Converting farmland to forestry in the sensitive Catlins area of the South Island has been an opportunity to set good standards, says the forest management company tasked with the project, Southern Forests.The river which flows through parts of Wisp Hill Station forms the headwaters of the Catlins' estuary.The 5500 hectare property - once a sheep and beef farm - also borders the Catlins Forest Park which straddles Otago and Southland.Ingka Investments purchased the property in 2021 and set about converting about 3300ha into commercial forestry, retiring the remainder of the land and leaving native vegetation to regenerate."It's quite sensitive land, it's got high biodiversity values, high conservation value," explained Josh Cairns of Southern Forests from the peak of the property."It's quite unique here on this Wisp Hill range where we've got alpine species that are commonly found in the Southern Alps that are at much higher altitudes, but they seem to do quite well down here."It's also too high altitude to grow a production forest on, so it just made sense to retire it and look after it."Follow Country Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.Planting started on a 330ha block of the most unproductive part of the farm in the very back corner while the transition was underway, with Ingka contracting Southern Forests crews to work their way towards the middle of the property.Four years on, the first trees are now between 4.5 and 6 metres tall and will be ready for pruning early next year.About 2975ha have been planted in Pinus Radiata, another 140ha in Pinus Attenuata hybrids, 95ha has gone into redwoods, 100ha mānuka and 70ha is in mixed natives. Another 2130ha have been retired or planted in natives along the riparian margins.Forest manager Josh Cairns, of Southern Forests, at Ingka's Wisp Hill. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country LifeWith all eyes on Ingka, converting farmland to forestry was an opportunity for the firm to set the standard, Cairns said."We pride ourselves in doing a high quality job and doing it properly, and you know we had those discussions with Ingka in the very early stages and said 'no shortcuts'. Everyone's going to be looking at us, seeing what we're doing here."We're in an area where it does have quite a lot of biodiversity value and conservation value, a lot of waterways that need managed, so we want to be seen to be doing the right thing."And from day one, they were 100 percent on board with that. [They] provided a lot of leadership, a lot of education, advice coming from Europe, where some of the environmental regulations are a lot more stringent than ours here."Ingka and Southern Forests have prioritised riparian and waterway management, with a secondary focus on looking after the native species which grow in those corridors."In this particular catchment, there's about 40 hectares of natives planted on the riparian margins, with pine tree setbacks ranging from probably 40 metres to 150 metres off of the waterway."In the future, it makes life a lot easier. We'll never really have to stress about how we get those trees out when we harvest it, because we don't have to worry about what's happening in the waterway."Wisp Hill has high biodiversity value - on the peak grow alpine species that are commonly found in the Southern Alps at much higher altitudes. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country LifeAnother key focus - and part of the Overseas Investment Office requirements that allowed Ingka to purchase the property - has been ensuring public access.Cairns said Ingka was keen to provide recreation opportunities for the local communities."We've got a really nice river here for fishing, good hunting opportunities."Access for hunters in particular helps with the local pest population, in particular the deer and pigs which live on bordering conservation land, which Cairns described as a "massive issue"."There's one particular block we had to replant twice, 30 to 40ha, just through deer damage. It was just simply red deer coming out in that particular area and eating the trees."And at a cost of $2000-2500 a hectare to replant, well that buys you a lot of pest control."Since 2021, they have culled almost 8000 hares, rabbits and possums, over 1800 red deer and close to 570 pigs.More than 3300ha of the 5500ha former-station have been planted in a mix of exotic forestry. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country LifeAs the forestry block is Forest Stewardship Council-certified they do not use poisons.Two full-time pest control contractors help keep pressure on the population, while still allowing for recreational hunting opportunities which have helped to bring the local community on board.Other major challenges Cairns faced were the heated debate surrounding the afforestation of farmland and concerns it would be shut up for carbon sequestration."The biggest challenge here was trying to, and it still is, getting the point across that this is a timber production forest first and foremost. And, we back that up by our pruning, planting and the genetics we've planted and that sort of thing."It was one of those properties that's iconic down here and [there was] a lot of emotion attached to it."Cairns, who is also a farmer himself, understood the tension.He said the property is different from other more productive, large-scale properties that have been converted recently, although it did not have high staffing levels - just a farm manager, stock manager, shepherd and tractor driver, with the owners based elsewhere.The conversion to forestry has created new jobs for not only his team, but also forestry contractors, a local agricultural contractor and agricultural pilot.Planting first started on the least productive section of the farm. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country LifeIngka 'here for the long term'Ingka's forestland country manager Kelvin Meredith said New Zealand was identified as a key area for the company to develop a forestry portfolio early on, about the same time plans were developed for its first store in the country which opened in December last year."We all thought that IKEA was going to get here before forestry, but as it turned out, forestry was first sort of cab off the ranks."Meredith told Country Life timber was essential to IKEA - not only was it used in its supply chain, but it was also a great investment."It's got nice, stable, steady returns, and you know, you can actually get some good environmental improvement by purchasing forests."IKEA's first Auckland store opens on December 4 Photo: Marika Khabazi / RNZInside IKEA's first NZ store at Sylvia Park Photo: Marika KhabaziAt the time of the Wisp Hill purchase, Ingka's first in New Zealand, a number of farms were being bought up by other companies for carbon sinks.Meredith said it would have been easier for Ingka without the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which drove up prices for such properties as demand for carbon credits increased.About 8000ha of the 41,000ha Ingka owns in the country have been registered with the ETS to "preserve the value of the land", including some forestry blocks which had been registered prior to purchase.He hoped to see all the land that had been planted eventually registered."We have no intention of being carbon traders. We don't want the cash for the business."Long term, we might look at selling some credits for biodiversity projects, but there's been no decision made yet."Meredith told Country Life converting farmland to forestry had allowed Ingka to set the forests up in alignment with its values - larger set asides, big riparian margins, experimentation with different species, including natives for long-term restoration projects."It's been quite beneficial to do that, although it has raised a few eyebrows because we have bought quite a bit of farmland, but not all of it is high-quality farmland. A fair chunk of that, we've subdivided off and sold to the neighbour. Wisp was a classic example - 300ha there sold to a neighbouring farm."Eventually he hoped to see some of the timber processed here in New Zealand, although he acknowledged there were a number of challenges facing the industry."We're here for the long term."Published by permissionGianina Schwanecke, for Country [email protected]

A second Fire and Emergency New Zealand deployment of firefighters, including 3 Southlanders, have departed today (31 Jan) to support firefighting efforts in Victoria, Australia.This follows a formal request from Emergency Management Victoria for an exact replacement of our current Alpha deployment who are due home on Monday.The Bravo contingent consists of 20 firefighters experienced in arduous conditions and two liaison officers.Deputy National Commander Brandan Nally says the Alpha contingent have done a great job supporting Australian firefighters in tough and challenging conditions in the north-east of the state, where a bushfire has been burning out of control since it broke out on January 5."Fire and Emergency has received very positive feedback from the Australians for the work Alpha has done and I know the Bravo contingent of firefighters will continue the good work."Bravo deployment will work as four crews of five plus a Field Liaison Officer and a Jurisdiction Liaison Officer. One crew is from the Department of Conservation, and the other three crews are firefighters from the South Island plus two forestry workers.Victoria is experiencing extreme weather conditions with multiple bushfires, which have already caused loss of life and extensive damage to homes, property and the environment.The Bravo firefighters are experienced in working on complex wildfires in difficult terrain and hot temperatures. They are equipped and ready to stay at a fire camp in a remote location.Fire and Emergency has international agreements to provide mutual assistance, and regularly deploys personnel overseas to Australia, Pacific Islands and North America.

Conservationists expect to officially declare the Otago Peninsula possum-free soon and put more pest species in their sights.There have been years of mahi from residents, community groups and the Predator Free Dunedin collaboration to remove the pest from about 9000 hectares on the peninsula.Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group led community possum control on the peninsula for more than 15 years, laying down the foundations to make elimination possible.Responsibility for eliminating possums formally shifted to Predator Free Dunedin in 2024 for the final push, with the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group turning its attention to controlling multiple species and the Sustainable Otago Peninsula initiative which aims to bring the community and different groups together to tackle ecosystem restoration, sustainable land use and food resilience.A steep patchwork of backyards, gullies and bush is the last line of defence to stop them from reinvading.More than 25,000 possums have been removed from the area over the years.The Halo Project, a delivery partner of Predator Free Dunedin, is leading the efforts on the ground, using AI cameras, trail cameras, and possum scat detection dog, Scout, to track down any remaining survivors.The Halo Project, a delivery partner of Predator Free Dunedin, checks the elimination efforts in the Silver Peaks near Dunedin. Photo: Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin.Its predator-free project manager Jonah Kitto-Verhoef said the community buy-in had been impressive and important, helping to report different sightings and granting permissions to clear predators from their properties."Possums don't really care about who owns the habitat. Obviously, it will straddle several adjoining properties," he said.Kitto-Verhoef was also the handler for possum scat detection dog, Scout.Detection dog Scout sniffs for scat to find possums. Photo: Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin.Scout was a crucial part of their response as he helped them to work out where they needed to invest their efforts and where they could move on, he said."Half the challenge is having the data confidence to make operational decisions with the speed that we need to do so the scat dog compared to every other technique, maybe bar thermal drone, is the real game changer for us to be able to move rapidly."Predator Free Dunedin project lead Rhys Millar said the wider project area stretched across more than 40,000 hectares including Orokunui Ecosanctuary and in the city.Rhys Millar. Photo: Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin."We're now at a point where we feel confident that we can eliminate possums and we're beginning to explore multi-species elimination operations, which will encapsulate rats, the suite of mustelids as well as possums," Millar said."We're going to likely include feral cats and also rabbits in the mix. Not that rabbits are a target species for Predator Free 2050, we believe by removing rabbits it will make the control of mustelids a lot easier."That included looking at which toxins, traps and tools were appropriate for the different communities and areas they covered.Awareness campaigns and community conversations about the impact of cats and feral cats on native wildlife were already underway, he said.Kitto-Verhoef said they were already noticing more bird life and more diversity of plants that would usually be snacked on by possums.Thermal drones are used to help find remaining possums where densities are low. Photo: Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin."We've got people in residential areas who are winning flower competitions with their magnolias for the first time because they've been browsed so heavily by possums."People enjoy crops of broad beans and their roses so I guess our view of success is often in a conservation lens but for some people success is being able to grow a healthy rose bush."It was exciting to see less pressure on the ecosanctuary's fence and vulnerable species spilling out from Orokonui, and now that plan was to improve survival rates of native species, he said.While he was excited to celebrate success on the peninsula, Kitto-Verhoef said he was excited for the next challenge.Possums caught on infrared cameras. Photo: Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin.Millar said they were only funded until the middle of 2027."Current funding uncertainties do make forward planning beyond the next two years quite difficult so it's really important for us to prove that we can deliver."They might reach a time where they had to simply maintain their wins and tread water rather than expand further as it was vital not to lose the hard-won gains, Millar said.Published by Permission

Cleanup crews working on storm damage in Invercargill’s Queens Park have reached an important milestone this week, with the latest section of the award-winning park scheduled to reopen on Friday afternoon.The entire northern half of Queens Park had been closed following the severe wind storm that hit Southland in October, with fallen trees, hanging branches and debris making the area unsafe.Invercargill City Council Manager Parks and Recreation Caroline Rain said most of the park would now be accessible, including the major thoroughfares of Coronation Ave and the George St track near Southland Boys’ High School.“It has taken many months of hard work by staff, contractors and volunteers, but the bulk of Queens Park is finally open again,” she said.“We’ve isolated some areas where tree work is continuing, but the main paths, the golf course and the entire length of Coronation Ave have now reopened.”Restoring north-south access through Queens Park had been a priority because these paths served as a major arterial walking route, particularly for students on their way to and from school, Rain said.“Our teams have done an amazing job to get the main walkways open before the start of the new school year.” Invercargill Mayor Tom Campbell said the damage from the storm was extensive, and Queens Park had been sorely missed while it was closed.“I’m really proud to let the people of Invercargill know that they can once again walk freely through the heart of Queens Park,” he said.“Thank you to everyone involved in the clean-up and thank you, too, to the public for your patience and support. It is the result of everyone’s efforts that we can reopen these gates and enjoy our beloved park again.”As visitors returned, they would notice significant changes to the landscape they once knew, Rain said.“Many large stands of trees came down in the wind, and a lot of those that remain have been significantly trimmed or have had branches removed. “Queens Park will look different after the storm, but the good thing about trees is they can regenerate. The specialist arborists from Treetech have taken great care to preserve what they can, and the canopy will recover in time.”While most of Queens Park was open, some areas would remain cordoned off with barriers or hazard tape while arborists continued their work, including the further removal of trees and branches.“Over 850 tonnes of wood have been removed from Queens Park so far,” Rain said.“Some of this has been sold and some has been passed on to local charities. We are continuing to invite expressions of interest from community groups that can help us fairly distribute excess firewood to those in need.”A map of the remaining closed sections of Queens Park and further information about expressions of interest for firewood could be found on Council’s website.

The Langlands Hotel in Invercargill has received Gold Accreditation from Qualmark, recognising it as one of the country’s top-performing tourism businesses.The Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award is the highest possible rating from Qualmark, the official quality assurance system for Tourism New Zealand. It tells visitors that The Langlands is a trusted, high-quality place to stay that delivers great experiences and operates with care for people, the environment, and the community. This award also puts The Langlands among the country’s leading hotels, alongside The Hermitage Aoraki Mt Cook, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Peppers Resort, and DoubleTree Queenstown. It’s the first hotel in Southland to achieve this standard, a milestone both for the hotel and for Invercargill. ILT Chief Executive Chris Ramsay, said this rating is thoroughly deserved. “Alannah and her team have worked incredibly hard to ensure the hotel operates to an international standard. Their ongoing focus on training, wellbeing, and inclusivity underpins the excellent service that guests experience every day. This accreditation is something our whole community can be proud of.” Qualmark’s independent assessment reviewed all areas of operation from Health and Safety and Business Systems to Culture, Environment, and People & Community. They were particularly impressed with the efforts of The Langlands and ILT in the Restoring Nature pillar, acknowledging the strong commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement. The Langlands Executive Manager, Alannah Tamariki, said the award recognised the collective effort of everyone at the hotel. “Across the board, from our leadership team through to casual team members, we strive to be exceptional. It’s wonderful to have that hard work recognised, and we’re excited to keep building on the foundations we’ve set since opening.” Ramsay said the recognition will also strengthen Invercargill’s reputation. “This accreditation gives international visitors instant confidence that The Langlands is a great place to stay and that Invercargill offers world-class hospitality with a strong community heart.”

New Variable Speed Limits signs will slow traffic down outside Southland schools and improve safety for children return to school according to Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds.14 local schools including Ascot Community, Edendale Primary, Hauroko Valley, Hedgehope, Makarewa, Sacred Heart (Waikiwi), St John's Girls', St Patrick's (Nightcaps), St Thomas's (Winton), Te Anau and Winton have had the new signs installed.Simmonds said drivers would be required to slow to 30km/h, or 60km/h, at peak times and depending on the road and safety requirements.The signs are part of the Government’s approach to set safer speed limits outside schools, protecting children and their families, she said.“Research shows that reduced speed limits, when in force at school drop-off and pick-up times, can make a real difference in keeping children safe."“These new signs are an excellent additional safety mechanism, especially when children are first back at school for the New Year."Simmonds said Southland was one of several regions around the country where the new Variable Speed Limits signs have been installed.

Entertainment and Info with the Southland App – Where Southlanders Stay Connected!Looking for what’s happening around our region - or wanting to share something of your own?The Southland App is your one-stop destination for everything local, from major events to everyday community news.🎉 Events:Stay up to date with Southland’s biggest occasions - concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and more.Don’t miss out on the moments that bring our region together.Have an event to promote? Feature it here and reach thousands of locals.A taste of upcoming Events:Zonnis Live Concert (Canadian Duo)Operatunity - Rodgers and Hammerstein & FriendsBest of the Bee Gees "Greatest" ShowDistilled NZ📢 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.

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.  **A reminder that the Burt Munro event takes place from the 4th – 8th of February - please expect significantly more motorbikes on highways and local roads around Southland, and check twice for bikes. Due to Waitangi Day, the team will be out of the office and off the roads from Thursday 5th evening and back in the office and on the roads from Monday 9th February. For any highway concerns please call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49). 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 Milford Highway at the Homer Tunnel – Asphalt resurfacing will be taking place from Monday 26th January for 1-2 weeks. Expect slightly longer delays at the tunnel.SH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway near Transmission Line Road - Construction works underway, delays of 5-10 minutes. Weather permitting, we anticipate this may be sealed by the end of next week. Upcoming renewal workSH99 Wallacetown – road renewal and culvert work – February/March SH1 Waipahi Highway east of Pukerau – road renewal – February/MarchSH6 North Road Waikiwi, Invercargill – road resurfacing – March/April  Other maintenance work underway next week is listed below:Highways South/SouthRoads maintenance work:SH1 Pioneer highway at Brydone, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingSH1 Waipahi highway at intersection with Waikaka Valley highway, stop/go for vegetation clearingSH1 Waipahi highway at McNab, lane diversion for vegetation clearingSH6 Winton-Lorneville highway near Thomsons Crossing Road, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingSH93 Old Coach Road near Ferndale Road, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairsSH93 Old Coach Road near Kaiwera Road, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairsSH93 Old Coach Road near Waikana Road, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairsSH93 Old Coach Road near Elliot Road, stop/go for vegetation clearingSH93 Old Coach Road near Dodds Road, stop/go for vegetation clearingSH93 Old Coach Road at Owaka Valley Road, stop/go for vegetation clearingSH94 Waimea highway near Mandeville, temporary traffic lights for drainage workSH98 Lorne Dacre Road near Mill Road North, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairs Chipseal resurfacing sites will be active next week:SH1 Bluff highway at Motu Rimu Road, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingSH1 Bluff highway near Kekeno Place, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingSH1 Bluff highway at Duck Creek, temporary traffic lights for resurfacingRoadmarking taking place under mobile traffic managementSH1 - Invercargill UrbanSH1 - Bluff RoadSH93 - Mataura to Clinton SH96 - Mataura to Ohai**Programmed work may be delayed due to weather/other factors. More information at: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.

Work is set to begin next month (Feb) on a new channel above Meridian's Manapōuri Lake Control Structure in an effort to better flush nuisance periphytons like toxic algal boom and Didymo from the Waiau River.The work, estimated to cost between $5-7million, was consented in 2024 and will see 225,000 cubic meters of gravel excavated and moved onto Meridian land.Meridian said the current channel depth and alignment, and gravel build up, haven’t been as reliable as was intended when the consent condition was put in place in 2012.Meridian Energy's proposal to redirect water through a new channel above the Mararoa Weir. Photo: Meridian EnergyMeridian said it aimed to provide four or five flushing flows every year, when necessary, to maintain the health of the river.Lead project contractor, Rooneys, will establish themselves on site from early February, before creating a road for construction vehicles and gravel removal.Meridian said it was very important that people don’t try to enter their property during construction as there will be heavy machinery in use.The project will be managed to strict consent conditions to protect water quality, fish and kākahi (freshwater mussels), native sedge plants and nesting birds, they said.Following completion of works the site will be enhanced with wetland restoration.Meridian said the project is expected to take around 4-5 months, but due to variable weather conditions and lake levels, the project is allowing a 10-month construction period.CLICK HERE to read more.

A public health expert has painted a sobering picture of the impacts of alcohol on society, saying consumption needs to reduce drastically.On Wednesday, Te Whatu Ora medical officer of health Michael Butchard presented to Southland District Council regarding its Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) - a mechanism which allows councils to set rules guiding the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in their area.Butchard told those gathered the harm caused by alcohol was underestimated in New Zealand, and internationally.Every year, it caused around 900 deaths, 1250 cancer diagnoses and 30,000 hospitalisations across the country, he said.Alcohol harm cost the economy $9.1 billion a year, and the substance was linked to more than 200 medical conditions."But the main point is that the burden of alcohol harm is large. It's often underappreciated, probably by the majority of New Zealanders, and it does justify an LAP that aims to do more rather than less."Butchard said the only way to reduce chronic harms was for people to consume less alcohol."It's way too high at the moment. To be honest it should be less than a fifth of what our average consumption is now."Te Whatu Ora medical officer of health Michael Butchard Photo: LDR / The Post / Robert Kitchin.Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora's submission to the council supported maximum off-licence trading hours of 9am to 9pm. The current policy has no restriction, although licence applications need to justify the requested hours.The submission also supported extending sensitive premises to include health facilities, rehab centres, marae and fale Pasifika; plus off-licence deliveries coming with a minimum three- hour wait time.Hospitality New Zealand head of membership Darelle Jenkins gave a different perspective, saying councils had many options for reducing alcohol harm while maintaining the benefits of hospitality.That included through national settings and district licensing committees, which had discretion around approving licences and could issue infringements."We recognise that some feel hospitality contributes to alcohol-related harm in some communities, however we firmly believe that well run on-licensed environments are part of the solution to addressing alcohol-related harm in New Zealand."Off-licences include bottle stores and supermarkets while on-licences include restaurants, bars and pubs.Southland District Council undertook a public consultation from 3 November to 12 December for its Local Alcohol Policy.A total of 20 submissions were received during that time, and deliberations are set for next month ahead of final policy adoption.The council currently reviews its policy every six years but is looking to reduce that to four so it can deal with concerns faster and avoid election years.The policy has previously been shared with Invercargill City Council but is being reviewed separately this time around.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Resurfacing works continue at the Homer Tunnel today, minimal delays expected - Please follow signage and directions.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Fine Tomorrow: Cloudy with showers Sunday: Showers Monday: Rain Tuesday: Fine

Speed and route choice have been blamed for the grounding of South Port's pilot boat, Takitimu II, in December 2024, according to the findings of a Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) report released today (29 Jan).The pilot boat had set out from Bluff to transfer a pilot to an incoming ship, however after passing Stirling Point the TAIC found the master had made an excessive course alteration and at about 18–20 kt the vessel ran aground on rocks and sustained moderate damage to its hull and underwater fixtures.TAIC concluded speed and route choice had reduced the time available to detect and correct course.Fog patches in the area restricted visibility, yet the master navigated by referring to their usual visual references and didn’t make effective use of the compass and electronic navigation equipment, they said.The deckhand alerted the master when navigation screens showed they were heading toward shore, but by then there was insufficient sea room to avoid the rock.This resulted in two of the three people on board suffering minor injuries.There was no pollution and the Coastguard later towed the vessel off the rocks and back to port.TAIC concluded that since South Port had now updated its training and procedures, there was no need for the commission to make a recommendation.

The reopening of the Wyndham Camping Ground is now a lot closer after the Southland District Council (SDC) transferred $34,000 to the project, from the Baird-Hewat Square/Doctors Square project.The southern Southland facility has been closed since February 2024 after the previous leased was surrendered.However the Waihopai Toetoe Community Board has been working towards reopening the facility with significant clean-ups and general repairs already completed.Board chair Pam Yorke said the project was an important one for Wyndham.“Our community has expressed a strong desire to have the camping ground reopened and we view it as a vital asset for the future of Wyndham.”“We absolutely recognise its potential to attract visitors and stimulate local spending to support the town’s vitality, while also providing a necessary facility for people like seasonal workers.” The board and council staff investigated the feasibility of installing user pays technology to enable the automated operation of the camping ground.The preferred Penny System will allow automated bookings, access and paid use of services at the camping ground.The funding will enable staff to progress the upgrades required while remaining consistent with the board’s objective to the project remaining cost neutral for ratepayers.

Winton is finally set to field a full complement of six state-of-the-art CCTV cameras after the Southland District Council (SDC) signed off on the town's final two today (28 Jan).SDC has already approved the replacement and upgrading of the town's existing cameras.Businesses and the local Police in the Central Southland town have been actively campaigning to upgrade and extend their town's CCTV network since 2023, after the existing cameras were deemed to be at the end of their operational life.However the Ōreti Community Board at the time controversially declined the request, despite funds having been earmarked for the project, citing privacy issues.SDC said its staff had worked closely with Winton Police to address the previous board's concerns and consequently entered into a new district-wide Letter of Agreement to reflect the CCTV sharing arrangements with police.Today's decision will see all cameras and supporting systems completed in three stages before becoming fully operational by 30th June 2026.The $105,110 price tag would be funded from the Winton Property Sales Reserve.SDC said the original budget for the entire project had been $65,000, but the tender process identified the additional cost to complete stage three.Stage one relates to the upgrade of the three existing cameras located in the centre plots on Great North Road and on top of the local police station, as well as upgrading operating hardware for the cameras. The cost for this stage is $45,400.Stage two relates to the installation of a new camera system overlooking the John Street playground/carpark. The cost for this stage is $10,000.Stage three would involve the installation of two new camera systems – one outside Night ’n’ Day and the other outside Mitre 10 – at a cost of up to $27,000.SDC Mayor Rob Scott said it was satisfying to have the hard work of at least two community boards endorsed by Council.“It’s a great outcome for Winton.”“There’ll be people in the community giving each other high-fives."Ōreti Community Board chair Margie Ruddenklau welcomed today’s decision.“The Ōreti Community Board was unanimous in supporting this investment, which delivers a comprehensive CCTV system and strengthens safety for Winton and the wider district,” she said.“The additional cameras will provide real benefits for crime prevention, public safety, and community confidence."“I want to acknowledge everyone who has backed this project from the beginning.""This reflects our shared commitment to keeping our community safe.”Senior Sergeant Peter Graham, the Southern Police District sub-area response manager, said police were elated the Ōreti Community Board had supported renewing the town’s CCTV public safety cameras.Winton had prevention cameras in place since the early 2000s and they had proved invaluable for deterring and resolving crime, he said.“The current cameras are at the end of their functional life, and I began the process pre-Covid to upgrade the system and add additional cameras to give better coverage around the town."“I applaud the hard work of those who fought for the cameras and the current community board’s decision to make their community safer.”

People who live at a troubled campground in Gore have until the end of the working week to leave.The Gore District Council said the lease for the Gore Motor Camp is being terminated and the campground will close on Friday.The campground hit headlines last year, with the council saying it had received ongoing complaints about people's safety and the condition of the site.The campground was intended for stays of up to 50 days but people had been living there, the council said.4 Trades Direct owner and lessee Nicholas Irons has previously said that he would not turn anyone away because they had nowhere else to go and the camp was providing a valuable community service.Council chief executive Debbie Lascelles acknowledged that it was a challenging and uncertain time for the people staying at Gore Motor Camp."We want to thank occupants for the respect, patience and cooperation they have shown while these matters have been worked through. Our focus now is ensuring the transition is handled as smoothly as possible," she said.In September, Lascelles said that the issues had not improved despite working with the leaseholder for years and the council had advised residents they had 50 days to find different accommodation with support from government agencies.Gore mayor Ben Bell said it had been a long-standing concern for many and he was pleased the situation was being resolved."We can now look forward to further community discussion about the best use for this site moving forward," he said.The lease will end in late February.RNZ has contacted Irons for comment.Published by permission

After a dry spell in the south, the heavens chose to open as the Ascot Park Hotel Teretonga Park International, part of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship, was held over the weekend. It was Sunday afternoon before any of the six classes on the programme managed to race in dry conditions. The rain created plenty of incidents with the safety car being called upon many times across the course of the weekend. Despite the conditions highlights included the appearance of international drivers from eleven different countries in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy races, a lunchtime demonstration on Sunday featuring kiwi Supercar driver Ryan Wood in the Gen3 Ford Mustang he raced last season in Australia alongside Tony Quinn in a Gen3 Camaro plus the first visit to Teretonga Park of the mighty V8’s in the SP Tools TA2 NZ Championship. Three races were held for the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy drivers. Another was scheduled but the conditions meant it dropped off the programme and will be raced later in the series.The feature event was the Spirit Of A Nation Cup with the winners of the two previous races of the weekend, Freddie Slater of the UK and Ugo Ugochukwu of the United States on the front row together.Kiwi Ryan Wood during demonstrations laps at lunchtime on Sunday in his Gen 3 Ford Mustang Supercar during the Ascot Park Hotel Teretonga Park International, a round of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship at Teretonga Park this weekend. Photo: Dave Loudon/SuppliedSlater led early in dry conditions before Ugochukwu took the lead at the beginning of lap 15. Soon after kiwi driver Sebastian Manson went into the wall bringing about a stoppage.Showers swept across the circuit while drivers awaited a restart and all were on wet tyres when the race resumed.When it did Ugochukwu led away only to go off at the first corner dropping to the back of the field leaving Slater in the lead to win from kiwi Louis Sharp with Japanese driver Jin Nakamura third. On Saturday Slater had won first race from Nakamura while two-time World Rally Champion, Kalle Rovanperä of Finland, took his first podium of the series in third place. The field lined up ready for the second race later on Saturday afternoon with series leader Ugochukwu on pole before the decision was made to not start the race due to the conditions.The race was held over to Sunday and it was Ugochukwu who led all the way in a race with three interventions from the safety car. Kiwi Ryan Wood was second with American Cooper Shipman third. Caleb Byers of Christchurch won the first ever SP Tools TA2 NZ Championship race at Teretonga Park on Saturday from Toby Elmiger and Dylan Grant and then backed it up on Sunday morning leading home Peter Ward and Grant before Elmiger took the final race when he opted for slick tyres. Chris White Junior of Prebbleton took victory in Saturday’s Bridgestone GR86 Championship race with fourteen-year-old Ajay Giddy second and Zach Blincoe third.Sunday morning’s race finished under safety car, leaving the win to Justin Allen from Blincoe with Josh Bethune third.White returned to the winner’s circle in race three ahead of Giddy and Hugo Allan. Porsche drivers Rick Armstrong, Luke Manson and Nigel Cromie each won a race in the Summerset GT NZ Championship, Armstrong of Christchurch taking the round win while Australian Lachlan Evennett and Glen Chappel took GT4 honours. The opening race of the NAPA NZ Formula Ford Championship also ended under safety car with thirteen-year-old Australian Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi taking the win in his first ever car race ahead of Dylan Petch and Campbell Owens with Jacob Begg of Winton fourth in his Ray GR21. On Sunday morning Eskandari-Marandi won again from Owens and Begg. In dry conditions for the third race Marco Manson of Auckland headed home Owens and another Australian Toby Musico of Queensland with Begg scoring sixth place. The first two Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Super Series races were disrupted by the weather with very few racing laps until their finale.The races produced three different winners – Tomas Climo of Hamilton, Callum Pratt of Auckland and Stu Lawton of Paraparaumu, Lawton securing the round win. The next event at Teretonga Park is the Ascot Park Hotel Classic SpeedFest over the weekend of 21/22 February.

Josh Burnett has become just the sixth rider to win three or more SBS Bank Tour of Southland titles after surviving a frenetic final day today.Burnett (PowerNet) started the day with a 19sec lead over Cambridge’s Matthew Wilson (Advanced Personnel Cycling Team), but an outstanding individual time trial by Wilson in the morning saw him take the stage victory and cut the lead to just 10sec heading into the final 77km stage from Winton to Invercargill.The fast and furious stage was lashed by wind and rain throughout, with Wilson making a bold attack on the penultimate lap of the tour’s Waikiwi circuit finish before the two frontrunners finished safely in the bunch to repeat the one-two finish they recorded in 2024.Wet and cold conditions didn't stop the adulation as Nick Kergozou wins the final stage of the 2025 SBS Bank Tour of Southland in Winton. Photo: SuppliedThe final stage was won by Southland’s Nick Kergozou, the second time he has won the finale.Burnett’s name now joins the likes of Warwick Dalton, Tino Tabak, Brian Fowler, Hayden Roulston and Michael Vink as riders who have won New Zealand’s most prestigious stage race three or more times.It almost didn’t happen, with Burnett originally ruled out of the November event by a badly broken arm and only coming back into the equation when an extreme weather event meant the 2025 edition was postponed until January.“I was just planning on helping the Mito-Q boys out and cleaning their bikes. To get this opportunity, I’m super grateful to PowerNet, it’s such a well-run team. Both on and off the bike we’ve had such a good time this week. It’s a massive credit to Aaron (Sinclair) who has put this team together for the past few years. All I’ve had to think about is riding my bike.”Burnett, who also won the King of the Mountain classification, paid credit to his team mates, who were challenged throughout the week, particularly after losing team captain Ollie Jones to a crash on Tuesday.“For sure there were some expectations on my shoulders all week but I think it was mainly transferred onto my team mates, making them ride the front for three days, so a big shout out to those boys because without them I wouldn’t have had the chance to contest the stages or be in contention.”Burnett highlighted the battle he had with Wilson for the second Southland tour in a row. The pair sparred throughout the week, especially with one-two finishes on both the Remarkables and Bluff Hill finishes. Daniel Whitehouse (Quality Food Southland/Gough Brothers) was third overall at 1min 38sec.“Massive credit to Matt because he is super strong and I’m sure he’s going to win a Southland one day, that’s for sure.”To get the chance to return from riding for his Spanish professional team, Burgos Burpellet BH, and win his home race was something special, Burnett said.“It definitely hasn’t sunk in. I was just taking it day by day and I’m just really proud to be from this region,” he said.“There’s no other bike race in the world where I get this amount of support so I’ve got to lap it up where I can. In Spain I can’t even read the signs so when I’m here I make the most of it.”Meanwhile, Kergozou (Open Country-TES) was proud to win the final stage and claim his fourth Sprint Ace title in his ninth Southland tour.“I’m ecstatic with that. Matt Wilson was putting it in the gutter pretty hard. He was throwing it all out there and I knew I just had to follow to keep the sprint jersey alive.”Timaru’s Noah Hollamby (Onya Bike) completed an outstanding debut Tour of Southland, winning the under 23 jersey and finishing fourth overall. Australian Ben Dyball (Macaulay Ford-Good Tech Team) was the leading over 35 rider and fifth overall.Macaulay Ford-Good Tech Team won the teams classification, while Christchurch’s James Krzanich (Lattitude Cycling Team) was named the Most Combative rider for the final stage and the tour overall.

A person with moderate injuries was airlifted to Southland Hospital after a rock fell on their leg while they were believed to be rock climbing at The Chasm, near Milford, shortly after 1pm yesterday (Thursday, 22 Jan) afternoon.The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter flew in to retrieve the injured person and Police say it appeared that a rock fell on their leg. “However, they were able to free themselves,” a Police spokesperson says.A spokesperson for St John Ambulance says they were notified just after 1pm and dispatched one helicopter to the scene.Sergeant Tod Hollebon, of Te Anau, says there were also two helicopter rescues the previous day on Wednesday – one to rescue two Dunedin climbers who’d become bluffed on Mount Crosscut in the Darran Mountains.It’s understood one of the climbers may have lost an ice axe and didn’t feel confident traversing without it, so made the right decision not to attempt the traverse.A person with an injured knee was also airlifted from Iris Burn on the Kepler Track.

The most iconic hill climb in New Zealand cycling produced one of its most dramatic finishes in stage six of the 2025 SBS Bank Tour of Southland today.When the dust had settled Josh Burnett had claimed his maiden Bluff Hill stage win and retained the overall lead heading into the final day of the SBS Bank Tour of Southland.After 155km of racing from Invercargill to Bluff, the result was only decided by the width of a tire as the PowerNet rider threw his bike across the line on the hilltop finish ahead of Cambridge’s Matthew WIlson (Advanced Personnel Cycling Team).Having duked it out on the Remarkables climb on Wednesday, the two protagonists could only be separated by a photo finish atop Motupohue in one of the closest finishes in recent memory.“It was pretty insane actually. Matt sent a crazy attack up there and I was definitely on the ropes for a bit. It was just a two-man drag race and the throw just got me there, so credit to Matt, he’s super strong and I was fully on my limit today.”Despite winning the tour in 2022 and 2024, Burnett had never won the Bluff stage, a climb he has trained on more than any other.A noted BMX and mountainbike rider in his junior days, he had to call on all his bikehandling ability to take the win.“I’ve definitely won and lost a few bike races with the old bike throw on the BMX track down at (Invercargill’s) Elizabeth Park and definitely that skill came in handy today.”As well as extending his overall lead by a handful of precious seconds, the win was special for more personal reasons for the Southlander.Photo: Supplied“A good family friend of ours, Will Impelmans, he was a big part of the community down here. He started all the (Bluff Hill) mountainbike tracks here and now it’s a great facility which would have never been possible without Will,” Burnett said.“He unfortunately passed away a few years ago so it’s been something I really wanted to do for him because he was a big inspiration of mine. I wanted to do well for him and his family because I knew a few of them would be out on the hill today.”Today’s stage was a tale of frustrated breakaways with little wind to help fracture the peloton. Nick Kergozou (Open Country-TES) showed his undoubted speed and opened up a significant lead in the Sprint Ace standings.Under leaden skies, it took nearly 100km for a break to stick, with Sam Jenner (Central Benchmakers-Willbike), Glenn Haden (Couplands-Cycling Tom Cycling Team) and Jack Gillingham (Moo-Vestar) escaping by up to 2min before behind brought back in the shadow of Bluff Hill.Burnett will carry a 19sec lead over Wilson into the last day of the rescheduled 2025 event, which includes the 13km individual time trial at Winton and a final 77km stage from Winton to Invercargill.Australian rider Ben Dyball (Macaulay Ford-Good Tech Team) is third overall at 1mn 11sec and the leading over 35 rider.Photo: SuppliedBurnett, who also leads the King of the Mountains standings, won the ‘race of truth’ stage in 2022 and finished third in 2024, on the way to winning both races overall.“It’s a stage I’ve done a few times now and I think I’m quite well suited to it. You can’t really do much other than keep it upright and ride hard - there’s no tactics, it’s all on me. I’m looking forward to going for a good result,” he said.“There’s a bit of pressure but I’ve come into this time trial with only half this lead - it’s definitely not a given but I’m confident in my time trial and it should be a fast one.”