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:A taste of upcoming Events:Comedy Hypnotist - Frankie MacShades of Shakti in ConcertThe Southern Artisan Christmas FeteTina: The Ultimate Tribute to the Queen of Rock & RollStay 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.📢 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.

Southland Police are teaming up with Department of Conservation (DOC) and farmers to target illegal hunting and trespassing in the Mid Dome Conservation Area.‘The Mid Dome Poaching Project’ brings puts poachers in the spotlight and focuses on educating hunters, in order to protect private property, and ensure the safety of hunters and farmers.The Mid Dome area has seen a rise in illegal hunting activity since 2022, with hunters breaching DOC permit conditions and trespassing onto privately owned farmland.Senior Sergeant Peter Graham says farmers bordering the Mid Dome Conservation Area have reported repeated incidents of poaching and safety concerns.“This project is about working together to educate hunters, enforce the law, and protect Southland’s rural communities,” says Senior Sergeant Peter Graham.Department of Conservation Ranger, Jono Airey says hunting permits are issued for public conservation land only.“Hunters must respect boundaries and seek permission before crossing private property, were committed to working with police and landowners to ensure responsible hunting practices,” says Jono Airey.Local farmer Maurice King whose property borders the conservation area is supportive of the project.“We’re not anti-hunting—we’re anti-illegal hunting; Illegal hunters need to know spotlighting from roads is illegal and they will be held to account”.The Mid Dome Poaching Project will run throughout the summer hunting season and into the April ROAR period.To help Police identify and hold poachers accountable, we ask anybody to report suspicious behaviour to us, including suspicious vehicles or people in your local area.If it is happening now, call 111.If you are reporting information after the fact, call 105 or go online.

A pay gap affecting mana whenua representatives at a southern council will persist despite pushback.On Tuesday, Invercargill City Council voted to pay its mana whenua representatives $49,275 for the upcoming term compared to $54,347 for councillors.The proposed disparity drew criticism from departing mana whenua appointee Evelyn Cook last week, who said she was offended by it.Councillor Andrea de Vries was vocal in her support of paying the representatives more. Credit: SuppliedBut first-term councillor Andrea de Vries was the only member to verbally oppose the gap at Tuesday's meeting.De Vries pointed out the council likely undertook a previous representation review with a goal of upholding its commitments and obligations under Te Tiriti.“Te Tiriti is not about having mana or dominance over another party. It is about how we work together in partnership.“And that is why I believe that we should be looking at an equal rate of what the minimum role that a councillor at this table is going to be remunerated at — should be the same for a mana whenua representative.”Her comments followed a reflection from Darren Ludlow that the council's last representation review showed a preference for mana whenua seats over Māori wards.Earlier in the meeting, de Vries also took exception with how the council paper had been presented, saying it did not acknowledge other independent representatives and gave the impression mana whenua were the only group getting paid.Councillor Alex Crackett agreed, fearing the focus on remuneration for the appointees created divisive conversation in the community.Council manager governance and legal Michael Morris said the reason for keeping them separate was to reflect mana and status.Present at Tuesday's meeting was councillor Barry Stewart, who said he did not think the representatives should be paid at all.Departing representative Cook said last week that the role included work which was not reimbursed, such as discussions for the city’s new museum. Departing mana whenua representative Evelyn Cook is offended by the pay gap. Credit: SuppliedShe hoped the representatives had proven their value after four years.Councillors Ludlow, Ria Bond, Grant Dermody and Steve Broad spoke in support of different remuneration based on the difference in roles.Ultimately, the only councillors to vote against the recommendations were de Vries, Marcus Lush and Stewart.Mayor Tom Campbell said last week the proposed pay for councillors was higher because it included roles such as chairing subcommittees, and mana whenua representatives did not carry those additional responsibilities.He has also acknowledged the representatives would sit on the same number of committees as councillors this term, which was an increase in their involvement.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardComments:Expect normal travel times – Please drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Cloudy with a few showers late evening Tomorrow: Cloudy with the odd shower early Friday: Rain, possibly heavy, easing later with a chance of snow during the afternoon Saturday: Mainly fine, apart from a few morning showers

Invercargill’s Queens Park is set to reopen in phases, but Invercargill City Council is preparing visitors to expect significant changes to one of the city’s most cherished green spaces.The state of emergency throughout Southland was officially lifted last Friday, with the region now in recovery mode following last month’s severe weather event.Council’s Manager Parks and Recreation Caroline Rain said visitors would see a noticeable difference to the space they knew and loved.Map detailing phased reopening of Queens Park, in InvercargillA number of parks and reserves in Invercargill and Bluff had now been expertly-assessed and safely reopened.However, the recovery process at the award-winning Queens Park – which spans approximately 81 hectares – would take a significant amount of time, she said. “Queens Park won’t look or feel the same for a long time,” Rain said.The first section of Queens Park – including the animal reserve, playground, and Cheeky Llama Cafe – was set to be reopened on Saturday 15 November.“The landscape of virtually every part of our beautiful park has been altered, and in some cases it will be years before it resembles what it once was,” she said.“Some stands of trees have had a significant reduction in numbers, as many have been uprooted. Others have had a number of limbs or branches removed entirely. It’s been pretty devastating for our team to see the scale of damage inflicted at Queens Park, and we expect it might be quite confronting for everybody.“But change is part of nature, and this is an opportunity for us to see the landscape evolve and grow in new ways. The look and feel of Queens Park might be unfamiliar for awhile, but it’s still the same special place at the heart of Invercargill – just with a new face.”The second stage of reopeninig would be the area immediately surrounding the band rotunda, leading south to Feldwick Gates, to be reopened Friday 5 December, Rain said.“We’re doing everything we can to ensure Christmas can be celebrated in Queens Park.”Other sections of the park, including the Queens Park Golf Club, the remainder of Coronation Avenue, and the tracks around the perimeter of the park including those from Kelvin St, Herbert St, and Queens Dr, would require more intensive remedial work before the public could access it safely, and was not expected to reopen for some time, Rain said.“Queens Park is in many ways the heart of our community – it’s where people come together to create memories with friends and whānau, relax, and connect with nature. The damage caused by October’s weather event was significant, but the Parks team and our contractors have worked relentlessly to restore the park and make it safe for everyone to enjoy again.“We know how loved Queens Park is, and that our community is eager to be able to visit it again. We are really grateful for the patience and encouragement of everybody in the community, as we’ve worked to ensure that our green spaces can be accessed safely once more.”

The experience gained in her first season as a coach has armed Wendy Frew with the confidence to handle whatever 2026 brings.Frew will return for her second stint as head coach of the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and is eager to continue building on her coaching successes.“Having a year under my belt is a really good feeling. I know what it’s all about and the commitment it takes,” she said.“There were so, so many lessons which taught me a lot. I still need to learn so much – I’m very honest about that – but I am proud of the culture created, the values we set and how we lived by them, and the relationships I built.There is a lot to be positive about as we head into another campaign.”After a challenging start, the Steel delivered some quality performances and ultimately, were denied a spot in the finals by just two points.“That’s definitely something we’ll be aiming to rectify. With the two-round format, you can’t afford not to hit the ground running in this competition.We need to be ready from game one to take those wins and earn our place in the title hunt,” Frew said.With the bulk of this year’s squad returning, she will have the benefit of familiarity as only Australian imports Josie Bingham and Jess Milne are new to the Steel environment.“Our recruiting focus was to retain a good amount of the players and I’m very proud that I was able to do that as it sets us up nicely. It’s an exciting team and we would have grown from some of our tight losses in 2025,” she said.“Having seven returning players already puts us in a better position for 2026 and our three new players we’ve added into the mix are all very talented and I expect them to fit in strongly.”The 2026 Steel squad also comprises shooters Georgia Heffernan and Aliyah Dunn, midcourters Kimiora Poi, Renee Savai’inaea, Serina Daunakamakama and Ashleigh Poi, and defenders Carys Stythe and Khanye-Lii Munro-Nonoa.“My aim is always to develop a team with a good culture that lives by their values day in, day out. A team that engages well with our fanbase, funders, and partners across the region,” Frew said.“My expectation is to see us grow on from our performances from 2025 and set high standards in the group on the court and off the court.”A key change will be recruiting a new assistant coach after Liana Leota opted to switch to the Pulse to be closer to her children.“La is a massive loss. She did some amazing things here and I will be forever grateful for having her by my side in my rookie year given her knowledge and experience,” Frew said.“It also presents a fantastic opportunity for someone new to now step into the ranks and have an influence at this level of our sport so I’m looking forward to seeing who is eager for the challenge.”

Term 4 has kicked off with lots of exciting learning and events at Lochiel School! Our students have been developing essential water safety skills through swimming lessons, ensuring they are confident and safe in and around water.Learning water safety skills a necessity. Photo: Supplied.Learning to be safe in the water. Photo: Supplied.Year 4–8 students have also been learning important bike safety skills, which is particularly timely as we open up our pump track for the term. Learning bike safety skills. Photo: Supplied.It’s always a popular playtime and lunchtime activity, and the safety lessons ensure students can enjoy it confidently and responsibly.Practising bike safety skills. Photo: Supplied.Pet Day has been a highlight of the term so far, and despite the cooler weather, the strong sense of community spirit made the day a huge success. Families, students, and staff all came together, and everyone had a fantastic time celebrating this special school tradition. A huge thank you to our amazing PTA who organise and run this day for our community. See our photos below that showcase our fun day!Pet day was a great success. Photo: Supplied.This wee pony receiving wonderful attention. Photo: Supplied.In the classrooms, students are enjoying exploring their own-choice inquiries this term. They are enthusiastically investigating topics that interest them and sharing their learning with classmates, building curiosity, creativity, and presentation skills.Although we will miss our Year 8 students, we are incredibly proud of all they have achieved at Lochiel. Harvey Tanks Ltd proud sponsor of Lochiel SchoolAs they step into high school, they carry with them the knowledge, skills, and memories that will help them thrive. Meanwhile, we look forward to celebrating the final weeks of what has been a busy, exciting, and memorable year for our whole school community.

There was a real buzz in the air when ten of the world’s best harness racing drivers came to Central Southland Raceway in Winton to contest a round of the World Driving Championship on Sunday.Drivers representing Italy, USA, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Germany, France, Finland and New Zealand – represented by seven-time New Zealand champion Blair Orange vied for points over four heats on the day.On track it was Jaap Van Rijn of the Netherlands who had the best day of the international drivers. Coming into the round eighth in the points Van Rijn won the VetSouth Equine WDC Heat 16, the SBSR / Diamond Creek Farm WDC Heat 18 and the Ultra-Scan Western Southland WDC Heat 19 giving him wins in three of the four heats. Those success propelled him into third place overall at the conclusion of the round behind Canadian James MacDonald and Australian Gary Hall Jnr. The championship was due to move onto Addington on NZ Cup Day on Tuesday of this week for the final heat of the championship. New Zealand’s Blair Orange left Winton fourth in the points.Pierre Vercruysse of France was the other heat winner on Sunday in the Night ‘N Day Winton WDC Heat 17.WDC0949: Drivers sign autographs during the Fan Zone activity during Sunday’s WDC 25 racing at Central Southland Raceway in Winton on Sunday. Credit: Monica Toretto Photography..The Winton Harness Racing Club turned it on for the event with the visiting drivers and their entourage arriving by bus to be greeted by Club President Ian Goodman before being piped onto the course. They proved hugely popular throughout the day posing for plenty of photos with fans both young and old while a special Fan Zone activity during the day saw plenty of posters distributed and autographs obtained.The Fashion In The Field Competition supported by Forsyth Barr Investment Specialists, Impress Boutique, Country Jewel, Mitre 10 Winton and Southern Discoveries was won by Julie Argyle of Winton.The Winton Harness Racing Club put in a massive effort to present a great day for the public and were repaid with a large turnout to witness the event.

Reliable access to fuel is a cornerstone of Southland’s economic resilience.The recent storm across the province, and subsequent concerns about access to fuel supplies, only highlighted how much our businesses, farmers and communities rely on consistent local supplies.The coalition Government recently released a new Fuel Security Plan to safeguard transport and logistics systems, and emergency services, from any international or domestic disruption.This strategy will ensure everyone in our country has reliable access to fuel in case of global or domestic disruptions.Fuel security is crucial to our province and our country’s economic resilience and wellbeing.As an island nation, reliant on imported fuels, we must be prepared for global supply chain shocks and domestic disruptions.The plan, published this month, builds on actions the Government has already started, such as increasing onshore fuel stocks and the production of a National Fuel Plan for emergency responses.The Fuel Security Plan sets out a clear pathway to further strengthen our resilience to ensure people and businesses can continue to access fuel, no matter what challenges the future brings.The plan focuses on four key areas: resilience against global supply shocks, domestic resilience, supporting domestic fuel alternatives and resilience in a transitioning market.The Fuel Security Plan is not just about managing risk it’s also about supporting economic growth and building greater self-reliance.That means investing in domestically produced energy, including alternative fuels and renewable energy, to reduce our dependence on global markets and creating new opportunities for regional development and innovation.Funded by Parliamentary Services

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardComments:Expect normal travel times – Please drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Mainly fine, with a few light showers around midday Tomorrow: Cloudy with a few showers later Thursday: Cloudy with a few showers early Friday: Rain, possibly heavy, easing to showers later

Public feedback is now being sought on a draft plan to change the legal status of Fiordland's Wapiti to a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI).The Wapiti herd within the Fiordland National Park, estimated at around 3000 animals, is currently managed by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF) in agreement with the Department of Conservation (DOC).However in 2024 that management agreement was legally challenged by Forest & Bird (F&B), who argued it was in conflict with the National Parks Act 1980.FWF subsequently began working with the Department of Conservation and the Government in an attempt to have the animals formally recognised as a HOSI and managed for hunting and conservation.NZ Game Animal Council Chair Grant Dodson said that a HOSI, only legally possible under the Game Animal Council Act 2013, represented a paradigm shift in how game animals would be considered in law.It would recognise "game animals as valued introduced species - in particular for their hunting values and the role of hunters in managing them.”Fiordland Wapiti Foundation general manager Roy Sloan. Photo: FWF/SuppliedGAC CEO Corina Jordan said the HOSI approach would deliver better outcomes for hunters and the community, compared to current management frameworks under the Conservation Act 1987.But F&B warns that the proposal to introduce HOSI for pest species on public conservation land sets a dangerous precedent and will undermine the very purpose of those areas.F&B regional manager Nicky Snoyink said the proposal was coming at a time when out-of-control populations of introduced browsing pests like deer were invading almost every corner of New Zealand.“The current exploding populations of deer, goats and pigs prevent regeneration and trash the ecosystem’s ability to be an effective carbon sink,” she said.“What New Zealand needs is a nationally coordinated action plan across all land tenures to control introduced invasive pests.”Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager was reported in February by RNZ as saying he was supportive of HOSI bids so long as they maintained or improved conservation and hunting outcomes.The public is also currently being asked to give feedback on a New Zealand Sika Foundation plan to grant HOSI status to Sika deer in the Kaimanawa/Kaweka Forest Park.Both public consultation periods opened today (10 Nov) and run till 8th December.CLICK HERE to find out more and make a submission on the Draft herd management plan for the proposed Fiordland wapiti Herd of Special Interest.CLICK HERE to find out more and make a submission on the Draft herd management plan for the proposed sika deer Herd of Special Interest.

Road now clear.SH 1 Edendale to Brydone, near the intersection with Ota Creek Road.Both DirectionsDue to a crash,the road is down to one lane with Stop/go traffic management in place.Take extra care while travelling through this route.

The only female elected member at a southern council admits you sometimes have to put on "armour" for the job.Lyndal Ludlow has been the sole woman councillor at Environment Southland since 2016, bar one term in 2019 when she was joined by Bonnie Mager.Only four other women have put their hand up for election across the four terms she has now clocked up.Ludlow wasn't sure why there was such low representation, but had a few theories including remuneration and the schedule not fitting around being a mum.She also acknowledged the strong male presence could put some people off because of a fear they would not be heard.Working with her male colleagues was great most of the time, she said."Funnily enough I've ended up in an all-male household, so I've got that at home as well. The guys, I really enjoy their company because they're decent human beings, most of them. "And we all have our moments, I'm not perfect myself."But it is challenging at times because our perspective is very different on some things. There's one really good advantage and that is that I don't have to wait for the bathroom."Ludlow said she noticed she approached conversations and debate differently to her male constituents and was less likely to have an outburst.However, she had faced sexism in the role, including an incident at a regional meeting where a man introduced himself and asked if she was the minutes secretary."So I rose to my full... 5ft2, took a deep breath and said 'no, no, I'm actually one of the councillors'."On another more recent occasion, Ludlow was again assumed to be a secretary.She was used to giving a "bit back" when faced with inappropriate comments but acknowledged it was upsetting at times.Ludlow encouraged women who were interested in influencing the future to get involved, whether that be through submissions or partaking in community discussions.This election, she finished with the second-most votes of any candidate in the Invercargill-Rakiura constituency.Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

UPDATE: 10 November – Night closure for Balclutha Bridge postponed due to weather A closure scheduled for tonight for State Highway 1/Balclutha Bridge, and for nearby Gormack Street in Balclutha, has been postponed until tomorrow night because of forecast rain. The bridge closure will now take place from 9pm tomorrow (Tuesday 11 November), reopening at 5am on Wednesday for the completion of the work. During this closure, the bridge will reopen on the hour, every hour to allow queued traffic to pass. Photo: NZTA.Work will also take place on Gormack Street between 5pm and 9pm tomorrow, with a lane shift on SH1/Essex Street. Temporary speed restrictions and side road closures will also be in place. This traffic management is required for crews to safely excavate sections of the road surface and replace them with new asphalt. If any further schedule changes are required, we will provide notice of this. We thank people for their patience.  

Peter Thompson has been appointed the new Chief Executive of Hospice Southland, replacing Dr Flora Gilkison, who held the position from 2020 until her retirement in September 2025.Thompson brings over 20 years of leadership experience across local government and the not-for-profit sector, including roles as Executive Manager at Invercargill City Council and Chief Executive of YMCA Southland.He also holds governance positions with Stadium Southland and the Southland Community Broadcasters Charitable Trust, and is active in national sporting organisations.Thompson said he felt honoured to lead an organisation “so deeply woven into the fabric of Murihiku and Whakatipu.”“Hospice Southland is more than a service; it’s a reflection of our people, our aroha, and our collective strength as a community,” he said.“My focus will be on listening, reconnecting, and supporting the hospice whānau to thrive.”Board Chair Helen McCurdy welcomed the appointment, calling it a significant and positive step.“Peter is an exceptional leader who combines strategic vision with genuine compassion,” she said.“His people-centred approach is exactly what Hospice Southland needs.”Hospice Southland Ambassador Suzanne Prentice also praised the decision saying Thompson had a deep understanding of the community and a genuine commitment to people."Under his leadership, Hospice Southland will continue to grow and make a difference in even more lives.”Hospice Southland has provided free, specialist palliative care across Murihiku and the Whakatipu Basin for over 35 years.Thompson's appointment becomes effective on January 2026.

From extreme heat to extreme cold, the cows which have been in Berwick Settle's care live in some challenging situations.Over the past two decades, the former Southland sharemilker has helped set up dairy farms in Cambodia, China, Vietnam and Russia.His first introduction to fully housed dairy operations, where cows are fed rations in huge barns, was in Indonesia.Milking 1200 cows in very warm temperatures "on the side of a volcano" was different from the New Zealand pastoral system where cows mostly forage paddocks for their feed and only come to the shed at milking time.He went on to help set up one of the first of China's very large dairy farms - 10,000 cows with a tourism operation alongside - in China's dairy farming central, Houhot, in Inner Mongolia.In some of the Asian countries he's worked temperatures can get up to 39C with very high humidity, so managing heat stress is critical, he told Country Life."If you don't get it right, production can crash. Reproduction can drop down to about 10 percent conception and [there are] a lot of abortions, and animal health issues also increase massively."Settle said there is a lot of science and developing technology involved in keeping the cows cool, including sprinkler systems and huge fans."When the cow comes to the feeding line, a sprinkler goes on them, they sprinkle them for about 30 seconds, and then the fan blows on for about four-and-a-half minutes."So, it's exactly the same situation where you hop out of a swimming pool on a windy day, you cool down very quickly".The Houhot operation allowed tourists to watch the cows milking in the multi-parlour arrangement."A 50-a-side parallel herringbone, a 60-bale rotary, a two-by-eight herringbone and a robotic milker all in the one facility."They would watch from a visitor's gallery "so they could sit, walk around and see all the different parlours milking and the cows coming in and out".Settle also spent three years managing operations at Hua Xia Farms near the Chinese capital Beijing. It grew to five farms with 35,000 cows.Cleanliness and management of manure are also challenges with such a high density of animals indoors, he said. There are several steps to make sure udders are clean before milking in such an environment."Trying to get some sort of, you know, sustainability practice into the farming operations is very difficult."The number of animals per hectare … is incredibly high, so all of the manure needs to be dealt with and carted off site. So you must have good systems around how you deal with your manure."At present, Settle is based in Russia working with the Vietnamese company TH Milk resurrecting a dairy farming hub at Efimsevo, southwest of Moscow and not far from Kozelsk. Here there is the challenge of extreme cold - it can reach -25C.Barns are well insulated but not heated, and water troughs must be fitted with elements to keep the water from freezing.But his latest assignment has more than just climate challenges to deal with, as Kozelsk is a base for several Russian missile regiments. The farm site is next to a strategic missile base, and drone attacks are constant reminders of the war with Ukraine.Settle said they were "part of everyday life here".Published by Permission

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardComments:Expect normal travel times – Please drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Rain with heavy falls & thunderstorms possible, easing to showers, then clearing later Tomorrow: Morning showers turning fine Wednesday: Cloudy Thursday: Cloudy with a few showers possible

State Highway 1 has been closed, between Longbush and Kennington near Invercargill, after a truck hit an electric power pole on the highway at around 2.30pm today (9 Nov).The incident has happened at the highway's intersection with Grace Road.Police advise no injuries are reported, but ambulance services have been called as a precaution.The road will remain closed while contractors repair the electrical damage.Motorists should expect delays.

Rural Support Trusts in Southland, Otago and North Canterbury will receive up to $70,000 to continue their work supporting farmers, following last month's storm.The announcement today (8 Nov) was made by Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson and is on top of $250,000 already pledged to the three regions.Minister McClay said the North Canterbury, Otago, and Southland Rural Support Trusts played a vital role on-the-ground supporting farmers and growers through the medium-scale adverse event.“Some farmers and growers will face many months of cleanup work to get back on track.""This funding will enable the Trusts to make sure people who need support can get it,” he said.Minister Patterson said as an Otago farmer he knew the important role the Trusts play during adverse events.“I saw their work first-hand while on-the-ground in Clutha during last month’s severe weather."Today’s announcement is part of this Government’s ongoing support of Rural Support Trusts across the country.“Budget 2025 confirmed $4 million of funding over four years including an additional $1m to further boost the important work they do in rural New Zealand,” McClay said.Farmers and growers who require support are encouraged to contact their local Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254.