Two-time national road champion James Fouche and home town hero Josh Burnett shape as the pre-race favourites for the 68th edition of the SBS Bank Tour of Southland.First contested in 1956, New Zealand’s most enduring multi-stage cycle race gets underway on Sunday, November 3 and concludes back in Invercargill’s Gala St six days later.Fouche, 26, who rides for Spanish UCI Pro Team Euskaltel–Euskadi, and 24-year-old Josh Burnett, who starts a two-year deal with Spanish Pro Continental team Burgos BH this summer, will line up for Central Benchmakers-Willbike and Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling project, respectively.Both were formerly members of the now-defunct Black Spoke team, with Burnett launching himself onto the national stage when he became the first local since Doug Bath in 1994 to win the Southland tour in 2022.Burnett is excited to be back racing his home event after conflicting commitments meant he was a spectator last year.“My first tour no one really knew who I was, the second one I was being marked, but this one I know I’ll be fully marked and the expectations will be on our team. It’s something we’ve talked about a lot already and we know what we are going to have to do,” he said.“It definitely changes how we are going to race, but we’ve got a team which is built to race that way so I think we should be ready for it.”A key aspect of this year’s race is the extension of the gruelling fourth stage, which has had its Remarkables hill climb extended to 10km, with a section of gravel to finish.For Burnett, who won the Gravel and Tar UCI event last summer, going uphill and going offroad does not faze him.“It fits me really well. We’ve been up there and checked it out and it’s a long way up there. I think it’s definitely going to shock some people about how hard that climb is. I’ve got my eyes open and I’m very aware of how hard it is.“You’ve got to be a bit more mindful about where to use your energy. It’s definitely trickier than a climb like Bluff which is relatively short and you can go full gas. You’ve got to monitor and pace yourself a bit more on a climb like the Remarkables.”Race director Glen Thomson is excited to see how the peloton copes with the extended climb, which is a full 4km longer than last year.“I feel like the riders are ready for it. This race is dictated by the environment and we haven’t seen that (weather) in the last couple of years so stretching a bit deeper into that climb and hopefully we do get some more wind to mix it up as well. Fingers crossed we’ll get some roaring southerlies,” he said.“It’s going to be awesome to have Josh Burnett racing and on a rival team to him, is James Fouche who this race really suits because he’s a terror for always wanting to get down the road, he’s just an attacking rider. Fortune favours the brave in this race.”This year’s race sees a return of the Japanese national endurance team, this time with a full six-rider contingent. They recently raced for bronze in the team pursuit at the world track championships and continue to make massive improvements under legendary Swiss cyclist Daniel Gisiger.In a nod to the past, the Japanese team and C Brown Builders-Olphert Contracting will be based in the central Southland township of Winton, the base from which tour legends Brian Fowler and Graeme Miller once launched successful campaigns.This year’s race will also remember one of the great characters of New Zealand cycling, Ken “Laz” Lasenby, from Timaru.Lasenby passed away earlier this year and his Geraldine Cheese employers have opted to sponsor the Over 35 category and feature his face on the jersey.“I think it was going to be Laz’s 25th tour in a row, and he’d ridden the tour back in ‘68 I believe,” Thomson said.“To give Laz a lap around Southland is special. He was always out there to help everyone, he wasn’t ruthlessly worried about who was going to win all the time.”CLICK HERE for more information on the 2024 SBS Bank Tour of Southland.

One person is in a critical condition, while another is in a serious condition, after a crash involving two vehicles near Riversdale this afternoon (29 Oct).Emergency services were alerted to the accident at the intersection of Mandeville Kingston Crossing Road, and Dunn and Cody Road, at 2.15pm.Police said the road, a popular shortcut route between Lumsden and Gore, had now been closed and diversions were being put in place.The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

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Milford Road OPENAvalanche Hazard LOWNo delays are expected today.Please drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: ShowersTomorrow: ShowersThursday: RainFriday: RainSaturday: Showers with snow flurries

Melissa Vining has slammed the wait times faced by Southland cancer patients, revealing her family has once again been touched by cancer after the death of her husband.The cancer care advocate made the revelation to Susie Ferguson on Saturday Morning, while describing the almost weekly correspondence she has with patients facing longer than expected wait times to cancer diagnostic services at Southern District Health Board, now Te Whatu Ora Southern.Patients who contacted her are being told they will be seen within six to eight weeks by a specialist after receiving a cancer diagnosis, compared to the nationally recommended target of four, she said."People's disease progresses, and in some cases, people die before they get seen by the medical oncologist."Her husband Blair, 39, died in October 2019 of bowel cancer after receiving his diagnosis - and a letter of his own which said he would have to wait 12 weeks to see an oncologist, when he was given even less time to live.The couple dedicated the last 11 months of Blair's life to improving cancer care for all New Zealanders, organising a petition for a national cancer agency, which gained 140,000 signatures.Blair and Melissa also campaigned for a charity hospital to be built in Southland, to improve access to cancer treatment, which was completed earlier this year.But Vining said locals should not have to rely on building their own charity hospital in order to receive care.And five years on Melissa describes the almost doubling of wait times as "heartwrenching", a health system failure that has once again affected her personally."My dad is a really fortunate cancer survivor, so he's had colorectal cancer, but was diagnosed early and received treatment and was completely cured."But he is now nine months overdue for follow-up colonoscopies, vital for monitoring and catching the disease in the early stages should it reappear.Her brother too previously received surgery to remove polyps, a clump of cells that can become cancerous.“Her brother had some polyps removed which means he should have had regular surveillance colonoscopies. But in the last 18 months he has become symptomatic and has been declined several times." "However in August he was finally accepted, and faces an unknown wait time. The clinically acceptable timeframe is 42 days – and he is already over that.”“It goes against the Health and Disability act which states appropriate standard of care includes clinically safe timeframes. The HDC report states resource is not an excuse to not provide and appropriate standard of care.”"The months just keep ticking by. It's frightening to think that we could lose another one or two family members."My brother has two children. It's just completely unfair."Two of the patients were also are good friends of hers, but while both were able to be seen by a private specialist, this solution is out of reach for many, she said."And for all the families in [Southland] and in Otago that are experiencing these long waits and not able to access timely diagnosis or treatment, is heartbreaking, it's completely wrong."No one in New Zealand should be dying from colorectal cancer. It's completely curable."In April last year, Health and Disability Commissioner, Morag McDowell, released a highly critical report, revealing cancer patients in Otago and Southland were told they had to wait longer to see a cancer specialist than they had time to live.That was followed up with a report released February this year.Far from showing improvement, doctors said in the report the situation in some departments had gotten worse.One radiation oncologist - only identified as "Dr E" - told the commission the department was "sorely understaffed" in terms of senior doctors, and the service was "more at risk now than it was when the [original] report was written".As a result, patient outcomes were "potentially compromised".A number of recommendations were made in the report but Melissa said the problem comes down to funding.She said it is the government's "blatant lack of accountability" for the current crisis that she finds most galling."The Health and Disability Commissioner, she can only provide recommendations to the health provider ... but if [Health New Zealand, Te Whatu Ora] is starved of resources, who holds the government to account?"Who holds those politicians to account when they are not delivering an appropriate amount of resourcing?"We all pay tax, and it shouldn't matter where you live. It shouldn't matter if you have money or not. We should all be able to access an appropriate standard of basic medical care.""It just needs sorted out so that good people aren't dying unnecessarily."Craig Ashton, the acting southern group director of operations for Health New Zealand said in a statement that while they "endeavour to ensure that we can offer the appropriate specialist appointment in the recommended timeframes, sometimes the demand on the service exceeds our ability."Ashton said this was due to staff vacancies and a recent upgrade to the endoscopy suite at Southland Hospital."We have offered some patients appointments during the weekends, at a private facility or in Dunedin."We continue to focus heavily on recruitment and retention of our specialist workforce and continuing to strengthen our clinical governance quality and performance through a range of new initiatives."He noted that the National Bowel Screening Programme has tested 118,000 people across the district since it began in 2017, successfully catching 377 instances of bowel cancer.Some patients on surveillance colonoscopies have waited longer than the recommended time frames due to staff vacancies and a recent facility upgrade to the endoscopy suite at Southland Hospital which was completed over August and September, he said.Published by permission

On Saturday, 19 October, Te Anau lost a ray of sunshine.On that gloomy spring day, a well-known local personality, Raymond William Herbert Willett, or Ray to everyone who knew him, passed away.Activist, environmentalist, eccentric, tireless community mover and shaker, comedian, supporter of good causes, animal lover and outdoor enthusiast – these are just some epithets that spring to mind in relation to the man whose association with Fiordland went back more than half a century.Originally from London, at 16 Ray saw a sign in a window saying, “Come to New Zealand”.He went in and picked up a form to fill in.At home, when he told his parents, Edward and Catherine Willett, about his plans, they tried to persuade him to stay, but he said he wanted to be a farmer and that his mind was made up to go.Ray Willett holding his niece on the day of his departure from England, 6 August 1953. Photo: Ray Willett’s private collectionHe qualified under the child migrant scheme and joined a group of 15 youngsters on a voyage from London to Wellington aboard the ocean passenger liner RMS Rangitata to arrive in New Zealand on 9 September 1953.Ray was placed with Joe and Marl Burnside in Northland to help with milking cows.The young lad’s love affair with Fiordland started in 1956 when he embarked on a motorbike tour of New Zealand which took him from Auckland to Milford Sound.He came back for the 1958-59 summer season to take on a job of a guide and track hand on the Milford Track for the Tourist Hotel Corporation (THC).In 1961 while working at the Chateau on Mt Ruapehu Ski Field, Ray met an attractive Kiwi blonde, Helen Shepherd.Freshly back from a 3-year stint in the UK, Helen got a job at the Ruapehu ski field cafeteria while Ray worked in the boot room.At the end of the winter season, they came to Te Anau to work on the Milford Track.Two years later they were married.Ray Willett at Mackinnon Pass on the Milford Track with Clinton Valley below, 1958. Photo: Zygmunt Kepka (with permission)The couple managed the Pompolona Hut on the Milford Track during the summer 1964-65, before THC asked them to run the Lake Waikaremōana motor camp for six months.Half a year turned into five and a half years in the Urewera National Park, but the grandeur of Fiordland lured them back for good in 1970.The Willetts were both involved in the Save Manapouri campaign back in the ‘70s to prevent the raising of the levels of lakes Manapouri and Te Anau as part of the construction of the Manapouri Power Station.Passionate about the environment Mr Willett had been involved with conservation since 1959, when he came to Fiordland to work on the Milford Track as a mountain guide.This is when he saw his first stoat and learned about their impact on the New Zealand native birds.Later as a National Park Ranger he set up predator trap lines at the Eglinton and the Hollyford Valleys, and continued trapping to the end of his days.Ray Willett with a ferret he caught on his Kepler Track trap line in 2023. Photo: Beth MasserAll this work has earned Ray the conservation champion title he received in 2008 at the Department of Conservation annual awards for his extensive contribution to various conservation initiatives in Te Anau and Fiordland areas.One of the founding members of the Fiordland Tramping and Outdoor Recreation Club (FTORC), in 2023 Ray was granted a lifetime membership of the club.Known for his zest for life many younger individuals might envy, at 65 he was the oldest person to complete the 2001 New Zealand Coast to Coast race in one day for which he was awarded the Endurance trophy.He competed in 25 Kepler Challenges, finally retiring from this mountain endurance race in 2013, aged 77.His other achievements include climbing Mitre Peak (1692m) in Milford Sound at the age of 76, completing an 8-day Outward Bound course at 77, and at the age of 80 participating in a 15-hour epic caving journey down New Zealand's deepest vertical shaft called Harwood Hole.The popular Te Anau restaurant, Redcliff Café, was built and owned by Ray and Helen Willet in 1978.Ray Willett and local GP Dr. David Hamilton (left) on top of Mitre Peak, Milford Sound, Fiordland, 2011. Photo: SuppliedOriginally used as a craft shop, it was converted to a Restaurant & Bar in 1993 and quickly became a favourite meeting place for locals, travellers and performing artists.Its manager, Megan Houghton became a close and life-long friend to Ray and Helen.In 1990 Ray Willett was named the Fiordland tourist personality of the year which acknowledged his part in playing Te Anau’s first European settler, Richard Henry during the town’s centenary in 1983, and explorer Quintin Mackinnon during the Milford Track centenary celebrations in 1988 and again in 1989. No doubt Ray’s long-time involvement with Fiordland Players, the local theatrical society, has helped him to play these roles convincingly.Ray Willett with a statue of his hero Quintin Mackinnon, 18 May 2015. Photo: Alina SuchanskiRay never shied from putting himself out there for a good cause.Being blessed with the natural “gift of the gab” and quirky sense of humour has landed him many MC roles and speaking engagements at dinners, meetings, conferences and as part of the DOC’s Summer Programme.He loved making people laugh, be it reciting long humorous poems or walking his pet pig, Penelope, on the shore of Lake Te Anau.Ray's distinctive signage can be seen at numerous places around Te Anau. Photo: Fiordland Trails Trust/FacebookRay Willett died aged 88, leaving behind his infectious love for the mountains and rivers of Fiordland, his appreciation of everything this amazing region has to offer and of course his distinctive signage.He will be missed by many.A memorial service to celebrate the life and times of Ray will be held at 1pm, Friday 1st November 2024 at the Fiordland Events Centre, Luxmore Drive, Te Anau.Messages to 24 Charles Nairn Drive, RD 1 Te Anau 9679 or to Ray's tribute page at frasersfunerals.co.nz/tributes where the livestream can be accessed.

Aotearoa New Zealand's eleventh Great Walk - the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track - was officially opened today (25 Oct) by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, tangata whenua from Ngāi Tahu and local community members.The opening comes after a $7.9 million upgrade to the existing track, where multiple improvements were made including future-proofing sections of the track against climate change and natural hazards, developing alternative routes, easing inclines, new boardwalks and a swing bridge.Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track's origins go back to 1988 when the local promotion group suggested the construction of a tramping track could create jobs and bring income to the area.Hump Ridge track upgrade to Great Walk status beginsTuatapere Hump Ridge Track, the country's next Great Walk, running to budgetThe Tuatapere community got behind the idea and after many volunteer hours the track was opened in 2001.In 2019 the track was selected to join the Great Walk network, which includes the Milford, Routeburn, Rakiura and Kepler Tracks.Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track's Waharoa (gateway). Photo: SuppliedMinister Potaka said the 60km upgraded track would bring conservation, recreation, and economic benefits to the region.The Hump Ridge Track was steeped in cultural and historical significance, and its Great Walk status would make it more of a drawcard for both New Zealanders and international visitors, he said.“The area has rich stories, and new installations on the trail will tell them. This includes the stories of tangata whenua and the forestry heritage, as well as the viaducts and Port Craig."Kaiwhakairo carver Steven Solomon with the Waharoa (gateway). Photo: Supplied“A new Waharoa, a gateway, now stands at the entrance to the new track entrance, welcoming visitors."“This will be an exciting moment for everyone who has invested time and energy into this project, along with those who will benefit from the increase it brings to local businesses and the economy.”It is expected the upgrades will bring a 10 percent growth in numbers in the next years and return Great Walk visitor numbers nearer to pre-pandemic levels.As well as bringing employment opportunities and revenue to local communities, accommodation providers can also expect an increase in bed nights.

Replacement CCTV could be back on the cards for a small Southland town after the local board controversially rejected the idea earlier this year.In June, the Oreti Community Board voted against replacing four ageing cameras and adding two new ones in the small town of Winton, half an hour north of Invercargill.The decision was made despite a large community push for the upgrades, which included support from police.Community board member Colin Smith was tight-lipped about why the project was back on the cards but said progress was being made.“The community want their cameras replaced and . . . we're working towards that,” he said.A report prepared for a community board meeting this week showed a Winton CCTV working group had been created on the back of an August meeting, and would include representatives from community boards, council, staff and police.It recommended three members be appointed from the Oreti Community Board — former-chair Colin Smith, Dave Diack and councillor Christine Menzies.Diack was contacted for comment but could not be reached while Menzies deferred to others on the board.The report said the community board would consider the project again once council staff had provided necessary information.That included identifying how the cameras would help address problems, approximate cost, and privacy concerns identified by Diack in June.Further information was required on how a memorandum of understanding would work between the council and police, along with assurance the cameras would not be used to restrict the movement of people or vehicles.Assurance was also needed that facial and number plate recognition technology was only used to identify offenders, and recorded data was not stored overseas.The feed from the existing cameras is sent to the Winton police station.When the council originally looked into the CCTV upgrades, it received two estimates ranging from $16,000 to $44,000 plus GST.The original vote to complete the job was stymied five votes to three.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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Environment Southland (ES) has begun work this week (23 Oct) on the banks of both the Aparima River and Otautau Stream, in an effort to bolster the flood protection of Ōtautau.The Aparima project, budgeted to cost $500,000, is the first part of a $6 million project - 60% funded by central government through it's 'Before the Deluge 2.0' programme - to improve flood protection across Southland.Other Southland projects include the Ōreti ($5m) and the Te Anau Basin ($500k).The Aparima project will begin with critical flood protection work covering 19 kilometres of stop banks on the Aparima River, from Ōtautau to Wreys Bush, including planned improvements of erosion control and stop bank reinstatement,The Ōtautau Stream would also have crack willow removed as well as 3,300 tonnes of rock to protect the stream edges and 1,000 tonnes of fill.ES catchment operations manager Randal Beal said the Ōtautau Stream stop banks were generally in good condition, however the new work will mitigate identified flood risks and strengthen the community’s resilience to extreme flood events in the future.The new work on the Ōtautau Stream was designed to ensure the long-term protection of the stream from erosion and reinstating the flood capacity of its channel.The Aparima project is expected to be completed by autumn 2025.ES said access to the stop bank would be restricted while the works was underway.As part of this project, the Southland District Council will be carrying out tree removal on Slaughterhouse Road and near the old tip site road. Following the tree removal, additional work on the stop banks may be required to maintain their stability.In 2020 co-funding of climate resilience projects as part of the Government’s Covid economic recovery shovel ready package was secured that saw flood protection projects completed on the Waiau River, and in Gore, Mataura, Wyndham and Invercargill on the Waihōpai River and at the Stead Street Pump Station upgrade.

Milford Road ClosedAvalanche Hazard HighCLOSED from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) due to avalanche hazard.RE-OPENING from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) expected FridayRoad remaining closed today while significant rain continues to elevate the avalanche hazard.Expecting to re-open mid-morning Friday, subject to avalanche assessment & potential clearance works as a result of the storm.Further travel disruption possible this weekend.If conditions change regarding tomorrow’s timing, an update will be provided today, otherwise 7.30am report tomorrow will indicate opening time. Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Heavy rain, easing later Tomorrow: Showers, clearing in afternoonSaturday: Rain developing with heavy falls possible, then clearing. Snow possible near tunnelSunday: Rain, with snow possible near tunnel early

Milford Road CLOSEDAvalanche Hazard MODERATECLOSED from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) due to avalanche hazard. RE-OPENING from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) expected Friday. Road closed between Hollyford Road Junction & Donne River Bridge due to intense rain elevating avalanche hazard.Significant rain is forecast to continue until Thursday evening, therefore road will remain closed all of Thursday also.Re-opening Friday will be subject to avalanche assessment & potential clearance works as a result of the storm. Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Heavy rainTomorrow: Heavy rain, easing laterFriday: Showers, clearing laterSaturday: Rain, snow possible near tunnel

Southland will get its new museum with all the trimmings.On Tuesday, councillors voted to progress with the final design for Te Unua Museum of Southland — the most expensive option available amid a looming overspend.A public consultation was recently undertaken on whether the council should pare back the project or cough up the additional $13 million required to progress with the plan, which would push the final bill to $87 million.The public gave their preference for the more expensive option ahead of removing Green Star sustainability accreditation, delaying the car park, or reducing the digital to static ratio of the experience.Much of Tuesday’s deliberation centred on the details of Green Star accreditation, before deputy mayor Tom Campbell moved the status quo.He said he had come to the meeting with the intention of cost saving, but had realised a lot of work had already gone into landing on the design.A mood of “just get on and do it” had come through in his discussions with the public, he said.Councillor Darren Ludlow said altering the project would only result in minimal savings.“We will actually have a generation of kids who have grown up in Invercargill without a museum.“And we owe it to them, their kids, and their parents to make sure we’re giving them something that is worth the wait.”In opting to stand by the more expensive option, the council has backtracked on the recommendation it gave during consultation to remove Green Star accreditation and delay the carpark.This point was highlighted by councillor Lesley Soper, who said the council had been responsible in handling the issue.“What we’ve got back from the public, and what I’m absolutely convinced by, is the ‘do it once and do it right’,” she said.Removing Green Star accreditation would have shaved $900,000 off the additional $13 million the council will now pay, while removing the accreditation as well as delaying the car park would have saved $2.4 million.On top of the additional $13 million for the project, the council is still working to secure $6.6 million of external funding which it has agreed to underwrite.Thirty-six percent of people who responded during consultation chose the original plan as their top choice, while dropping Green Star and delaying the carpark emerged as the favourite based on ranked preference.Tuesday's motion passed with just councillor Ria Bond voting against it.Councillor Ian Pottinger — who has been a vocal critic of the overspend — was absent.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

A heavy rain (Orange) warning is in place for Fiordland, north of Doubtful Sound, from 9am tomorrow (23 Oct) till 3pm on Thursday.Met Service says to expect 250 to 350 mm of rain, with peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected from Wednesday afternoon through to Thursday morning.Streams and rivers may rise rapidly, with surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.CLICK HERE for more information.

There’s a whole lot of lovin’ going on in the south where Invercargill boasts one of the largest and most popular Therapy Pet programmes, with family pooches, large and small, administering canine cuddles to young and old in rest homes and schools.Daisy shares the love with the kids at Sacred Heart Primary School. Photo: SuppliedThe programme, coordinated by St John Ambulance staff, now has 33 dogs and 28 owners in hot demand throughout Invercargill, with very visible benefits and results for everyone from lonely and withdrawn elderly to kids struggling with learning difficulties.A local men’s Cancer Society support group is the latest to benefit and St John’s Community Engagement Co-Ordinator for Southland Tracy Kilkelly says if volunteers miss a week there’s quite a furor.Elderly residents at the likes of Vickery Court wait in great anticipation for their twice-weekly doggy visits, some known to sit by the front door awaiting their favourite pooch’s arrival.This story is brought to you with the kind support of Avenal Park Funeral HomeThe dogs, all specially vetted and checked by a dog trainer, are swarmed by delighted children when they turn up at 14 Invercargill schools.The programme’s recently been expanded to include Southland Girls High where the dogs are working with the school counsellor and producing incredible results.Winton School is also now benefiting from the programme.Kay and her dog, Alfie, bring joy to the children at Windsor North School. Photo: Supplied“There have been so many beautiful stories,” Kilkelly says.“An elderly dementia unit patient was walking to the door to farewell a volunteer with his beautifully placid rescue dog when the elderly man tripped on a mat and fell to the floor.”Staff were rushing to help while the dog nestled under the man’s arm and snuggled tightly beside his chest, lying down beside him.“That dog had been tethered and severely beaten prior to rescue. The owner said his heart was so full that day.”Volunteer Jan Feaver shares a beautiful story of an elderly lady, 92, who wouldn’t come out of her flat and within two weeks was waiting at her front gate for Yabba, one of three beautiful chocolate Border Collies.“She cried the first time she met him, and he hopped up on her lap, leaning his weight on the chair rather than on her,” Feaver says.Border Collies Wilma Yabba and Rubble with Neil at the Cancer Society. Photo: Supplied“She’s now in a rest home and we still go to see her every week.”Yabba was the first therapy dog to visit a person in their home.“It’s very rewarding.""We go to Calvary Hospital and the dogs hop up onto the beds for a cuddle,” Feaver says.“The residents open up and tell you all their happy memories about their own pets and dogs, and the dogs just love going, lining up for their pats.”“If we don’t go, we get told off,” she laughs.Dementia patients don’t often remember the owner, but they remember the dog’s name, Kilkelly says.Now retired from his rest home duties Merlin still works his magic at Invercargill's Avenal Park Funeral Home. Photo: Nigel EdwardsHe’s now retired from Ascot Bupa rest home duties, but 13-year-old Samoyed, Merlin is still healing the broken hearted, welcoming bereaved loved ones with his loving warmth at Avenal Park Funeral Home.Owners Christine and Nigel Edwards adopted Merlin from the SPCA nine years ago.He’s very gentle and comforting and people come in especially to see him, says Nigel"We have had requests from familes for Merlin to attend services and he has accompanied in the hearse with the deceased."This story is brought to you with the kind support of Avenal Park Funeral Home"After a service children and adults come to see him and spend time with him."While there are more than 550 elderly Invercargill rest home residents receiving the Therapy Pets love, more than 50 schoolchildren are too.Research has shown that reading to pets can greatly assist with learning difficulties.“A dog doesn’t judge so kids who are struggling can lie on, or beside, the dog while they’re reading to it in the school library. It’s a safe environment,” Kilkelly says.Staff even pitched in at Donovan Primary School buying a big dog bed for ‘Shelby’ the Golden Retriever to snuggle in while she’s read to in the school library.Shelby, all dressed up for Halloween, enjoys a story at Donovan Primary School. Photo: SuppliedAnother dog arrives at a school on a bike in a cane basket, all dressed up for the occasion.One school has been successfully using the programme to help kids with social anxieties, while it’s also greatly benefited kids handling grief and bereavement, illness or divorce.“They just have that quiet time out to hang out with a dog. It’s so therapeutic,” Kilkelly says.One young boy, who constantly sat under his desk, had ventured out to see the dog within a term, and by the following term was sitting reading with the dog.This story is brought to you with the kind support of Avenal Park Funeral Park“He really came out of his shell.”Yak - an acronym for ‘You Are Kidding’, named by owner Anna Robertson’s husband when she arrived with two not one rescue dog, and also Minnie, share the chihuahua love at Vickery Court.“Residents love them because they can sit on their laps and stroke them,” Robertson says.“One lady was quite confused and was convinced her room wasn’t hers until we walked in."She said, ‘Thank goodness! Now I know it’s my room as the dogs come in to visit.”Yabba gets up close and personal with her favourite Vickery Court resident Jean Bulmer, who turns 95 soon. Photo: SuppliedThe whole thing hasn’t been good for Yak’s diet though.“They get a wee doggy treat every time they sit nicely on people’s laps,” Robertson says.Photographs of Yak and Minnie adorn some residents’ walls.“I just love the interaction. It’s like a big family. Everybody makes you feel so welcome.”Laminated paw prints are stuck to the door to show the dogs are welcome and Kilkelly says there are few rooms where they’re not.St John staff say the Therapy Pets programme has experienced considerable growth nationally, increasing from 120 volunteer dogs in 2020 through to 550 this year. It’s so popular that no additional volunteers are required at this stage.However, Kilkelly says with a few dogs passing away in Invercargill they will recruit for some replacements early next year.

Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark says he will no longer “contribute” to some media outlets on the back of stories about his costly behaviour.On Friday, Local Democracy Reporting released figures on the cost of code of conduct complaints at Invercargill City Council for the past five years.It showed that of the five complaints recorded for that time, the three most-expensive belonged to Clark, with two of those coming in 2024.Clark said the story left him “no option” regarding his contributions to the Otago Daily Times, Southland Express and Stuff.“The lesson for me is that there are some media that care way more about some of the positive and good things I'm delivering in our city,” he wrote in an email.“There are some very serious issues within council over the next month but I am no longer prepared to contribute to your news outlet.”Clark was contacted by Local Democracy Reporting for further comment but did not respond. His email did not provide further details on what he meant by contribution.He said the code of conduct matters were a regurgitation, while outlining what he had “saved and delivered” for Invercargill.That included taking an older car from the council fleet over a $56,000 option, keeping accommodation low-cost when travelling, a single-digit rate increase, and a “futuristic” museum.Code of conduct breaches related to Clark’s behaviour have cost the council more than $79,000 since 2020.This year alone he was found to be in breach of the code twice.On 16 March, Clark attended a United Fire Brigades’ Association (UFBA) event which resulted in a complaint being lodged against him for his behaviour.He was alleged to have verbally attacked the female MC and called volunteer firefighters second-class citizens.The following week, Clark appeared on television show New Zealand Today where he drew criticism for his use of a homophobic slur and the ‘n-word’.Clark's earlier breach relates to a 2020 incident where he questioned the truthfulness of remarks by former council chief executive Clare Hadley.He has publicly apologised for all three breaches.The council’s code of conduct was last updated in 2022 and covers a range of topics, from relationships to media protocols.Deputy mayor Tom Campbell did not wish to comment without further information and Invercargill City Council did not respond by deadline.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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Milford Road OPENAvalanche Hazard LOWCLOSING from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) around midday Wednesday. Intense rain forecast from around midday Wednesday through until Thursday evening will elevate the avalanche hazard, likely resulting in a road closure from noon Wednesday.Exact timing of frontal passage will be carefully monitored to determine closure time. Current forecasts indicate reopening will only be possible Friday morning.Please drive with care, especially through road works & around mobile operations.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Cloudy drizzle, becoming fineTomorrow: Rain, turning heavyThursday: Heavy rain, easing laterFriday: Showers

Milford Road OPENAvalanche Hazard LOWToday’s weather forecast has retreated, with a low chance of travel disruption as brief intense rain passes.Heavy rain forecast from late Wednesday into Thursday which may elevate the avalanche hazard, potentially resulting in disruption or delays along the highway.Update as forecast develops.Please drive with careWeather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Rain, easing tonightTomorrow: Rain clearing, becoming fineWednesday: Rain developing, possibly heavy laterThursday: Heavy rain, easing later