UPDATE: The fishing boat has now been refloated and was being towed to Bluff, however with weather conditions forecast to deteriorate and the boat taking on water, it has been diverted to Little Harry Bay on Stewart Island for shelter and to allow the team onboard to continue to pump water from the vessel.Coastguard Riverton and Bluff has been called to a fishing boat grounding on rocks at Whenuia Hou Codfish Island, west of Rakiura Stewart Island.Emergency services were notified at around 9:45am today (14 Nov).Police said they were monitoring the situation and Coastguard were working to have the vessel towed back to shore.It is believed that everyone on board is currently safe and the boat is not taking on water.The Harbourmaster has also been informed and is supporting the response.No environmental contamination of diesel or oil is believed to have taken place.Whenuia Hou Codfish Island is nationally significant, both as an ancestral homeland to Ngāi Tahu and a wildlife sanctuary to the critically threatened flightless kākāpō.

SH 6 Winton, near the intersection with Bute Street - Both directions.Due to a public event, this section of road will be closed on Saturday 15th November between 2:30pm and 3:30pm.The detour will be via Bute Street, Park Street and Grange Street.Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for travel.

After close to three years at the helm, Andrea Dixon is concluding her tenure as General Manager of the Southern Dairy Hub to concentrate on the next phase of her career and personal life.“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved over the last, almost, three years. The Hub is an incredible farm, and our new demonstration focus means we can get meaningful insights to our farmers in real time” Dixon said. “Working with DairyNZ, SDDT and Bioeconomy Science Institute (previously AgResearch) has been a privilege, but it’s the southern farmers who make this job special. Knowing the work we do at the Hub provides farmers with critical information, making a real contribution to their farm’s prosperity, has been a driving force for me”. SDT Board Chair Simon Flood said, “Andrea has been a wonderful general manager, keeping the ship steady as we updated our strategy and pivoted to a demonstration mode. We will miss Andrea’s passion, leadership and strategic thinking, and thank her for her contribution and wish her every success as she starts a new chapter in her life. We are indebted to her for her commitment and dedication for the Hub, and I cannot speak highly enough about Andrea’s capability and can-do attitude”. “Recruitment for Andrea’s successor will start in early 2026. The SDH General Manager role is totally unique, with a clear mandate to support southern farmers as they strive to improve not only their sustainability, but also productivity and profitability in a rapidly moving environment,” Flood said. 

Below is a list of programmed works for next week. ** Please note there is a northbound closure of SH6 in Winton tomorrow (Saturday 15th November) for an event between 7am and 5pm. Detour for light vehicles via Bute/Park/Grange streets. Detour for heavy vehicles via Gap Road West/Winton Substation Road/SH96. Key renewal sites in Southland currently underway/beginning:SH93 Old Coach Road - Underway and likely to continue until mid-December. Traffic lights in place, delays of 5 -10 minutes. SH94 at The Key - Underway and likely to continue until mid-December. Traffic lights in place, 10-15 minute delays. Team will be moving to Mararoa School end to begin stage two next week. SH97 Mossburn-Five Rivers Highway (at Five Rivers end) – Underway and likely to be completed early the week of the 24th November. Traffic lights in place, delays of 5 -10 minutes. SH97 Mossburn-Five Rivers Highway (near Ellis Road) – Beginning Monday 17th November and likely to continue for 3-4 weeks. Traffic lights in place, delays of 5 -10 minutes. SH90 Waikaka Valley highway between Waikaka Road and Cunningham Road – earthworks and drainage beginning Monday 17th November until late December. Construction will begin in new year. Traffic lights in place, delays of 5-10 minutes. Other maintenance and contractor work underway next week is listed below and mapped HERE. Highways South maintenance work:SH1 between Arthurton and Mataura, roadmarking – mobile operationSH6 Dipton-Winton highway between Winton and Benmore, stop/go for watercuttingSH94 Waimea highway near Croydon, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH94 Lumsden-Riversdale highway between Riversdale and Longridge, traffic lights for surface water channel workSH94 Lumsden-Riversdale highway between Riversdale and Longridge, traffic lights for pavement repairsSH94 Lumsden-Riversdale highway Balfour and Lumsden, stop/go for watercuttingSH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway between Springhills and Winton, stop/go for watercuttingSH99 between Riverton and Clifden, roadmarking – mobile operation **Programmed work may be delayed due to weather/other factors. Other contractor work that we are aware of:SH1 Tay St between Lindisfarne and Doon Streets, lane diversion for CCTV/cleaning stormwater assetsSH6 Winton, Saturday 15th from northbound closure of Great North Road for event – see info above. SH6 Dipton-Winton highway at Hundred Line Road, stop/go for reseal workSH93 Old Coach Road near Kaiwera Road, lane closure for powerlines workSH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway at Ryan Road, stop/go for sealing of side roadSH99 Palmerston St Riverton, stop/go for three waters workUseful links:NZTA Journeys website - https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-plannerFreight Impact Register - https://www.nzta.govt.nz/commercial-driving/trucks-and-tow-trucks/potential-restrictions-affecting-freight/ - download and filter the region for ‘Southland’. This will indicate any upcoming work in the next fortnight which have closures, detours or width restrictions for freight.

Invercargill residents still cleaning up after October’s storm could drop green waste and clean scrap metal off for free this weekend, with a similar service on its way for Bluff. The state of emergency through Southland was lifted last Friday, and the recovery process following last month’s gale-force winds had begun. Invercargill City Council Manager Infrastructure Operations Matt Keil said damage throughout the community had been widespread, and the free disposal of green waste and scrap metal was needed as people began to return to life as normal. The free green waste drop-off point, at 351 Bond St in Invercargill, would be open on Saturday 15 November between 8am and 6pm, and again on Sunday 16 November between 9am and 6pm. The last entry time would be at 5.30pm each day, Keil said. Meanwhile, Bluff residents who had green waste or clean scrap metal to dispose of would be able to do so on Saturday 22 November. Further details on the Bluff service would be made available next week, he said. “We really appreciate people’s patience while we made these arrangements. We know it’s been a huge clean-up job for many people, “ he said. “This is all about making it a little easier for everyone to get back on their feet and clear their sections safely. Load it up, drop it off, and together we’ll keep the recovery rolling.” Access for green waste drop-off in Invercargill would be available from the south end of Bond St, via the Bluff Highway/Clyde St. Light vehicles and residential trailers only would be accepted, and no entry would be available from the north end. Meanwhile, residents could drop off clean scrap metal – including corrugated iron, clotheslines, or trampolines with no attachments – at several locations throughout the city. On Saturday 15 November, the service would be available at Phoenix Recycling Group (9am – 4pm), Habitat for Humanity (8am – 6pm), ISM (8am – 10am, and 10.15am – 12pm). The following day, clean scrap metal disposal would be available at Kiwi Skips (10am – 4pm) and Habitat for Humanity (9am – 6pm). The free drop-off areas were separate from the Invercargill Transfer Station, where usual fees would apply, Keil said.

Its Great to be back for a very busy term 4, and at the start of the term we welcomed William (Room 3), Fletcher (Room 2) And Una to room 1.William Room 3 and Una Room 1. Photo: Supplied.In week 2 & 3, we welcomed Bodhi  & Kairo to Room 1 - This classroom of new entrants is humming with lots of new faces eager to learn!Bodhi and Kairo. Photo: Supplied.We hope they have a great first week at school and enjoy their time here!We started the term off with School Photos, and then we had a Bring your Tea to School night - On Friday 31st October. It’s a great chance to come together, meet some of our new families/students, have a look around the classrooms, check out what we’ve been up to and catch-up with the teachers. Pypers Produce proud sponsors of Wallacetown SchoolWe had some questions up in Room 4 seeking feedback for the school’s strategic planning.Our pool is officially open! A big thanks to Mike our caretaker for the work he has done in getting this ready for the season ahead! Room 2 were very excited to the first class in the pool this year! Photo: Supplied.Keys for this season are $100. Keys are available for school families and the wider Wallacetown Community, these are available from Annie at the office. Annie is in the office 8:30-12:30pm Monday – Friday. The classes have enjoyed getting over to the pool for swimming. School Swimming lessons happen with REAP in week 6, so that is something they always look forward to!In week 5 we had our ‘horse’ themed mufti day as we collected donations to support RDA in Otatara. Thank you for your generous donations we raised $114.50.Horse themed mufti day. Photo: Supplied.Our Jubilee Committee has had its last official meeting late October, and we would like to acknowledge and thank the team for their work over the past 18 months. We would like to thank them for their generous contributions, both in funding some of our recent school events such as the buses for the ‘Sing Out’ dress rehearsal, for some new games and equipment for our Before/After School Care Programme and for the donation they have made back to the school.Room 4 brings van Gogh to life! Check out their ‘A wheatfield with cypresses’ artwork! Photo: Supplied. Pet Day – Friday 5th December – This is a very popular event at school, and the children and teachers are looking forward to the day, where the children get to show off their pets with their friends! Hopefully we’ll see plenty of family members there on the afternoon, to watch our grand parade.That’s a wrap from us at Wallacetown School for 2025.We are looking forward to farewelling our year 6 class at their Graduation dinner on the Wednesday 10th December, and then following that, we have our School Prize Giving Breakup on the Thursday 11 December at the Wallacetown Community Centre, so hope to see you there!Merry Christmas, and we will see you in 2026 …First day of school is the Thursday 29th January 2026.

Invercargill’s annual report was formally adopted at a council meeting this week, detailing highs and lows for the city.Council chief executive Michael Day began his official comment in the document by saying it had been a “challenging financial year”.The council had faced high local government inflation, additional work and regulatory change which impacted operations, he said.But Day was pleased the council had managed to meet 71 percent of its levels of service — down just 1 percent from last year.The report listed a range of achievements from November 2024 to June 2025, including the opening of Bluff Adventure Park (Te Wahi Tākaro o Motupōhue), progress on Te Unua Museum of Southland, Queens Park gaining national accreditation, CCTV roll-out, and infrastructure upgrades.As for the numbers, the council’s total assets had increased to $1.56 billion while liabilities sat at $182.1 million.The report also noted rates revenue had slowly increased over the past five years while subsidies and grant revenue had reduced since 2021/22.Mayor Tom Campbell said at a Tuesday meeting that the adoption of an annual report was one of the weightiest accountabilities for a council.He acknowledged in a media statement that the past financial year was not without challenges.“But we’ve balanced progress with prudence, and that’s something to be proud of.”The report noted council had worked with rūnaka on projects and continued to work with Te Ao Mārama Inc to meet both legislative responsibilities and Takata Whenua needs and interests.It also gave a brief overview of the city.Invercargill was home to an estimated 57,600 people, with the district's area encompassing just under 50,000 hectares.The climate was described as mild, with an average annual temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius and 1,614 sunshine hours.Rainfall was spread evenly throughout the year at an annual average of 1,112mm.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardRoad status:CHAINS MUST BE CARRIED from East Gate (Hollyford) to The Chasm from 9pm tonight.Comments:Chains must be carried between East Gates & The Chasm from 9pm tonight (Friday) due to snow forecast overnight. Please take extra care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Rain, heavy for a time this afternoon with thunderstorms possible, easing to showers & turning to snow later Tomorrow: Showers, falling as snow early, clearing from afternoon Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with fine spells increasing Monday: Rain developing, turning heavy later Tuesday: Rain, with heavy falls possible

Middle distance runner Millie McFadzien and rugby player Olivia Gill have been recognised during the ILT Academy Southland’s end of year celebrations in Invercargill tonight (November 13).Academy Southland, which was first piloted in 2005, provides a range of support for many of Southland’s best young athletes, including mental skills training, athlete life, nutrition and strength and conditioning at the Mike Piper Training Centre.While a special event to mark the 20th anniversary of the programme is being held in December, tonight was about recognising the achievements of the current crop of Southland athletes.St Peter's College athlete Millie McFadzien. Photo supplied.Gore-based Mille McFadzien (St Peter’s College) was honoured with the top award for Foundation Year athletes for commitment in the first year of the programme.Millie represented New Zealand at the Australian secondary schools cross country championships, and also won the Young Enterprise Scheme’s Southland company of the year title recently.Academy coordinator Carly Anderson said Millie, who is coached by her cousin and Academy Southland graduate Hannah Miller, had made the most of the opportunities the programme provided.“Millie is a high achiever and she’s been able to use the things she’s learned this year to help fine tune the skills she already had. Despite the additional travel required to take part, Millie has made it work.”Millie has a busy end to the year, with the national finals of the Young Enterprise Scheme and the New Zealand secondary schools athletics championships both happening in early December.Central Southland College rugby player Olivia Gill was honoured for her commitment in the Leadership Year of the two-year academy programme.The hard-running loose forward has been a member of the CSC’s First XV, which this year qualified for the South Island final, defended its title at the Buller 10s and qualified for the Condor Sevens, being held at Mt Maunganui at the end of November.Olivia, who is heading to Otago Polytechnic next year to study applied science, was also selected for New Zealand under 18 and Matatū under 20s camps.“Olivia has really made the most of opportunities the programme has provided her with and when she’s gone away to those camps she’s been able to thrive in those environments,” Carly said.Academy manager Jason McKenzie said planning for the December anniversary event had provided the programme with a great chance to reflect.“It’s been a special time looking back at the past 20 years and the 250 or so athletes who have come through the programme,” he said.“As part of the celebration we’ve been able to reconnect with a lot of those athletes and it’s heartening to see what they have gone on to achieve in their sport and their lives.”

Forty original lithographs by twenty prominent artists.We are delighted to welcome the Muka Youth Print Exhibition back to Southland. Since its inception in 1987, the Muka Youth Print Exhibition has been touring the country almost every year, exhibiting original stone lithographs exclusively for young people. Arguably New Zealand’s longest on-going art event, 165 artists––88 of them from New Zealand and 77 from overseas––have contributed to the project, and tens of thousands of young people have been attending and building their very own art collections.The exhibition provides a unique opportunity for young people (aged 5-18 inclusive) to purchase original lithographic prints in an environment where adults are not allowed. All unframed prints are $90, and the artists' names are covered during the show. This encourages children to choose work based on their appreciation of the work rather than the artist’s reputation or potential for financial gain.Over the years most of New Zealand’s major artists have produced lithographic prints for the exhibition, including Ralph Hotere, Pat Hanly, Nigel Brown, John Reynolds, Gretchen Albrecht, and Dick Frizzell, to name a few.Entry to the exhibition is free, any young person is welcome and there is no pressure to buy. Because no adults are allowed into the exhibition, the children select prints based on their own individual taste.Frames will also be available to purchase at $90 each.Especially for ages 5 - 18 years.Co-founder and Muka director Magda Van Gils, who has been involved in the project since the beginning says, “The method of exhibition allows young people to develop a unique awareness of art that cannot be taught. By entering the room without adults, and with an opportunity to choose, young people really engage with the works of art, on their own terms.”Gallery Programmes Officer, Marcella Geddes, says “The exhibition leaves a legacy of children and adults who have grown up with and experienced art through the Muka Youth Prints. Many of the children who bought prints back in the early days of the exhibition are now bringing their own children along to experience art as a new and exciting part of their world.”TWO DAY’S ONLY - Eastern Southland Gallery, 14 Hokonui Drive, GoreSaturday 29th and Sunday 30th November 2025, 11am - 4pmONE DAY ONLY - Invercargill Public Library, 50 Dee Street, InvercargillSaturday 6 December, 11am - 3pm

We had the privilige of hosting Harold the Giraffe and the Life Education Truck in October.Harold the Giraffe. Photo: Supplied.The students absolutely love Harold and the messages he brings.Mataura Licensing Trust, Falls Hotel - proud sponsors of Tokanui SchoolWe dressed up in yellow in support of Harold.Harold and students. Photo: Supplied.We held out Pet Day on October 17th in lovely conditions.Students proud to show off their pets. Photo: Supplied.This is always a lot of fun and competition was fierce especially amongst the Dad's and Mum's Cake competition.Cakes to be auctioned. Photo: Supplied.These cakes are auctioned off at the end of the day with the proceeds going to a charity.Another lovely pet for the show. Photo: Supplied.This years charity was the Hospice and we were delighted to be able to give them $1150 from the cake proceeds.Dogs day out. Photo: Supplied.Thursday 6th November we had most of our senior class and a couple from the middle classroom participate in the Golf Tournament held at Mataura.Golf Tournament at Mataura. Photo: Supplied.What a fabulous day they had and we are super proud of our students who took part, they showed our Tokanui School Values - Excellence; Respect; Community and Integrity.Thanks to the parents for their support. Photo: Supplied.A big thanks also goes to those parents that transported and coached our teams.

This Saturday, there’s a record-breaking $55 million Powerball jackpot – and it must be won.The big question is – will one lucky player take it all, or will the prize be shared among several winners?In a Must Be Won draw, if there is no Division 1 Powerball winner, the jackpot rolls down to the next division where there are winners.There have been 12 Must Be Won draws in Lotto NZ history, and seven of those have been shared by multiple winners.“It wouldn’t be surprising if this jackpot went the same way,” says Lotto NZ Head of Corporate Communications, Will Hine.“The last three big $50 million Must Be Won draws were all shared – and that’s great because we know so many people benefitted,” says Hine.The most recent $50 million Must Be Won draw was in June 2024.The jackpot rolled down to Second Division, and seven lucky players each took home $7.18 million. Over a year on, we caught up with a few of them to see how life has changed since that unforgettable night.One winner said, “we’ve paid off our mortgage, and helped family and friends with theirs, and bought a couple of new cars.”“We haven’t managed to tick anything off the bucket list yet,” they said, “but the list is ready, and we’ll be starting that in the new year.”Another said the most extravagant thing they’ve done was a shopping spree overseas, but day-to-day life hasn’t changed much.“We still check prices before buying things – that’s not going to change.”They all agreed the first year felt surreal, full of decisions and ‘pinch me’ moments.“Seeing how much interest the first term deposit earned us – we just couldn’t believe it,” one winner shared.Their advice for Saturday’s winners?“Don’t let it change you,” and “make sure you’re confident in the team you build around you – you have to trust they are giving you good advice.”Hine says hearing these stories is one of the best parts of his job.“It’s fantastic to hear how our lucky winners from last year’s Must Be Won lives have changed, and how they’ve been able to help those around them.”With $55 million on the line, many New Zealanders will be grabbing a ticket for their chance to win, but Hine says players should stay informed on the odds and not spend more than they can afford.“You don’t need to purchase more than one ticket to be in the draw, and a $6 ticket will enable you to do that. It’s all about playing a little and dreaming a lot.“Even with a jackpot this huge, the odds of winning Powerball remain very small at 1 in 38.3 million per line.” A history of Must Be Won draws

An aurora lit up skies at the southern end of the country overnight.Stargazers took to social media to post their photographs from places like Dunedin, Waihola Lake, Roxburgh, Cromwell and Mount Cook.Te Whatu Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki in October told RNZ aurora could often be caught on camera, even when they were not visible to the naked eye.Aurora over Dunedin and surrounding areas. Photo: Jennifer Gould, Dunedin"We're currently in a pretty high activity period with our sun, and the aurora is a direct result of solar activity interacting with the Earth's magnetic field."The further south you went - place like Twizel, Southland and Otago - the better the view. Spots with less light pollution worked best.He said aurora were notoriously hard to predict in terms of how bright they would be, but people could keep an eye on the space weather forecast on the NOAA website.Meanwhile, Transpower has lifted the grid emergency that was issued on Wednesday afternoon now the G4 geomagnetic storm - the force behind the aurora - had reduced in severity.It said in a statement the South Island electricity transmission lines, taken offline as a precaution to prevent damage to equipment, had now been returned to service.There was no impact on consumers' electricity as a result of the storm.Transpower said this kind of action was standard when space weather reached a particular level.Aurora colouring the clouds. Photo: Jennifer Gould, DunedinA plan had been developed over several years through work with the University of Otago, international space agencies and others in the electricity industry.Although New Zealand was well prepared for geomagnetic storms, Transpower said, it was a timely reminder to Kiwis that they should be prepared for a natural disaster or other major event that could interrupt their power supply and damage other infrastructure.Last week, the National Emergency Management Agency and other affected agencies ran through a test scenario of a solar storm response in the Beehive's bunker, to make sure they are adequately prepared.Published by Permission

For people of a certain generation the Solid Gold Hits records are the soundtrack of their youth. Released regularly from 1972 to 1982, these vinyl pop playlists were staples during mum and dad’s parties in the garage.The stereogram blasted out catchy tunes in glorious lo-fi scratchy vinyl. Inside, a teenage Rachel Hunter spruiked Trumpet ice creams on the telly, while the grandies dunked Griffin’s Ginger Nuts in their tea and the kids went crazy on litres of sugary Raro.Kiwiana kitsch was shamelessly embraced. Dad jokes weren’t even a thing yet but we all knew what they were.People wore strange clothes, had big hair and seemed pretty chill for the most part.These were fun times.Invercargill Musical Theatre’s Christmas season theatre restaurant is a show that celebrates all of that good stuff.What’s not to like? It’s all done in the best possible taste. (IYKYK).From start to finish there are songs that compel the audience to tap their feet, bang the table, dance in their chairs and sing lustily in the choruses.They’re performed by a very good ensemble of singers and supported by four well-drilled dancers.Fronted by Darren Ludlow and Craig Waddell, Darren and Wal from Southland’s much-loved Foveaux Radio, this musical bottle of fizzy appeals with its blaze of colour and movement, its daddish humour and obligatory interludes of audience participation.It really is a cracker show, riotously entertaining during the entire two hours of performances.The song list is irresistible, and the singers give it the kitchen sink.From the hard-rocking first song, Promises’ Baby It’s You, with Michelle Reynolds singing the powerhouse lead vocal, to the epic ensemble finale, Meatloaf’s Paradise By the Dashboard Light, there’s so much going on you can’t help but be swept along for the ride.The show is punctuated by big ensemble pieces, where the cast’s voices merge in powerful harmony.We’re treated to mashups of Boney M, the Pointer Sisters, TV themes, assorted disco hits and the Village People, where we witness an abundance of joyous male bonding. As always, IMT continues to nurture a new generation of young singers who will grace southern stages for as long as they care to.There are a bunch of them in this show, led by luminous young talents such as Ava Thornley, who despite her age has been performing at an elite level for quite some time. Deacon Kynan-Wilde, Devon Te Au, Levi Te Amo, Siolo Kuresa, Leeana Thompson and Mace Braddock all contribute mightily to the production.Among the new faces, Faith Dick impresses with her rich, sultry tone on Kim Wilde’s Kids In America.The polished and professional Michael Kuresa is a welcome addition to the cast, adding star power and some funky moves to the show.Madison Brown’s strong and true lead vocals shine on Sheena Easton’s Morning Train (9 to 5) and the veteran Gerry McSoriley’s performance as Lofty in Whispering Grass will be a sentimental crowd favourite.Seasoned performers Tracey Maclennan, Alister Gray and Paul Downs own their moments, with Gray certain to incite an outbreak of audience participation with his acoustic version of It’s Hard To Be Humble.Among the many timeless hits there are also a couple of alternative early 80s oddities that seize the moment and bring another layer of flavour, namely Mace Braddock’s Safety Dance and Stephen James’ ice-cool Pop Muzik, a personal favourite of mine which he nails 100 percent.Hats off to the energetic dancers – Georgie Sunshine, Kayla Barker, Samantha Schol and Keeley Anderson-Kereti – and to choreographer Gina Stevens who engineered their fluid movement.There’s a lot going on in this production.The big clear sound, courtesy of Sono Sound’s Chris Herman, and the tightly focused lighting, operated by Jade Johnson, which adds sparkle and glitter to the spectacle, help elevate Solid Gold to memorable heights. I think it’s one of the best shows of its kind IMT have put on. I came out with a sore throat from singing, and it was only the dress rehearsal.Total banger. Ridiculously great fun. Let your hair down and prepare to be thoroughly entertained.REVIEW: Invercargill Musical Theatre's SOLID GOLD theatre restaurantDirected by Jan Brown and Craig Waddell Musical director: Jolene Kynan-WildeChoreography: Gina StevensAscot Park Hotel 13-22 NovemberCLICK HERE for tickets

Pay rises are in store for Southland’s elected members, but some are getting more than others.On Wednesday, the district council met to determine how it should distribute a set amount allocated by the Remuneration Authority for councillors — bar the mayor.The council decided to bump councillor pay from $40,843 to $41,360, while deputy mayor Christine Menzies' jumped from $53,096 to $62,040.A report prepared for the meeting said Menzies’ sum was 1.5 times that of a base councillor's pay and noted the workload would likely continue to increase in the new triennium.Mayor Rob Scott’s salary was directly determined by the Remuneration Authority and increased from $145,222 to $152,473.Speaking on Wednesday, Scott said some media had been “having some fun” with the fact councillors were setting their remuneration, but the pool was decided in Wellington and had to be fully spent.On Tuesday, Invercargill city councilors determined how to distribute their pool.The base salary for a city councillor jumped from $45,717 to $54,347, while the deputy mayor would now earn $81,521.Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell's salary was set at $165,687 by the Remuneration Authority.Pay for the city council's mana whenua representatives has proven a talking point and was ultimately set by elected members at $49,275, about $5000 less than what councillors earn.Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardComments:Potential for road to remain open overnight Friday based on the current snow forecast, although a ‘Chains Must Be Carried’ restriction likely to be put in place. Update at 7.30am tomorrow to confirm as forecast develops.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Cloudy Tomorrow: Rain, heavy for a time, easing to showers & turning to snow laterSaturday: Showers, falling as snow near the tunnel earlySunday: Mostly cloudy

Only a small number of customers remain without power after the 23 October storm, which caused widespread damage to power networks across Southland and South Otago.PowerNet Chief Executive Paul Blue emphasised that, although the State of Emergency has been lifted for Southland and Clutha, recovery efforts are still underway and the work is far from finished. Staff are in contact with the few customers who have not had their power restored. In some cases this was due to extensive damage with the service lines on their property, which meant restoration was not able to happen quickly.“We’ve talked with all the customers we are aware of to understand their needs and they have generators to keep them going until power can be fully restored.“If there’s anybody who hasn’t heard from us and doesn’t have power, they need to get in touch urgently on 0800 808 587.”Mr Blue said over 50,000 customers have had their power restored since the storm, thanks to a massive effort by PowerNet staff, colleagues from around the country, contractors and suppliers.“The network damage we saw in this storm was unprecedented and it’s quite an achievement to have power restored to so many.”While crews are still deployed to repair the properties without power, most PowerNet staff are now beginning to return to planned work.Mr Blue said people should be aware that while the obvious storm related damage to the networks has been repaired, there may be damage that is not immediately visible that could result in unplanned outages in the coming months.“It’s important that we get back to our planned maintenance as quickly as possible to ensure our networks are resilient to future weather events.“Our customers should be notified by their retailer of any planned outages and they can also keep an eye on our website for information.”Mr Blue said he wanted to once again thank everyone for their support during this major event.“Everyone, from the PowerNet staff, our electricity industry colleagues from around the country, our contractors, suppliers and the entire community, rallied together to get through this and that’s something to be very proud of.” 

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.