on the ratepayer's dime - despite having done so since the 1980s.The council argued the auditor-general would find that year's card - featuring a smiling Tim Shadbolt - inappropriate to fund as it could be interpreted as promoting an individual, rather than the city.In an email, Sir Tim described the disagreement as "existential". The compromise eventually arrived at was an e-card, with the savings going towards the mayor's Christmas dinner.He was ousted as mayor the following year, after tensions at the council - apparently stemming from his increasing inability to carry out duties.His driver's licence had been suspended and he was mostly refusing media interviews, but he remained the confident charmer.Already New Zealand's longest-serving mayor at the time, he admitted ahead of the election his "golden years" may be over and he wasn't enjoying the job like he used to - but if he won again he could "probably do another three or four terms".But it wasn't to be, with former deputy Nobby Clark taking office as mayor on October 15, beating a field of nine other candidates and Sir Tim coming in fourth.Longtime colleague and friend Richard King, who remembered Sir Tim as having "oozed charisma", said in the end the man was "crushed by the bureaucracy and political opposition, but he really had a good run"."He was the sort of person who could walk into a room without knowing anybody and five minutes later 95 percent of them were eating out of his hand."Published by Permission

A series of state highway closures are being scheduled to support the upcoming Tour of Southland cycling event. Road users should plan around the following closures that align with the different stages of the event, which is being held from 18 to 24 January following an earlier postponement: 21 January, 11.45am to 12.30pm: Closure of State Highway 6/Kingston Road to southbound traffic from Wye Creek (north of Devil’s Staircase); no detour is available and all traffic will be held.22 January, 12pm to 3.30pm: Full closure of State Highway 6/Diana Street in Lumsden; detour available via Hero Street and Flora Road/SH94.24 January, 8.30am to 12.30pm: Full closure of State Highway 6/Great North Road in Winton, between Bute Street and Winton-Hedgehope Highway/SH96; detour available via Bute, Park and Albert Streets (and for heavy vehicles via Gap Road West, Winton Substation Road and Winton-Wreys Bush Highway/SH96). We thank people in advance for their patience as this event is accommodated. Stay up to date at our Journey Planner site.

SH 6 Winton, between Albert Street and Bute Street - Both directionsDue to a public event, the road will be closed in both directions Saturday 24th January between 8:30am and 12:30pm.Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for travel.SH 6 Lumsden, between the intersections of hero Street and State Highway 94 - Both directionsDue to a public event, this road will be closed in both directions on Thursday 22 January between 12pm and 3:30pm.Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for travel

UPDATE: Road now open (10.11am)Fallen trees in multiple locations on State Highway 94, between Knobs Flat and Milford Sound, have forced the temporary closure of the Milford Road this morning (11 Jan).NZTA said they expect the route to be clear again by 10am.Meanwhile caution is also advised outside Te Anau, near SH94 Whitestone Bridge, due to low hanging powerlines.Fiordland, which is currently under an Orange heavy rain warning, was buffeted by high winds and a lightning storm overnight.

A public funeral service to celebrate the life of Sir Tim Shadbolt will be held in Invercargill next Friday.The former Waitematā and Invercargill mayor died on Thursday, aged 78.He was made a Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year's Honours List.A torrent of tributes have been paid since his death, with former Prime Minister Helen Clark describing Shadbolt as one of the characters of their generation.Lifelong friend Gary McCormick said Sir Tim had a landmark smile and a personality to match it.The funeral service would be held at Invercargill's Civic Theatre from 2pm Friday, 16 January.It would be livestreamed on the Invercargill City Council YouTube account and his tribute page at frasersfunerals.co.nz/tributes.Partner Asha Dutt said he was the cornerstone of their family, who promoted Invercargill for decades and was a champion for the underdog."Tim was a kind-hearted man, who cared deeply about the people around him," she said.A private celebration of Sir Tim and interment at Invercargill's Eastern Cemetery would be held after the service.Published by permission

An information technology expert warns the Manage My Health data breach may make victims vulnerable to bank account theft.About 125,000 Manage My Health users have been affected by a massive data breach, with hackers stealing hundreds of thousands of medical files.Those whose health records have been stolen in the ransomware attack are struggling to get any information, with the website repeatedly crashing and the 0800 number overloaded.Cybersecurity and operational technology expert Dr Abhinav Chopra told RNZ the information contained in the breach, like health and personally identifiable data, could be used to access bank accounts."Using this information, with phone banking and others, you can easily get access to a number of bank accounts and transfer money, even in this period," he said."Many banks and other institutions will just ask you, 'Hey, what's your name, what's your date of birth, what's your email address, what's your phone number', and some of that information or all of that information is basically in that app, Manage My Health."Chopra said the company's layers of security, like password protection and encryption, weren't appropriate for the level of sensitive data the company held.He said the company did not apply about 17 different controls, culminating in a security breach."These kind of 101 basics and this stuff, it does need some investment, but when you're holding critical information like health information and personally identifiable information, these should be your basics," Chopra said.On Friday, Manage My Health said it encrypted health data in its database and user passwords."[Manage My Health] is an ISO 9001 and ISO 27001-certified organisation," it said. "We have quality assurance processes with regular testing of our systems."Chopra said hackers often targeted people on holiday or out of business hours, so victims couldn't verify the information given with an official channel."Either you are busy doing something and you will just fall for that thing that they have said, or if they have created kind of an emergency kind of situation, then you fall for it," he said."If you even call your own bank or your agency, or someone else, you will be outside of office hours and you will not be able to get that answer back."Chopra urged people not to rush into answering what could be a scam email or message.Published by permission

"It is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Sir Tim Shadbolt, " Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds said today."I had the privilege of knowing Sir Tim for many decades and was honoured to work alongside him as he championed SIT’s zero fees scheme - a transformative initiative that helped rejuvenate our city.""He also successfully promoted the extension of the Invercargill Airport, supported the development of Stadium Southland and the SIT Velodrome, and oversaw renovations of the Civic Theatre and Splash Palace, receiving a knighthood in 2019 for his services to Local Government and the community.""He was a person of remarkable character—charismatic and engaging, yet also deeply caring, with an unmatched passion for Invercargill and its people.""Having served an extraordinary 24 consecutive years as Mayor, his contribution to the city is both significant and enduring.""A committed and proud advocate for the South, Sit Tim reshaped Invercargill’s image, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations""He was a valued colleague and a dear friend, and I firmly believe our city is the better for his leadership and service.""I extend my sincere condolences to Asha, Declan, and Sir Tim’s extended family, at this difficult time."

Police are concerned there’s an accident waiting to happen in the south with increasing numbers of drivers, many from overseas, speeding to get to Milford for boat cruises, another near miss head on collision today (9 Jan) near Deer Flat on the Milford Road.Sergeant Tod Hollebon says a tourist vehicle was allegedly passing a campervan on a straight section of road right into the path of an oncoming delivery truck heading into Milford.“The truck driver had to suddenly stop stationary on the road to avoid a head on collision,” Hollebon says.“This is a concern for Police. There’s no consideration for oncoming vehicles, especially from some overseas drivers who have an expectation that the oncoming driver will just pull over and let them in, as that may be customary practice in that driver’s home country,” he says.It was a huge concern for Police and obviously for other road users with a marked increase in driving complaints coming in via the Police Communications Centre.“Sometimes we get several complaints within an hour, at least several a day, and we encourage that,” Hollebon says.Cellphone connectivity has been very poor until recently but now that that’s improved Police have noticed a corresponding increase in unsafe driving complaints.The worst areas are around the Devil’s Staircase south of Queenstown, between Kingston and Five Rivers, and also on the Milford Road.One Te Anau officer driving an unmarked Police car recently was overtaken by a driver travelling into Milford who was allegedly clocked at over 150km/hr.Other officers have clocked drivers travelling at 130km/hr, Hollebon says.“Unfortunately, an oncoming vehicle is not necessarily a barrier to someone passing,” he says.“At times we’ve witnessed a complete lack of consideration for oncoming vehicles, which is very concerning.”Visitor numbers into Milford are higher than pre-Covid – “the highest we’ve seen”, with the number of visitors for last month (December 2025) alone up 13,000 on the previous December (2024), Hollebon says.The most common excuse is that they’re speeding to “catch the boat”. “They misjudge the time. They actually have time but don’t think they do. It’s like they’re rushing to catch the plane,” he says.“We stop large numbers coming into Milford.” Other excuses like ‘my wife needs to use the toilet’ just don’t fly, he says.Many motorists, in their rush to get to Milford Sound, are dicing with death by not adhering to the speed limit and road rules. Photo: Milford OpportunitiesMilford Sound visitor numbers increased almost 30% in December (last month) to 115,344, up from 89,958 in December 2023, and up 13% compared with December 2024. Great South general manager tourism and events Mark Frood says Milford Sound is definitely busier than pre-Covid and that’s expected to continue through the summer. A total of 476,636 visitors headed to Milford last calendar year (2025), according to the latest figures – a 105.71% increase on pre-Covid times, Frood says.“Anecdotally the feedback we’re getting is that there are more people travelling there in cars rather than as part of tour groups,” he says. “Our message is that people need to understand the road conditions, drive to those, and know the (road) rules.”While unsafe passing was the biggest issue, increasing numbers of motorists are ringing to complain about vehicles travelling too slowly with lines of traffic behind.“These people are generally unfamiliar with our roads. It’s often their first time driving in New Zealand and some just have limited driving experience,” Hollebon says.Many overseas tourists don’t pull over for the Police and emergency services despite full lights flashing and sirens blaring, whether that be to speak to the driver or get past to an emergency.“We’ve had cases where overseas drivers haven’t stopped for up to several kilometres despite sirens and flashing lights,” Hollebon says.“They don’t recognise it, that you pull over. It’s a cultural thing, but that also impacts ambulances and fire appliances trying to get past to a callout.”If it’s safe Police can sometimes pull up alongside these drivers and signal them to stop, or get in front of them to slow them down.“They have different rules and signs in their country. It’s just the volume at the moment, the sheer numbers of vehicles on our roads.""Some drivers are making good decisions and some bad.”Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

Our team is back into our summer renewal programme in Southland; below is a list of programmed works on Southland state highways next week, and all known work on Southland state highways next week is mapped HERE.  Tour of SouthlandAlso, a reminder that the postponed Tour of Southland takes place on local roads and highways across Southland from the 18th – 24th January. Please expect delays. Information regarding Tour routes and dates can be found on their website here. Key renewal sites in Southland currently underway/beginning next week:SH90 Waikaka Valley highway between Waikaka Road and Cunningham Road – Construction work has begun and will continue over the next few months. Delays of 5-10 minutes.SH94 at Sinclair Road Te Anau – Construction work begins Monday 12th January and will continue throughout January. Delays of 5-10 minutes.SH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway near Transmission Line Road - Construction work has begun and will continue over the next few months. Delays of 5-10 minutes.SH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway at Zwies Road – Construction work has begun and will continue over the next few months. Delays of 5-10 minutes. Other maintenance work underway next week is listed below: Highways South/SouthRoads maintenance work:·         SH1 Bluff highway at various sites between McLauchlan Road and Kekeno Place, stop/go for resurfacing·         SH6 Winton-Lorneville highway near Wilson's Crossing Road, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairs·         SH6 Five Rivers-Lumsden highway at Five Rivers, stop/go for sealing·         SH6 Athol-Five Rivers highway at Jollies Hill, stop/go for sealing·         SH93 Old Coach Road at various sites between Owaka Valley and Kaiwera Downs Road, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairs·         SH94 Waimea highway between Croydon Bush and Otamita, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairs·         SH99 Orepuki-Riverton highway south of Orepuki, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairs·         SH99 Riverton-Wallacetown highway at Waimatuku, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairs **Programmed work may be delayed due to weather/other factors. Upcoming renewal workSH99 Wallacetown – road renewal and bridge work - FebruarySH1 Waipahi Highway east of Pukerau – road renewal – dates to be confirmed  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.

Comedian Gary McCormick, a lifelong friend of Sir Tim Shadbolt, says the mayor was fearless but armed with "a landmark smile and laugh" that won people over.The former Invercargill and Waitematā mayor, who was also an activist and student radical, died on Thursday at the age of 78.McCormick told Summer Times it was a sad day for New Zealand.He said he was sitting looking at photos of Sir Tim who did some 60 shows with McCormick around the country."He had that landmark smile and laugh. It was impossible for him to be depressed, whether he was in jail, arrested by the police or undergoing the rigours of a council meeting."McCormick said Sir Tim had a rare gift for leadership."He led by example. he was charismatic and he cut through the nonsense," he told RNZ. It was a style befitting a man who had been in trouble as a student for using the word "bullshit"."There was no bullshit about him. He had a strange kind of fearlessness. He was not awed by people in high positions, whether that was police or anyone else. In jail, everyone liked him."McCormick met Sir Tim at a protest in front of Parliament when both were arrested by police in the mid-1970s."I was the first into the paddy wagon. My parents were deeply shocked, watching on TV at home in Titahi Bay. Tim was next in. We sent the day in the cells and became friends. We were eventually let go by a wise magistrate who thought if you can't protest at Parliament, where can you protest."'One of the great characters of his generation'Sir Tim was one of the "characters of his generation", former prime minister Helen Clark says.Speaking to RNZ, she said Shadbolt would have a go at anything and do it fearlessly and in good humour."I think we miss some of the characters now in politics, that humour - it has all got a bit more pedestrian."Clark remembered Sir Tim from his days as a student activist on the Auckand University campus in the late 1960s. He had formed a political party calling itself the Auckland University Society for the Active Prevention of Cruelty to Politically Apathetic Humans - or AUSA POCPAH"They used to dress in big capes, looking like the Wizard of Christchurch, and he had an alsatian dog."You could never forget him, with his look and capes and dog."He was a very good humoured guy who did crazy things."Clark said he would take on any cause or role fearlessly."When he stood for the mayoralty of Waitakere council, I think a lot of people were probably aghast. But he formed 'Tim's Team' and it did very well for a while."And while his last years at Invercargill may not have been great for him, he always had the courage to give things a go. He was one of the great characters of his generation."Huge influence on Southland's fortunesThe former chief executive of Invercargill City Council says Sir Tim Shadbolt was central to efforts to turn around the city's fortunes.Richard King met Sir Tim at a rally in his student activist days, and later worked with him for more than 20 years.He told Morning Report Invercargill was once the fastest-declining city in Australasia, but Sir Tim helped attract jobs and people, in part by championing free tertiary fees."That had a huge boost to the city. You had more students spending money, you had people coming like outside investors, buying up houses so they could rent them to the students, and many students decided to stay," he said.Sir Tim loved people and was the kind of man who would "give you the shirt off his back."He could connect with anyone within minutes, King said."He was the sort of person [who] he could walk into a room without knowing anybody - and five minutes later, 95 percent of them were eating out of his hand," he said."When he came to Invercargill, people really rallied around and supported him big time."Although political opposition later took its toll, Sir Tim had a good run, King said.Published by Permission

People travelling around the South Island this weekend to take advantage of the warm weather are being encouraged to also plan for the impact of expected gale force winds and heavy rain, and to take extra care on the roads. MetService has a host of weather warnings and watches in place for the weekend, when temperatures are expected to tip over 30 deg C in some parts of the South Island. These include a strong wind warning for Canterbury about the high country and near the foothills from Saturday night through Sunday, while heavy rain warnings apply for Westland ad Fiordland between Haast and Doubtful Sound from 3am on Saturday, and from 11pm Saturday for the ranges of the Westland District about and north of Haast. Lesser wind and rain watches are in place for most of the rest of the South Island, including Otago and Southland. New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi urges road users to plan ahead and adjust their driving to the conditions on the state highways. Heavy rain can cause surface flooding and slips, in addition to loss of traction. People should think about adjusting their speeds and travelling distances, avoiding sudden braking and staying visible. In gale force winds, those driving high-sided vehicles, motorcycles and towing vehicles should be especially cautious. State highways may have restrictions placed on them where obstructions arise or public safety is at risk.   Stay up to date on the weather conditions at the MetService site , and on the status of the state highways at our Journey Planner site.A messy picture of weather warnings and watches below for the South Island, from MetService. Photo: NZTA

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Minor delays with roadworks expected from mondayWeather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Showers clearing Tomorrow: Gale northwesterlies and heavy rain developing Sunday: Rain clearing Monday: Fine Tuesday: Showers

Former Invercargill and Waitematā Mayor, Sir Tim Shadbolt, has died early this morning (8 Jan) aged 78.Sir Tim, who was awarded the Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List, served eight terms as Invercargill Mayor (between 1993 – 1995, and again between 1998 – 2022), and two terms as Waitematā (Auckland) Mayor, between 1983 - 1989: making him one of the longest-serving mayors in New Zealand.The Mayor’s partner of many decades, Asha Dutt, speaking on behalf of the family said “Today we lost the cornerstone of our family and the man who has devoted himself to promoting the City of Invercargill for almost 30 years.""Tim was a kind-hearted man who cared deeply about the people around him.""He was a champion for the underdog and an active political campaigner from his student days of anti-war protest, his activism for Māori rights, and his fight to keep the Southern Institute of Technology and Zero Fees autonomous.""Tim will be remembered with gratitude, respect, and affection for his commitment to the south and his passion for life.""The citizens of Invercargill can be proud of the enormous legacy he leaves.”Invercargill Mayor Tom Campbell paid tribute to the former mayor, saying he extended his deep condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Sir Tim, on behalf of the entire community.“Sir Tim served an incredible eight terms as Mayor of Invercargill, and he leaves an enormous legacy within our community.""He was widely known, not only for his genuine pride in our community and the people within it, but equally for his colourful personality, infectious enthusiasm, and his tireless advocacy for Invercargill – both locally and throughout the country. His absence will be deeply felt,” he said.“Sir Tim’s political activism from the 1960s and 1970s shaped his strong sense of civic leadership and committment.""It was that lifelong affinity for supporting the causes in which he believed that helped Sir Tim become one of the most tireless champions of Invercargill."While our city was not originally the place he called home, Invercargill will always be proud to claim him as one of its own.“I did not have the opportunity to serve alongside him during his time on Council, but I recognise the profound impact of Sir Tim’s leadership across multiple terms, and the many relationships he built with Councillors, staff, and community members through his many years of service. Sir Tim’s enduring legacy has shaped the city we are today,” Campbell said.Among Sir Tim’s many achievements, some of those that were particularly profound included his fierce support for Invercargill Airport – he long called for it to be made an international airport, and served as Mayor when direct flights between the city and Auckland were first introduced in 2019 – as well as his championship of the Southern Institute of Technology’s ‘fees free’ policy. Both had played pivotal roles in revitalising the region’s economy, Campbell said.“It was while he was campaigning for his second stint as Invercargill Mayor that Sir Tim promised to put Invercargill on the map. There are very few people who could claim to have done that in a more genuine or memorable way than Sir Tim.”Invercargill City Council Chief Executive Michael Day said the organisation honoured the significant contribution Sir Tim had made to the city and its people.“On behalf of Invercargill City Council and the many staff who worked with Sir Tim throughout his years of service to our city, I extended my sincere condolences to his loved ones."“Many Councillors, Council staff, and community members had the opportunity to work closely with Sir Tim during his tenure as Mayor, and experienced first-hand his energy, conviction, and committment to his community.""His legacy is one that will endure across generations,” Day said.“Sir Tim was a true advocate for our community. His strong sense of pride, his life in public service, and his political activisim helped shape our city.""Sir Tim will forever be remembered as a defining figure in our city’s history and he will be deeply missed by many.”The Coat of Arms flag will be flown at half-mast at Invercargill City Council to mark Sir Tim’s contribution to the city and a Book of Condolence will be available for members of the public to sign, both at Te Hīnaki Civic Building and the Bluff Service Centre. Comments paying tribute to Sir Tim on Council’s social media accounts will also be compiled. A digital Book of Condolence will be available online at icc.govt.nz Day said floral tributes to Sir Tim can be left at the Blade of Glass sculpture outside Te Hīnaki in Esk St.The public is asked to avoid using plastic or non-biodegradable wrapping for these, so that floral tributes can later be composted by Council’s Parks team at an appropriate time.The Archives team will be responsible for preserving any cards or correspondence left with floral tributes to Sir Tim, he said.Funeral service details will be announced once confirmed.