Threating emails sent to Southland Schools yesterday (12 Feb), have now been deemed a hoax by Police.Police said - in their online post - that they were notified about the emails about 8.30pm last night.However after extensive inquiries, including staff visiting several of the locations mentioned, they were confident the email was a hoax and that the person implicated in the email as responsible was not involved. Additional staff will be on patrol this morning to provide reassurance to school communities, the post said.Police said inquiries into the origins of the email were ongoing.

Invercargill house values have increased 3.8% in the January quarter, pushing the average home value above $500,000 for the first time, according to the latest QV House Price Index January report.This figure is 7.2% higher than the same time last year and 0.4% above the previous peak in 2022 the report said.Nationally, the average house price rose 1.3% in the January quarter with the average home value now $913,567.Local QV registered valuer Andrew Ronald attributed this resilience to the strong local economy and the relatively low cost of home ownership compared to national standards."The strong local economy has been less affected by the current economic headwinds," he said.Central Otago has also performed well, with a 3.3% overall increase in home values, reflecting the region's appeal and stability.However Queenstown house prices bucked the trend with a 1.5% dip, which has followed a similar 1.4% dip in the three months ending December 2024.Nevertheless average house prices in New Zealand's adventure capital still sit at just over $1.8m.Ronald expected local home values in Southland and Central Otago would continue to grow slowly throughout 2025, despite high interest rates and credit constraints."Investors and owner-occupiers are showing increasing interest in the property market but remain cautious overall, while first-home buyers are continuing to make up a larger proportion of the market."As we move further into 2025, the housing market in Southland and Central Otago will be one to watch, with its unique dynamics and resilience offering a counterpoint to national trends.QV operations manager James Wilson said that on the surface, 2025 appeared to be continuing the flat trend observed throughout much of 2024."This is expected given the economic factors at play, such as high interest rates, credit constraints, a weak labour market, and an oversupply of properties for sale."

Environment Southland is looking to shake up its structure with reports of a proposal being shared with staff.On Thursday (13 Feb), the council will release a proposal for changing structure and roles at the organisation which currently employs around 170 people, Local Democracy Reporting understands.The council has reassured staff that no decisions will be made prior to a consultation period.It follows a similar process last year where executive roles were reshuffled at the council, resulting in the addition of one general manager.Local Democracy Reporting believes it is the first time a full restructure has been undertaken at the council.Although the number of jobs could be the same after, there was also a possibility that some people would end up as casualties because of the nature of newly created roles, a source told LDR.On top of its 170 staff, Environment Southland is also home to 12 elected members, one of which serves as chair.The council was approached for comment but did not respond.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Eighteen takahē were released yesterday (11 Feb) into the Rees Valley, near Glenorchy, by Department of Conservation staff in an effort to further expand the birds wild population.Once thought to be extinct, the world's largest flightless rail bird was rediscovered by Dr George Orbell in the Murchison Mountains in 1948. The takahē are a taonga of Ngāi Tahu and unique to New Zealand.The takahē, which travelled from the Burwood Takahē Centre near Te Anau and Orokonui Ecosanctuary in Dunedin, made a brief stop at Glenorchy Primary School, where children had the chance to wave them on to their new home.Photo: RealNZMana whenua Ngāi Tahu welcomed the takahē with a mihi whakatau before their release.The latest release of birds follows the successful adaptation of takahē released into the Greenstone Valley in 2023, where they have been raising offspring and maintaining good health.DOC’s Takahē Recovery Senior Ranger, Glen Greaves said that existing wild sites in the Murchison Mountains and Greenstone Valley were nearing capacity, prompting the need for new wild populations.“Finding wild sites with the right habitat and low predator numbers is challenging, but the Greenstone, Rees, and wider Whakatipu areas likely provide high-quality habitat for takahē,” said Greaves.Predator control has been crucial for this translocation, though threats and dispersal into less-protected areas remain a concern.“Setting up new wild populations takes perseverance, and success is not guaranteed,” Greaves added.“We hope people walking the Rees-Dart and Routeburn tracks will soon see takahē thriving in their natural habitat.”Ngāi Tahu representative on the Takahē Recovery Group, Gail Thompson, expressed optimism about the release.“It is my hope the manu will thrive in this valley as they have in the Greenstone Valley, allowing current and future generations to see takahē in their natural environment,” said Thompson.The total takahē population now exceeds 500, growing at about five percent annually, with more than half living at wild sites.Greg Lind, co-chair of Southern Lakes Sanctuary, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the release.“We have been servicing over 500 traps in suitable takahē habitats and focusing on intensive feral cat control,” said Lind.“This release exemplifies the power of collaboration, involving donors, iwi, landowners, community groups, and DOC.”Two more takahē releases are planned for later this year, aiming to establish a population of up to 80 takahē in the Rees Valley by 2025.The DOC’s Takahē Recovery Programme, supported by National Partner Fulton Hogan and New Zealand Nature Fund, along with Ngāi Tahu and Southern Lakes Sanctuary, is working towards creating a self-sustaining population of takahē in the Upper Whakatipu, restoring them to their historical habitat.

The husband of an Invercargill woman found dead at Lake Hāwea last year has been charged with her murder.Karen Gaylene White, 60, died at her Lake Hāwea property on 8 March 2024.In November, eight months after her death, police launched a homicide investigation.Otago Lakes Area Commander Inspector Paula Enoka said following a lengthy investigation, police had charged a 61-year-old Robert Joseph White with murder.He appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Wednesday morning, where his lawyer, Fiona Guy Kidd KC, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.Name suppression was not sought.He will next appear at the High Court at Invercargill at a later date."Police continue to support the family and friends of Ms White, and our condolences go out to them," Enoka said.White's death was initially treated as unexplained while officers worked to establish what had happened before her death.In December, police said White was the victim of a significant assault and they believed people in the Lake Hāwea area had important information.Published by permission

A potential site for a new play hub in downtown Invercargill has been rejected by a council committee due to safety issues and limited space.On Tuesday, committee members deliberated between endorsing an urban play option for the centre of town or distributing resources more widely throughout the city.Both have a price tag of just under $5 million, plus external funding.The city centre option highlighted 66 Dee St for a potential hub, but a report prepared for the meeting showed that site was only 618 square metres — vastly smaller than the recommended size of 2500 square metres for such a space.The area also received limited sunlight and had safety concerns because of the adjacent Hubbers Emporium building, which currently has a wall propped up by supports.Councillors were quick to point out those flaws, while indicating their preference to distribute urban play more widely.Mana whenua representative Evelyn Cook said she liked the idea of pushing for play in the suburbs, while councillor Steve Broad questioned if the issues at Dee St meant it could work.In response, council local play advocate Damien Puddle said all locations had their challenges, with a lack of open space a factor in the city centre.Mayor Nobby Clark also believed the size of the Dee St site was an issue and said the future of the Hubbers Emporium building next door was uncertain.He said the council should ask for prioritisation of projects when it ultimately went out for consultation on urban play options.“A lot of the advice I’m getting back from the community at the moment is that we should focus on doing one project at a time.”Councillor Ria Bond was a dissenting voice against the urban play project in its entirety.A tense moment occurred when she quizzed Puddle and council parks and recreation manager Caroline Rain about engagement on the strategy, but was accused of asking a question she already knew the answer to by chair Darren Ludlow.“Why didn’t you just say it?” Ludlow said.“Can I speak please Mr Chair?” Bond asked.“I’m the chair,” he said.The committee ultimately recommended the distributed programme to the full council over the city centre option, taking into consideration a variety of places such as Bluff, South Invercargill and North Invercargill.That option also makes allowance for a scaled down version of the city centre programme.The city centre option — requiring $1.5 million external funding — included the downtown hub, a play pathway and temporary installations, while the distributed program could end up seeking extra money dependent on the project.Public consultation will be undertaken between March and April before a final decision is made.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

There are a few changes to programmed work this week – please see below:Added to programme this week:SH1 Clyde St Invercargill between Forth St and Eye St, southbound lanes closure on Thursday 13th Feb. HMPV & heavy vehicles detour via Conon/Tweed St. Light vehicles use Forth St/Nith St/Eye StSH93 Old Coach Road near Waikana Road, traffic lights for guardrail repair (Fri)SH93 Old Coach Road at Waikana Road, stop/go for resealing (Wed)SH93 Old Coach Road between Dodds and Hurst Roads, stop/go for resealing (Thurs)SH93 Old Coach Road between Jeff and Owaka Valley Roads, stop/go for resealing (Fri)SH94 Te Anau-Mossburn highway north of Mossburn, traffic lights for resealing (Wed)SH96 Winton Hedgehope highway at Springhills, traffic lights for pavement repair (Thurs & Fri)SH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway between Drummond Oreti and Spar-Bush-Winton Roads, stop/go for resealing (Fri)SH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway at Oreti Plains, traffic lights for pavement repair (Thurs & Fri)Removed from programme this week:SH1 Bluff highway at Greenhills - postponedDue to excavation work required for the Invercargill City Council watermain work, the southbound lanes of SH1 Clyde St in Invercargill will be closed from Forth St to Eye St on Thursday 13th February between 7am and 7pm. If the work cannot be completed in one day, the closure will extend to Friday 14th February.Detour routes:Light vehicle detour via Forth St/Nith St/Eye St.HPMV and heavy vehicle detour via Conon St/Tweed StWe apologise for the short notice on this work.The focus of the team is keeping road users safe - completing the work this way is both the safest and the most efficient.

The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel has recruited attacker Grace Southby and defender Holly McRae as official training partners for the 2025 ANZ Premiership netball season.Southby returns for her second season, while McRae joins after an impressive stint with the Southern Blast, where she was named Most Improved Player.Head coach Wendy Frew is enthusiastic about their potential.“Grace is a strong, nuggety goal attack or wing attack who can seamlessly switch between both positions. She has excellent awareness of the centre pass structures,” Frew said.“Holly is a very athletic defender who is fit and has great speed around the court. She reads the game incredibly well and makes some brilliant intercepts.”Frew emphasized the importance of training partners in pushing contracted players to improve and maintaining high standards during training sessions.“I expect our Steel training partners to bring dedication, energy, and professionalism. In turn, we will focus on progressing their netball development and giving them a taste of the high-performance environment,” she said.Southby, 21, said her excitement levels were really high for the 2025 campaign.“I'm looking forward to training with this talented group of players and building connections,” she said.McRae, 19, said she was super excited to be a Steel training partner."It’s such an amazing opportunity to be able to work alongside such a skilled and determined team,” she said.“My aim is to bring a solid work ethic that can help contribute to the driven atmosphere of the Steel environment."Frew said the pair would gain valuable experience in improving their skills, understanding the game at a deeper level and enhancing their fitness."They'll learn how to work within a team dynamic, support their teammates and develop mental resilience.""Additionally, they'll have the opportunity to receive feedback from coaches, improve their tactical awareness and build confidence in their ability to perform under pressure,” Frew said.

Invercargill’s Splash Palace leisure pool will temporarily close from March 3 to March 24 for essential maintenance.Aquatic Services Manager Stephen Cook said the closure was to replace the foam tile flooring.“While we know the leisure pool will be missed during its temporary closure, the retiling is critical to future-proof the facility for our young swimmers and other pool users,” Cook said.The maintenance process involves draining the pool, removing the old tiles, retiling, and allowing the new tiles to dry. This work is largely covered under the warranty for the existing tiles.Cook said that the work would only affect the leisure pool and would be carried out as quickly as possible to minimize disruption.The rest of the facility will remain open to the public.“We really appreciate everybody’s patience as we work to bring the leisure pool back to life and look forward to welcoming swimmers back to enjoy the water and waves at the end of March,” he said.

As the school year begins, students at eight Southland schools are taking part in an new $3 million trial to help bring their maths up to speed, Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds says.The targeted acceleration programme aims to give Year 7 and 8 students, at 145 schools across the country, more confidence with maths in the classroom.“The Southland schools taking part are Aparima, Aurora and Northern Southand Colleges, Drummond, Winton, Otautau and Half Moon Bay Primary Schools and Maruawai College (established through the merger of Longford Intermediate and Gore High).“I’m delighted to see local schools being involved in this 12-week trial, which will take place in Terms 1 and 2, and involve small group tutoring and supervised online tuition for 30 minutes, up to four times a week for each child.“It’s excellent to see that local students, who need extra support, are actually getting it - and that their maths skills and knowledge will benefit from the extra support.“Last year, significant numbers of students across the country didn’t meet the foundational literacy and numeracy levels required to gain NCEA.“To achieve our goal of getting 80 percent of students to curriculum by the time they get to high school, we need to be focused on teaching the basics brilliantly.“Schools participating will receive funding for staff involved, based on the number of children taking part."This funding will be used to pay for staffing, as well as covering the costs associated with an AI tutoring tool. An evaluation of the trial will inform how to scale it up nationwide by next year.”

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has decided to withdraw its management of the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary/Te Punanga Manu and is now actively exploring alternatives.The popular local attraction, an easy walk from the Fiordland tourist town, is home to a number of New Zealand native birds including four South Island takahē, two kōwhiowhio/blue duck, four pāteke/brown teal and three Antipodes Island kākāriki and an itinerant number of waterfowl.Its main function under DOC has been as a captive breeding space for pateke and whio and the fostering of takahē chicks, as well as some advocacy work.DOC's decision, made in January, follows a 3-month review which found that although the sanctuary was important for conservation, it was not critical to the advocacy or protection of the species it housed – therefore not considered as high priority biodiversity work for the department.DOC’s Southern South Island Operations Director Aaron Fleming said the sanctuary required substantial investment in infrastructure and staffing to make it sustainable.“One example is the takahē enclosure, which needs significant investment, with 2023 costings sitting around $100,000.”The decision comes as DOC faces its own financial challenges and investment priorities, which means it is not currently in a position to fund the upgrades needed at Te Anau Bird Sanctuary/Te Punanga Manu.Te Anau's Bird Sanctuary is an easy walk or bike ride from the Te Anau town centre. Photo: Southland App“Locally DOC’s high priority biodiversity work also needs investment, such as critical infrastructure to maintain predator-free Fiordland islands that are home to critically endangered species, including kākāpō, tīeke and mohua,” said Flemming.“We know Te Punanga Manu is much loved by the Te Anau community and visitors alike, which is why alternative models to fund and operate the sanctuary will be considered.”DOC said there have been some expressions of interest in the facility from other parties, and these opportunities would be investigated alongside key stakeholders.Southland Regional Development Agency Great South would be supporting DOC in the evaluation process, they said.Flemming said it was anticipated the next phase could take a number of months.When the Southland App asked if the sanctuary's native birds, including takahe, would be allowed to stay, Flemming said permits to hold wildlife could be applied for under alternative models.The sanctuary will keep operating as usual while alternative management options are explored further.“The well-being of manu will continue to come first no matter the outcome of the review,” said Flemming.“We will keep the community, sponsors and stakeholders informed as things develop,” he said.Fiordland Community Board chair Diane Holmes said the bird park was a very special part of the local community and for iwi, and it would be tremendously upsetting if it were to close.Holmes said that Great South statistics show it is the number two place visited in Te Anau."I think questions need to be asked about why the park hasn't had regular maintenance and upgrades for so long that we've ended up here.""I am sure the attention that the kaka created [the sanctuary's kaka - Charlie Girl - was relocated by DOC to Dunedin in June 2024, causing a vocal local campaign for her return] has made DOC probably look more intensely at the [bird] park as a whole.""I really do sincerely hope that some clarity comes from this process and that new opportunities arise."Holmes said the community board would be meeting with the local DOC leaders towards the end of this month to discuss the situation.At the time of publication, the Southland App was unable to ascertain if any bird species would be relocated should the facility's management change.The Punanga Manu o Te Anau/ Te Anau Bird Sanctuary has a long, varied history spanning several organisations over many decades. It is thought it was initially set up by the Southern Acclimatisation Society and in 1945 became a Department of Internal Affairs hatchery. DOC’s role began in 1987 when it took over from the Wildlife Service, and Fish and Game replaced Acclimatisation societies. Over time it has been a trout hatchery, a Wildlife Service Office, workshop and staff base, before eventually evolving to become a wildlife park with the first captive rearing facility for takahē.

An army major has become the 11th person to complete the 'triple crown' of ocean swimming after he swam the Foveaux Strait at the weekend.The triple crown includes crossing the Cook Strait and Lake Taupō, alongside the Foveaux Strait leg.David Edgar told Morning Report he was really pleased with his achievement."The Foveaux is the last one I needed for the triple crown, and it's pretty cool I managed to have everything in line that I needed to achieve that."To cross the Foveaux Strait, Edgar said he started out at Yankee River on the Rakiura/Stewart Island side, and aimed for Bluff Hills - a distance of 28km as the crow flies, but conditions meant Edgar covered more distance during the crossing, finishing just north of Bluff Hills."I got pushed around a little bit. I got pushed south and I covered 37km."For true open water swimming participants forgo wetsuits, which was a challenge in the cold water of the deep south."No wetsuit. It's your goggles, your cap and your togs. That's it. You're allowed a bit of grease."The water temperature sat at about 13C-14C all day. We were expecting 16C-18C from the forecast, from what the boat skipper had said. But I was well prepared from all my cold water training."I just had to nut it out and push through."Edgar's cold water training involved an ice bath and swimming in Marlborough's Wairau River all year round.Edgar said all three swims in the triple crown were unique, and it was hard to decide on a favourite."It's really cool to have done Cook Strait because of the legendary status. But at the moment, Foveaux Strait. If I couldn't have achieved that I wouldn't have completed the triple crown."She's pretty tough down there. A few people haven't gotten across this season."Published by permission

Six new trustees were appointed to the Community Trust South by Associate Minister of Finance, Shane Jones, in December.They are Samuel Grant, Bharat Guha, Margot Hishon, Maria Pera, Warren Skerrett and Bridgette Smith.They join existing trustees Stephen Canny (acting chair), Mel Montgomery, Leanne Samuel and Leon Hartnett.Samuel Grant is an investment adviser from Gore. He is the son of former Awarua Member of Parliament Jeff Grant, who was also a former Community Trust South trustee.Bharat Guha is the Chief Financial Officer at the Invercargill Licensing Trust. A former Southern Institute of Technolgy deputy chief executive and CFO, Guha was appointed to the Tertiary Election Commission in October last year (2024).Margot Hishon is a past Community Trust South chair (2016-19). She is a former Clutha-Southland National Party electorate committee chair (2016) and comes from a farming and construction background.Warren Skerrett is from Queenstown and is also a past Community Trust South trustee (2016-19). A former financial adviser, Skerrett represents Ngāi Tahu, as a trustee, on the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust.Maria Pera is a Mana whenua endorsed trustee. She was one of the driving forces behind the completion of the Mataura Marae's carvings. She is also a director of the Southland Regional Economic Development Agency, Great South.Bridgette Smith is a visual artist with a focus on documentary photography and video. She has also been a Southern Regional Chair of the National Party.Acting Chair Stephen Canny welcomed the diverse skillsets the new appointees bring.“With representation from throughout our region, and expertise in community engagement, finance, and advocacy, we are well placed to support the Southland Murihiku community,” he said.Chief Executive Jackie Flutey said she was thrilled to welcome the new and reappointed trustees to the Board. The first board meeting of the year is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12.Community Trust South, governed by the Community Trusts Act 1999, provides significant funding to a wide range of community organisations.Since its inception in 1988, it has distributed $235 million in grants.

Scheduled upcoming works in Southland district include:ROAD CLOSURESCooper Road, Tussock Creek: 10-14 FebruaryClosing Cooper Road from Wilsons Crossing Road to Kahikatea Road to through traffic between 7am Monday 10 February and 6pm Friday 14 February 2025, with alternative dates being Monday 17 February until Friday 21 February 2025. The closure is for the replacement of two culverts. A detour will be available via Wilsons Crossing Road, Fraser Road and Forest Hill Crossing Road.Bay Road, Riverton: 11 FebruaryClosing Bay Road from Richard Street to George Street to through traffic between 7am and 5pm Tuesday 11 February 2025, with the alternative day being Wednesday 12 February 2025. The closure is to enable contractor to connect utilities across road. A detour will be available via Bates Street, George Street and Richard Street or Bay Road, Richard Street and John Street.Morrison Road, Otara: 11-13 FebruaryClosing Morrison Road from Otara Tokanui Road to Graham Road to through traffic daily from 7.30am until 5.30pm Tuesday 11 February to Thursday 13 February 2025. Alternative date is 17 February 2025. Residents will have managed access to properties by onsite staff. The closure is to enable the replacement of power poles and lines. A detour will be available via Graham Road, Tanner Road and Otara Tokanui Road.McAndrew Street, Otautau: 18 FebruaryClosing McAndrew Street from George Street to Grey Street to through traffic between 8am and 6pm on Tuesday 18 February 2025, with alternative day being Wednesday 19 February 2025. The closure is to enable contractors to trench across road for utility connection. A detour will not be available but the road will be reopened as soon as safely possible in the event of an emergency. Residents of McAndrew Street will have access to properties.RESEALSThe Downer sealing team are programmed to be working on the following district road site this week:10 February: Tokanui Gorge Road highway11 February: Mataura Island Road12 February: Gorge Road Invercargill highway13 February: Otautau Tuatapere Road, Otatau Wreys Bush Road, Gorge Road Invercargill highway, Rimu South RoadSTATE HIGHWAYSFULL ROAD CLOSURESunday 16 February, SH1 Edendale, pavement renewal: Full road closure on Edendale-Woodlands highway west of the Edendale roundabout from 8pm to 9pm and again from 9.15pm to 10pm. Traffic will be held until 9pm, then once traffic has been cleared the closure will be back in place until 10pm.Monday 17 February: At the passing lanes north of the SH1 Edendale roundabout - southbound closure from 9.30am to 2.30pm. Detour via old SH1 through Edendale and rejoin SH1 at the roundabout.Highways South work with temporary traffic lights or stop/go and temporary speed limits this week:•         SH6 Winton Lorneville highway near Thomsons Crossing Road for surfacing repairs•         SH6 Lumsden-Dipton highway near Caroline Valley Road for pavement repairs•         SH6 Athol-Five Rivers highway near Parawa for pavement repairs•         SH96 Glencoe highway at Glencoe for pavement renewal•         SH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway at Springhills for pavement repairs•         SH96 Wreys Bush Nightcaps highway for pavement renewal•         SH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki highway between McCracken's Rest and Te Wae Wae for surface repairs•         SH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki highway near Te Tua for surface repairs•         SH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki highway between Te Tua and Tuatapere for surface repairs•         SH99 Main Road Tuatapere near Jenkins Road for pavement renewalThird-party work and events with traffic management in place this week:•         SH95 Manapouri-Te Anau highway at Manapouri, stop/go for trenching•         SH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway at Springhills, stop/go for trenchingUpcoming work•         March: SH99 at Lorneville, pavement renewalUseful linksNZTA 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.  WATER SHUTDOWNSTimeframes are indicative only. Water supply will be resumed without further notification. We apologise for any inconvenience.Winton, 10 or 11 FebruaryRepairs being made to network, 11am to 4pm. Properties affected are: 47-53 Arthur Street, all Calder Place.Winton, 10 or 11 FebruaryRepairs being made to network, 9am to 2pm. Properties affected are: 3 Dejoux Road, 14-54 Winton Lorneville Highway, Gap Road West.Riverton, 12 FebruaryRepairs being made to network, 9am to 12 noon. Properties affected are: 3-7 Bay Road, Towack Street,2-30 George Street.

Christine Rose and her husband Stephen, founders of Dolphin Defenders, have been traveling the east coast of the South Island to highlight the critical situation of Maui and Hector’s dolphins. Only found in New Zealand waters, the dolphins face significant threats from set nets and trawling near the coast.Both are classified as nationally vulnerable, with an estimated 15,000 Hectors and just 40-64 Maui dolphins remaining.“These precious taonga are under threat due to the fishing industry’s practices,” said Rose.“Our government seems reluctant to take necessary steps to protect these delightful mammals, which are unique and need protection before it’s too late.”Rose emphasized that several dolphins are caught annually as by-catch, pushing their numbers towards endangered status.During their travels, the couple has been setting up on beaches where these dolphins are often seen, inviting the public to share their concerns and join the movement to protect them.On Monday, February 10, there is an open invitation to a public awareness event at Oreti Beach from 11:30 am.The event will include inflatable dolphins and other symbolic actions, including people putting their heads in the sand to represent the current inaction by the fishing industry and government.For more information, contact Jenny Campbell, Southland Forest & Bird Secretary, at 027 351 0180.

Milford Road OPENNO Avalanche HazardExpect minor delays due to sealing near Falls Creek, early on morning of Tuesday 11th February, between 6am & 8am.Drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Becoming fineTomorrow: Fine, with morning cloudWednesday: Mainly fineThursday: Mainly fine

Three men have been successfully rescued after being reported missing while rafting on the Waikaia River near Piano Flat.Photo: Eastern Southland Search & Rescue/FacebookPolice were alerted around 9:30pm yesterday (8 Feb) when the men failed to reach their designated pick-up point following a planned trip on the river. Initial enquiries were made overnight, and Police Search and Rescue commenced the search at first light this morning.Fire and Emergency New Zealand provided a Command Truck to serve as a forward search base at Piano Flat.Southern Lakes Helicopters – Te Anau assisted by providing a helicopter, which located two inflatable watercrafts in a gorge section of the river, approximately 6.5 km north of Piano Flat.At around 11:30 AM, one of the men was spotted by the helicopter near the river’s edge with a leg injury. The other two men were found nearby shortly after, cold but otherwise uninjured.The trio were winched to safety by the helicopter and medically assessed.The man with the leg injury was transported to hospital by ambulance.Police expressed their gratitude to Land Search and Rescue volunteers from Southland, Eastern Southland, Catlins, and Fiordland, as well as Amateur Radio Emergency Communications.They also thanked the public for providing vital information about the area and terrain.

Chelsea Sugar (also known as the New Zealand Sugar Company) has been fined $149,500 for importing and selling sugar products tainted with lead.More than 970 tonnes of products were manufactured from sugar contaminated during sea transportation from Australia, resulting in the company recalling thousands of products in late 2021.Two more recalls were needed when it was revealed incorrect information was provided to supermarkets resulting in more tainted goods being released to consumers.After being charged by the Ministry for Primary Industries, a sentencing hearing was held in September last year and the court released its reserved decision on Friday."These recalls had a significant impact on consumer access to certain sugar products, such as brown sugar," New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said."It also affected a large number of other businesses which had to recall products made with the contaminated sugar."The sugar had been freighted to New Zealand from Queensland aboard cargo ship the Rin Treasure in September 2021. On its previous voyage, the ship had carried metal sulphide concentrates (zinc and lead).Before choosing the vessel, Chelsea Sugar had been advised that the Rin Treasure had failed a survey report and was not fit to transport bulk sugar. Despite a cleanliness report, the cleaning of the ship's hold was not effective, leading to the sugar's contamination.It was also believed a broken pipe on the ship may have exacerbated the contamination by spilling water into the sugar during the unloading process by contractors."New Zealand Sugar Company knew what its responsibilities were to consumers - ensuring the safety and suitability of its products and managing any potential risk to consumers," Arbuckle said."It failed to properly detect the extent of lead contamination until after the imported sugar had been used in production."Offending at this scale is rare, and the court's sentence today sends a strong message that it will not be tolerated."Samples were taken between 15 and 24 September for testing, but Chelsea Sugar followed its normal process for distribution and sale."The test result on 7 October showed high readings of lead contamination, but rather than take immediate action and stop production and distribution, they instead sought more testing which confirmed the same result," Arbuckle said."Some of this product was sold between October and early November. We were not informed of the lead contamination until 3 November, which is unacceptable."New Zealand Sugar Company's lack of definitive action resulted in a consumer level recall of sugar products on 4 November - around six weeks after the contaminated product arrived in New Zealand."Although the short-term exposure to increased lead levels through these sugar products would not have endangered people's health, we cannot afford to take a chance on public health."Published by permission

Please note below closures on state highways coming up over the next few weeks:SH6 Dee St InvercargillOne-directional lane closures between Spey St and Gala St overnight between 6pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday evenings.This asphalt renewal work restarts on Wednesday 12th February and runs until approx. 20th February.When northbound lane closed, detour via Spey St, Mersey St, Victoria Ave.When southbound lane closed, detour via Fox St, Kelvin St, Spey StHPMV/heavy traffic continue to use heavy bypass.SH1 Edendale RoundaboutSurfacing renewal:Sunday 16th February, SH1 Edendale full road closure on Edendale-Woodlands highway west of the Edendale roundabout from 8pm - 9pm and again from 9.15pm to 10.00pm. Traffic will be held until 9pm, then once traffic has been cleared the closure will be back in place until 10pm.Monday 17th February, at the passing lanes north of the SH1 Edendale roundabout - southbound closure from 9.30am to 2.30pm. Detour via old SH1 through Edendale and rejoin SH1 at the roundaboutHighways South work with temporary traffic lights or stop/go and temporary speed limits this week:SH1 Bluff highway at Awarua for pavement renewalSH1 Bluff highway at Greenhills for pavement repairsSH6 Dee St, lane closure and detour for surface renewal **see aboveSH6 Winton Lorneville highway near Thomsons Crossing Road for surfacing repairsSH6 Lumsden-Dipton highway near Caroline Valley Road for pavement repairsSH6 Athol-Five Rivers highway near Parawa for pavement repairsSH96 Glencoe highway at Glencoe for pavement renewalSH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway at Springhills for pavement repairsSH96 Wreys Bush Nightcaps highway for pavement renewalSH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki highway between McCracken's Rest and Te Wae Wae for surface repairsSH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki highway near Te Tua for surface repairsSH99 Tuatapere-Orepuki highway between Te Tua and Tuatapere for surface repairsSH99 Main Road Tuatapere near Jenkins Road for pavement renewalThird party work and events with traffic management in place this week:SH1 Bluff highway at Stirling Point, stop/go for trenchingSH1 Clyde St Invercargill, lane drop for watermain workSH95 Manapouri-Te Anau highway at Manapouri, stop/go for trenchingSH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway at Springhills, stop/go for trenchingUpcoming work/eventsFebruary – SH1 Tay St asphalt resurfacing continues, 6pm-6am, one-directional closures/detoursFebruary/March – SH1 Clyde St asphalt resurfacing, 6pm-6am, one-directional closures/detoursMarch – SH99 at Lorneville, pavement renewalUseful 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.