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Dead Rat Found on Ulva Island Sparks Increased Monitoring Efforts
Dead Rat Found on Ulva Island Sparks Increased Monitoring Efforts

06 February 2025, 10:44 PM

A dead rat discovered on Ulva Island on January 13 has prompted intensified monitoring efforts on the nature sanctuary, located 780 metres from Stewart Island/Rakiura.The island, a popular destination for visitors wanting to experience its thriving wildlife, has been predator-free since 1997 and is home to native species such as the Stewart Island brown kiwi (tokoeka), kākā, kākāriki, yellowhead (mohua), and South Island saddleback (tīeke).Department of Conservation (DOC) Acting Operations Manager for Rakiura, Bridget Carter, confirmed the immediate response following the discovery, with staff checking traps, using lured cameras, and deploying rodent detection dogs to assess the extent of the rat presence.“Since the dead rat was found, trail cameras have captured further rat activity,” said Carter.“Ongoing monitoring will help us determine if this is an isolated case or if there are more rats on the island.”DOC’s strategy includes continuing surveillance and trapping efforts, with toxin use considered in areas where rats are present but avoid traps.Despite the discovery, Carter emphasized that the situation shows the biosecurity monitoring system is functioning as it should.Rats typically manage to reach Ulva Island one or two times a year, largely due to its proximity to Rakiura, where rats are present.The risk of incursions increases when rat numbers are high on the mainland, especially in warmer weather.Visitors are asked to report any rat sightings on the island by taking photos, noting the location, and informing the DOC Rakiura Office.In 2023, DOC carried out a successful rat eradication operation after a breeding population was found on the island. Ulva Island was declared rat-free in early 2024.However, a single rat caught in February 2024 was genetically confirmed to be unrelated to the 2023 population, with intensive monitoring showing the island was again free of rodents.With the ongoing threat of rat incursions, DOC’s biosecurity systems will continue to monitor and respond rapidly to protect Ulva Island’s predator-free status.

Southland Sees Rise in Farm Sales Amid Positive National Trend
Southland Sees Rise in Farm Sales Amid Positive National Trend

06 February 2025, 8:19 PM

Data released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) shows a notable increase in farm sales across the country, with Southland standing out for its significant growth in the final quarter of 2024.Graphic: REINZ/SuppliedFor the three months ending December 2024, Southland recorded a 27-sale jump, a 28.6% increase from the same period in 2023, mirroring the national trend of a vibrant farming sector.A total of 315 farms were sold in the last quarter of 2024, up from 259 in the previous quarter and 245 in the same period of 2023.This brings the total number of farm sales for the year to 1,067, marking an increase of nine sales compared to the previous year. In Southland alone, the total sales for the quarter increased by 21 sales compared to the three months ending November 2024, reflecting the region's strong performance within the sector.REINZ rural commentators point to the growth in Dairy and Dairy Support farm sales as key indicators of confidence in these sectors, particularly in Southland.The sale of these farms rose 7.9% and 17.8% respectively in the past year.However, declines in Grazing and Finishing farm sales, down 19% and 23.1%, signal shifting priorities in land use across the country.In Southland, the trend towards Dairy farms has been especially strong, contributing to the overall 27-sale increase in the region. REINZ notes that, while prices per hectare for all types of farms have decreased compared to 2023, the growing volume of transactions offers a hopeful sign for the industry.The median price per hectare for all farms nationwide was $28,710 for the December 2024 quarter, a 13.6% drop from the previous year.This decrease is reflected across most farm categories, with Dairy farm prices averaging $45,165 per hectare, showing a slight decrease from the previous quarter but an overall 10.1% increase over the past year.The dairy sector is particularly noteworthy, with the median price per kilogram of milk solids falling to $39.10, a decrease from $41.84 in November 2024.Despite this, the REINZ Dairy Farm Price Index showed a 12% increase year-on-year, suggesting resilience in the market.The REINZ All Farm Price Index saw a modest 1.9% increase in the last quarter of 2024, but declined 0.4% from December 2023.This reflects a broader picture of diverse regional activity, with notable increases in farm sales seen in Southland, Northland, and Waikato.Looking ahead, REINZ predicts that while farm prices are down from previous highs, the increase in farm sales is a positive sign for the industry, with Southland continuing to play a key role in this growth.

'Really good' ram sells for nearly $25,000
'Really good' ram sells for nearly $25,000

05 February 2025, 5:58 AM

An elite ram has set the Gore Showgrounds alight, with one lucky Southland breeder earning more than three times his previous best for the country's highest-priced ram this year.A Wiltshire crossed with an Exlana shedding ram from Enfield Genetics breeder Grant Kean at Winton received competitive bidding up to the $20,000 mark, before the hammer came down at $24,500."It was a bit of a shock and surprise," said Kean, who was in the ring while the hearty bidding was taking place last week."We sold one last year for $8000, so I thought it might come near that, but I'm just over the moon."A Perendale ram topped last week's Gore Ram Fair, selling for $19,000, but Kean's reward of $24,500 at the Gore shedding sheep sale was the top price for a ram throughout the North and South Islands this year.Bought by a syndicate of Balclutha's Hamish Bielski and North Canterbury duo Daniel Wheeler and Chris Ensor, the ram will be put to work at different corners of the breeding season.Speaking to RNZ from Scotland where he was busy scanning sheep, Daniel Wheeler said he was confident the "really good" ram was worth every cent."He had a really great set of figures," Wheeler, who farmed near Amberley, said."All his performance records were really good, really well balanced across the board. One of the highest-indexing rams in the country and coupled with that, he was just a really good ram. He's structurally sound, great legs, great feet, a very long ram."Ensor - from Cust, near Oxford - said the prized ram would start its work with a mating cycle on his farm during a 20-day stay in North Canterbury."The ram is going to start in North Canterbury and then hitchhike south down to near Balclutha for Hamish."It's not uncommon to share rams between different locations, and you give them a couple of days rest and then put them on a truck."Our tupping dates are earlier. We'll put it over some of our best, then Hamish gets to pick it up."There is a servicing agreement so he's not worn out. At Hamish Bielski's place he'll have longer down there, so he can take it a bit easier."And with lambing starting on Ensor's farm in late August, the offspring would not be too far away.Published by permission

Local Legend: Adventurer & Explorer Dr Stan Mulvany grabs every opportunity
Local Legend: Adventurer & Explorer Dr Stan Mulvany grabs every opportunity

05 February 2025, 3:34 AM

Born in post-war Dublin in 1948 to a psychiatrist mother and farming father, little did Southland’s Stan Mulvany know he would become something of an intrepid modern-day explorer, venturing into every remote corner of the globe.This Local Legend story is brought to you with the kind support of Locator Beacons New ZealandBut it wasn’t until his close-knit family moved to a farm in the Dublin Mountains in 1959 that Stan first discovered a love for hiking and the mountains. Money was tight and there wasn’t much time for sport and hobbies with Stan and his younger brother helping on the farm, but whenever he could, he’d head for the hills.In his late teens Stan “drifted into” medicine – the family tradition, along with his brother, studying and excelling together at University College Dublin. By the time he graduated in 1972, the ‘Troubles’ (Na Trioblóidí), which started in 1968 in Northern Ireland, were in full swing. The Irish Republic’s economy was in the doldrums, and there seemed little future there so the entire family emigrated.Stan (left) and his brother Nicholas at Good Samaritan Hospital, Ohio USA in 1969. Photo: SuppliedStan came to New Zealand, working as a house surgeon in Wellington, Dunedin and Rotorua hospitals before a six-month climbing trip around the world with friends in 1975.They climbed peaks in Nepal, Ireland, Scotland and Norway, then Western Canada and up to the Yukon, camping along the way.Stan was hooked. It was the start of a 50-plus-year-climbing and outdoor adventure career, still going at 76.There was more world to explore, so after working as a GP in NZ Stan headed to Australia in 1975, working in Canberra for five years.Stan at 6000metres on Ramdang Go in the Himalayas in 1981. Photo: Supplied“But the love affair with the mountains was greater so I came back to NZ in 1982,” he says. He worked at Wellington Hospital as a radiology registrar until a moment of epiphany sent him south to the Southern Alps.Initially he worked as a locum for Dr Hunter in Invercargill, then bought his GP practice.In 2001 Stan merged the practice with Dr Sier Vermunt’s, and built the Waihopai Medical Centre, with Kieran O’Neill and John Burroughs. Medicine can be very stressful and full of drama but climbing, and eventually sea kayaking, became Stan’s escape.After climbing many of the high peaks in the Mount Cook region – many failures, some great successes among them, he ventured into sea kayaking founding and running the Southland Sea Kayaking Network in 2003.Stan near O'Leary Pass, Fiordland, in 1999. Photo: SuppliedThe mountains beckoned once again and Stan got back into alpine climbing, also discovering mountain packrafting trips, and serving on the Southland section of the NZ Alpine Club for more than 30 years.He’s led expeditions to North and South America – Alaska, Arctic Canada, the Canadian Rockies, Patagonia, Bolivia and Peru, to Europe climbing The Eiger, Northern Norway and Scotland.He’s also led three to Southwest Greenland, including sea kayaking and a packrafting traverse, and climbing expeditions to remote peaks in the Himalayas, Pakistan and Tibet, biking across Central Asia and completing community service projects in Pakistan and Nepal.In 2019, aged 70, Stan and friend Bruce Farmer did a packrafting and mountaineering trip across Southwest Greenland. “You have to be well prepared as you’re on your own out there,” he says. “We’d been doing this sort of thing for a lifetime.”Adventures have included some “challenging situations” with black bear encounters, navigating treacherous, remote canyon gorges in Greenland and slogging through deep snow over high Himalayan passes in winter.Stan climbing in the Lopfoten Islands in Norway in 2014. Photo: SuppliedStan took up blue water sailing about 15 years ago, sailing for six months with David Haig across the Indian Ocean into Pirate Alley and the Middle East. He and Bryan Scott went to Nepal in challenging circumstances after the devastating earthquake in 2015 to garner support for earthquake relief.It’s all the stuff of Bear Grylls and makes for good reading – Stan’s other talent writing. He’s written three books recounting his adventures and hopes to publish them this year.“We’d always learn from the locals – the indigenous Inuit (Eskimos) how to keep watch for polar bears and camp safely, never where seals have been slaughtered, as we’ve never carried rifles.”This Local Legend story is brought to you with the kind support of Locator Beacons New ZealandIn Pakistan, the Taliban were on the rise, so they had to be careful, as did Stan during a solo trip in a potentially volatile Yemen.Stan’s learned the hard way about pack ice - his party had a close call surrounded by fast-moving sea ice against a cliff in South Greenland.Stan (left) and his group at 5000m on Ganja La in the Himalayas, December 2015. Photo: SuppliedMountaineers are bound to have near-death experiences, he says, but it’s something he brushes over. “I’ve had my share.” He does recall once having to be rescued by helicopter after a major fall in Mount Aspiring National Park.Tragically, most mountaineers find themselves dealing with fatalities, however, Stan says his health and safety record has been pretty good. “I’m very careful with risk assessment. There are old climbers and bold climbers, but no old and bold climbers,” he says.“I did get very hypothermic once in Australia, trapped in a waterfall while abseiling about 1978. I was in a poor state, but I managed to save myself.”About 2013 Stan launched his own action to save the environment. “I realised things weren’t doing that well in terms of conservation and the environment here in NZ.”Stan checking traps at Homer in 2015. Photo: SuppliedWith help from the Southland Section of the Alpine Club, the Southland Tramping Club and Fiordland Tramping and Outdoor Recreation Club, he began laying traplines near the Homer-Gertrude and Bowen valleys. He’s also worked in Dusky Sound, Resolution Island and Indian Island.Stan’s also a trustee of the Permolat Southland Charitable Trust, its conservation/team leader, managing DOC traps in the Spey Valley and Deep Cove with support from wonderful collaborative sponsors.Last year he went to Martins Bay for the Hollyford Conservation Trust, camping out on his own, servicing traplines in the mountains. “I just beaver away for a week in the bush by myself servicing traps. I love the work and environment. They’re now putting huts in for us. They must think we’re getting soft,” he jokes.Stan and others work for American conservationist Edith Jones checking traps in her privately-owned Slope Point Forest, Stan’s wife Belinda helping remove plant pests. “That whole ecosystem has recovered enormously since Edith bought it about six years ago,” he says.Stan and mate Bruce Farmer in Greenland in 2018. Photo: SuppliedBelinda, who’s shared in many adventures and helps on conservation missions, is understanding of his intrepid tendencies to explore. One of their two daughters, Tara, is already famous for her own sea kayaking adventures, becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the three islands of NZ by sea kayak. Dana and her family are also very adventurous.So, it goes without saying that the pack’s out again this week (week ends Jan 31) as Stan and an old friend head deep into the heart of one of the most inaccessible and remote areas of Fiordland on yet another challenging mission.Food caches have also been positioned and a refuelling ship lined up for a ride for yet another major southern expedition in February.As Stan says, ‘Well, you’ve got to grab opportunities while the weather’s still warm and your health is up to it.”Excerpts from ‘Arctic Journeys’Southwest Greenland – 2018…But some more bad news was to come, as there was a final gorge to negotiate. It loomed ahead like a giant bird of prey luring us into its icy talons. Our wild sheep trail disappeared as we forced our way through shoulder-height birch scrub along a terrace high above a gorge with a huge glacial river rushing with unfettered haste to the Sioralik Fjord…...Now the sky darkened and rain was coming. Bruce was skeptical about this route but I was adrenalized and forging ahead. Now I was on a narrow ledge butting up against a cliff with a stupendous drop to the raging river far below…... . I went for a recce and found an ancient stone cairn possibly built by the Norse that marked a route down the bluffs to the valley below. I felt an ineffable, transcendental joy seeing this pile of rocks, covered in lichen that might be a millennium old in such a wild location…

Police Patrol: vandals, rescues, fires and more
Police Patrol: vandals, rescues, fires and more

04 February 2025, 5:05 AM

Welcome to Police Patrol, the Southland App's very first round-up of selected recent incidents attended by our Southland Police team.Roadside sign vandals on rampage in the southSouthland Police are on the hunt for roadside sign vandals with dozens more signs run over and badly damaged, causing serious concerns that someone could be badly injured or killed.Vandalism, theft and destruction of signs is a growing problem that’s plagued the Southland District Council for some time, costing ratepayers more than $100,000 a year – almost $240,000 from 1 January 2023, until 24 October last year, according to a recent report.Senior Sergeant Peter Graham says in the latest hit vandals ran over the main Browns township sign, 35 minutes out of Winton, just after midnight, flattening and destroying it on 11 January.The sign landed well off the roadside and Police want to hear from anyone who may have spotted a 4WD ute in the area about that time.“We’ve had a huge number of signs run over recently and we’re looking for any information that can help us identify the culprits as anyone caught responsible can face charges of wilful damage,” he says.Southland District council strategic manager transport Hartley Hare says the signs are usually knocked down and it’s very concerning that many of these are roadside ‘Stop’ and ‘Give Way’ signs, kerbside speed advisories to slow around dangerous corners.While a small proportion could be damaged during accidents, the rest are likely to be intentional.Occasionally the vandalism is localised, suggesting a small number of perpetrators are responsible, he says.By early last year 192 roadside signposts were vandalised and broken in the Northern Southland area within 10 months, he says.More than a dozen signs were vandalised within a 24-hour period last year around Balfour and Waikaia.“We know of signs that are missing or obscured elsewhere in New Zealand and that’s led to road crashes.”While it’s increasingly difficult to catch the perpetrators with so few witnesses in rural areas, particularly at night, he’s urging people to contact Police on 105 if they see this vandalism occurring or have information.Elderly man poisoning treesPolice apprehended a 76-year-old local man, who’d allegedly been poisoning trees on public land in Clifden, near Tuatapere.Graham says the man had allegedly been drilling holes in the trees then pouring weedkiller inside to kill them.He was warned that that was wilful damage but not charged. His motive was unknown.Winton firefighters assist Hokonui rescueSix Winton Fire Brigade volunteers came to the rescue after the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter was called to retrieve an 80-year-old local woman with an ankle injury from the Hokonui hills just before 4pm on 22 January.St John Ambulance also attended, and Winton chief fire officer Scott Glover says the woman was airlifted to Southland Hospital in a moderate condition.She and her 85-year-old husband had been on a day bush hike on the narrow, single lane Makarewa Falls track when she had an accident earlier in the day.Glover says her elderly husband had tried to assist her until he realised it was too much and rang 111.“They said they hadn’t wanted to inconvenience us. Fortunately he discovered a tiny 2m pocket of phone reception around a particular tree,” Glover says.“We had no idea where she was but fortunately, we found her on the track and set up a helicopter landing pad in the bush while we walked the husband out.”Use technology to keep you safeSouthland Police are urging people to, where possible, make use of technology that will help keep them safe whether driving or enjoying the outdoors.While there was a tragic outcome in the fatal single-vehicle crash at Fairlight, near Kingston, last Thursday (30 January), Police say they were alerted to the crash by an automated crash detection alert from the 29-year-old Queenstown driver’s cellphone, which gave them a location.“Those alerts are very helpful in assisting to keep people safe and if they have the opportunity or ability to use them, they should,” Southland Acting Area Prevention Manager Stu Harvey says.“Any technology that looks after people’s safety should be utilised as much as possible.”SAR callouts down as outdoor adventurers heed warningsMost hikers and climbers have been doing the right things in the south so far this summer, Aviation SAR spokesman and Southern Lakes helicopters crewman Richie Hunter says.“It’s been very quiet. People have been checking the forecast and taking the right gear, preparing well for their trips, so perhaps that’s why we’ve been receiving less callouts,” Hunter says.People also appear to be much more aware of the need to take PLBs (personal locator beacons) with them.“They appear to be doing their research on the trails that they’re undertaking and looking after each other in the outdoors, which is a good recipe for success,” Hunter says.Skilled scammers target the elderly and vulnerableSkilled scammers continue to target elderly in Southland ripping them off for thousands of dollars by phoning or emailing from convincing addresses and posing as bank staff or Police.Senior Sergeant Gary Iddenten says it’s a growing problem and the scammers are picking on people at their most vulnerable times using clever and manipulative techniques to convince them to give out their bank account details or hand over money.“It is a problem we continue to see in our region,” Iddenten says. “People pick the phone up and take these people at face value.Always remember if it’s too good to be true then don’t entertain it,” he says.“If you have any doubts or suspicions, always contact your bank first and check. Never give out your passwords or details over the phone."“If you are able to do so, always go and view an item in person before you buy or pay for it.”Other scammers call saying they’re a detective, and once they get a conversation going, they ask for personal account details, however, they mostly use emails and letters.“They can be quite plausible.”In one instance, someone was asked to put money into a book as the person was going out of the country.Unexplained firePolice investigated an unexplained fire that occurred at a Churchill Street house in Gore on Sunday, 26 January, around 10am.Iddenten says the fire caused extensive damage and Fire and Emergency had taken over inquiries.Dob in drunk drivers!Remember to report any suspected drunk drivers on *555.“Plan your trips ahead as the consequences can be fatal,” Iddenten says.

All Blacks great Richie McCaw helps bring back Godzone
All Blacks great Richie McCaw helps bring back Godzone

03 February 2025, 10:03 PM

Rugby legend Richie McCaw has played a big part in the return of one of New Zealand's iconic adventure events.Godzone is an eight-day teams multisport event which requires athletes to navigate their own route through wilderness areas which can span up to 650 kilometres.An adventure racing charitable trust led by McCaw announced the return of the world's largest expedition race after a two-year hiatus."Most of us have raced Godzone and got so much out of the event on a personal and sporting level that we wanted to see it return to continue the legacy," said Pure Adventure Charitable Trust spokesperson Rob Nichol."It's such an incredible event that allows teams to explore vast and often untouched areas of New Zealand's backcountry and is truly aspirational for adventure racers worldwide."Nichol and McCaw have competed in a number of multi-sport events together.The trust hopes to have the event back in the next 12 months."Godzone is one of the most celebrated adventure racing events globally, and we intend to continue this rich adventure racing legacy by bringing teams together to race at an elite level for an adventure like no other," said Nichol.Racers in the 2016 Godzone. Photo: PHOTOSPORT"It will allow us to showcase the New Zealand outdoors. PACT (Pure Adventure Charitable Trust) will work alongside other events to inspire and support an increasing number of schools and students seeking to engage in multisport and the outdoors."Former All Blacks captain McCaw has competed in four chapters of Godzone."It's a gruelling and rewarding challenge and has impacted my life in so many ways and continues to be an inspiration."Godzone pitches teams of four against each other as they navigate their own route with disciplines including mountain biking, trekking, packrafting, kayaking, ropes, abseiling & coasteering.Published by permission

What happened when The Rolling Stones invaded Invercargill?
What happened when The Rolling Stones invaded Invercargill?

02 February 2025, 11:49 PM

This weekend marks 60 years since The Rolling Stones toured New Zealand. It was the band's first visit to New Zealand and Australia and at the time the longest travel they had undertaken in their career.The tour included stops in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, and their first New Zealand stop: Invercargill, in February 1965.Dave Hogan grew up in Invercargill and was there to meet the Stones at Invercargill airport in 1965 - wearing his Marist Brothers High School uniform - and later bumped into the band and sat down for a drink with them.He joined Music 101 to talk about his memories of their legendary performance at the town's Civic Theatre and the impact the visit had on the town."I was infatuated with the Rolling Stones because the year before their first release in New Zealand - I believe they'd had a couple of singles out in the UK before then - was a song called 'Not Fade Away', and it's with a really incredible harmonica, and I just fell in love with it."My grandmother had died recently, and there as a little bit of money and we were all allowed to choose a gift in the family - my brother and my sister and myself - so I chose a harmonica and a copy of the Rolling Stones' 'Not Fade Away' - and I drove my family mad by trying to learn to play it.""And lo and behold, a few months later, there they are playing at our beautiful Civic Theatre."The Rolling Stones 1965 NZ tour poster. Photo: The Brian Jones collection, sourced by John BakerHogan's older brother got tickets to the gig, which also starred Roy Orbison - who was a huge international star at the time - and announced they were going to the show."The Rolling Stones ... in 1965, they were not the celebrities that they are now, their big song 'Satisfaction' was yet to be written, and they were effectively a little blues band," Hogan said."There was a radio announcer on 4ZA Invercargill whose name was Jim Healey ... and he announced what plane, the time of the flight that they were arriving on, and all of the fans should go out and meet them - can you imagine anything like that happening now, that's insane!"So I said to my mother that morning - it was a school day - 'I'm not going to school today, I'm going out to see the Stones'."Hogan's mother, knowing how obsessed he was with the band, agreed to take him to see the Stones if he would go to school for the rest of the day."Here I am, absolutely mortified - out at the airport with my mother, in my Marist uniform with short pants, waiting to meet these long-haired scruffy idols of mine - at the time that seemed totally uncool, but now I love it," he said."There was no-one really there to meet them, I must have been the only person who wanted to. I was cowering in the corner like I was just gobsmacked, couldn't speak and looking on saying 'they're there, they're there' ..."And mum said 'what are you doing', so she bowled over to them as they're in the foyer waiting for their luggage and says ... 'I've brought this boy of mine out here, he plays your music day and night. I've brought him out here on his way to school to meet you and he won't even come and say hello, can you come over and talk to him?'"And they're all standing round talking to mum, and they all come over and start chatting."The Stones signed Hogan's magazine poster, and he proudly pinned it inside his desk once he got back to school.But luck struck again, and on his way home from school that day, Hogan saw Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and their manager Andrew Oldham having a drink in a coffee bar in Essex Street."They were so friendly and down to earth, that was the unbelievable thing," he said.The Rolling Stones playing in Stockholm in April, 1965. From left, Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones. Photo: AFP/ KB - Owe WallinThey invited Hogan to sit down and bought him a coke, after which Richards said to him: "How the **** do you live here? - There's nothing here".At the gig, Hogan estimates the crowd was about a 60:40 split of Roy Orbison fans and people there to see the Stones."The Stones certainly were not booed, like a lot of people have said. They went down well."They played 'Little Red Rooster', it was the first time I'd seen slide guitar, they did ... 'Not Fade Away', and I saw the harmonica use, and Chuck Berry songs 'Around and Around' and 'It's All Over Now'."They were just like the records - they were every bit as good, but a bit more exciting because it was just loud and right in your face. I'm like in heaven."The Rolling Stones, not long after their tour to New Zealand, captured by Kiwi photographer Frank Habicht. Photo: Frank HabichtHogan has followed the Stones through the years, and bought every album they've released: "And I still play them, they're not just sitting there as a collection, they get played.""I still am in touch with a lot of people who went to those shows, and a lot of people out there's grandparents - their grandmas were there in miniskirts and their granddads were there with hair hanging halfway down their back. And it was a free and easy wonderful time, I loved it. It can't think of a better place to grow up."The Rolling Stones, in 2022. Photo: AFPMany years later, Richards was infamously quoted as describing Invercargill as the arsehole of the world, which Hogan has sometimes been accused of repeating, by locals - though he said that is somewhat unfair, as that was not the quote he was responsible for.Hogan went on to form a band with four friends, inspired by the Rolling Stones and The Pretty Things, another British blues rock band who visited New Zealand soon after."It was a very conservative town, but after learning to play the harmonica and seeing the Stones ... myself and four dear friends had formed a band that we called The Unknown Blues," Hogan said.And the Unknown Blues also had their turn playing at the Civic Theatre, in about 1967."We stood out, because up until then all the bands wore suits and shirts and ties - as did everyone else who went to the dances - and we were dressing like the photographs we'd seen of the Stones, and ...we would get stared at in the street for what we were wearing and for daring to grow our hair down to our shoulders."And I think we broke the mould down there doing that - it wasn't an innovation in other parts of the world, but it was in Invercargill."

Roadworks Update 3/2/25
Roadworks Update 3/2/25

02 February 2025, 7:39 PM

Please note that many of these are subject to good weather, so dates may change if this is not the case.The Burt Munro event starts in Southland this week (Wednesday 5th – Sunday 9th February) so expect to see a larger volume of riders on the roads. Waitangi Day also falls this week, so the teams will be taking a break from roadworks to observe this on Thursday 6th February.Highways South work with temporary traffic lights or stop/go and temporary speed limits this week:SH01S Bluff highway at Awarua for pavement renewalSH1 Tay St at Lindisfarne Street for pavement repairsSH6 North Road Invercargill for pavement repairsSH6 Lumsden-Dipton highway near Caroline Valley Road for pavement repairsSH6 Athol-Five Rivers highway near Parawa for pavement repairsSH94 Te Anau-Mossburn highway west of Mossburn for pavement repairsSH96 Glencoe highway near Downs Road North for chipseal resurfacingSH96 Glencoe highway at Glencoe for pavement renewalSH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway near Devereux Road for chipseal resurfacingSH96 Wreys Bush Nightcaps highway for pavement renewalSH98 Lorne-Dacre Road near Taylor Road for pavement repairsTuatapere-Orepuki highway between McCracken's Rest and Te Wae Wae for surface repairsTuatapere-Orepuki highway near Te Tua for surface repairsTuatapere-Orepuki highway between Te Tua and Tuatapere for surface repairsRoadmarking (mobile traffic management):SH1 – Invercargill urban areasSH6 – Invercargill, Winton & Lumsden urban areasSH6 – Invercargill to FairlightThird party work and events with traffic management in place this week:SH1 Clyde St Invercargill, lane drop for watermain workSH6 North Road Invercargill, lane shift for fir hydrant workSH95 Manapouri-Te Anau highway at Manapouri, stop/go for trenchingSH99 Orepuki-Riverton highway at Longwood, stop/go for utility maintenanceUpcoming work/eventsSunday 16th February, SH1 Edendale Roundabout closure - full road closure from 8pm - 9pm and again from 9.15pm to 10.00pmFebruary – SH1 Tay St and SH6 Dee 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.Drive safely, and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Dunedin Hospital build turned into 'political football' - union
Dunedin Hospital build turned into 'political football' - union

31 January 2025, 9:11 PM

The Dunedin Hospital build turned into a "political football", wasting time and money, a doctors' union says.On Friday, the government confirmed the long-awaited hospital build would go ahead at the former Cadbury factory site.Health Minister Simeon Brown said the new $1.8 billion hospital would have 351 beds - 59 fewer than originally proposed - but with capacity to expand to 404 beds over time.There would also be 20 short-stay surgical beds and 58 emergency department spaces.The plan was described as a broken promise by some and good enough by others.Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said the process had taken longer than it should have."The minister is doing the right thing by returning to the original plan that there needs to be a new hospital built on the Cadbury site, I guess what is both frustrating and disappointing is the way this hospital build turned into a political football, and there have been significant delays that are costing the community in terms of time, money and access to appropriate healthcare resources, and this never should've happened,"A decision was taken by [the] previous government to progress a needed new hospital build in Dunedin, and obviously massive public facilities builds take longer than a three-year political term, so I guess what we continue to see is one government approve a needed public facility and another government comes along, says 'we want to review it, we want to take it back, we want to make it a bit cheaper'."It wastes time, it wastes money and the review was really for political reasons. I think they weren't evidence based."Dalton believed the plan fell short of what was promised in 2017."A lot of time and effort went into developing an evidence-based case for the type of hospital build needed in Dunedin, and this government has stepped right back from that. Yes, the build will proceed but not as originally decided, not in the time frame that it could've been, and in the long term when people look back it would've added to the cost, these delays."When you think that these hospitals have a lifespan of 50-plus years you know the government of the day needs to be willing just to I guess suck it up, commit the funds and understand that this is part of a public investment programme that shouldn't be batted around every three years depending on which government is in."Fewer beds at the hospital would affect healthcare for not only locals, but the whole region, Green Party spokesperson for Dunedin issues Scott Willis said."This government, the National Party, promised us a hospital that would suit not just this generation but future generations and give us the care we need. What they've delivered is something far from that."It's typical of this government to lower expectations and then sell us something in the hope we're going to be happy with it."It was a relief that the new hospital was being built, even if in a downscaled way, University of Otago emeritus professor of medicine Gill Barbezat said."Obviously having the full thing is what we need, but what they're doing is better than nothing and will allow the building to go ahead."It is important that the building be enough to serve the needs of the south of the South Island with respect to patient needs, but also nationally for the medical school needs. The medical school needs to have patients for the medical students. Medical students can learn all the facts and all the books in the world but until they've had contact with patients they will not be proper doctors."To have that contact as you can imagine, you need to have good staff to bring those two units together ... to get good staff in a hospital you've got to get a decent hospital."The University of Otago welcomed the Dunedin Hospital announcement.Vice-chancellor Grant Robertson said the university remained focused on working through the detail of the proposal, but the fact the government had agreed to continue building the hospital on the same site, including future-proofing it for growth, was positive for the region and the university."This year more than 600 new students will begin their training in Dunedin, including 312 medical students, 120 pharmacy students, 130 physiotherapy students and 40 medical laboratory sciences students. The hospital will play a key role in their education and in shaping the healthcare professionals of tomorrow," he said.Published by permission

Tough review for southern emergency management
Tough review for southern emergency management

31 January 2025, 6:08 PM

An analysis of Southland’s most recent emergencies has identified a range of issues with how they were managed.On Friday, a review of Emergency Management Southland’s response to Gore flooding in September 2023 and Bluecliffs erosion in February 2024 was discussed by key stakeholders.While no lives were lost in either event, both resulted in evacuations, and Bluecliffs residents were outspoken at the time about how the situation was handled. [link: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/511174/very-stressed-bluecliffs-residents-unhappy-over-evacuation]The review gave a tough assessment of communication, staffing levels and a lack of process when it came to declaring emergencies.It said that at the time of the Gore event, the team was shorthanded with unfilled roles and a key member on leave.That issue carried over into Bluecliffs, where the team was still “greatly diminished”.Bluecliffs is a seaside hamlet on the southern coast of the South Island, near Tūātapere. In February 2024, residents were evacuated while an old dumpsite was cleared due to erosion. Photo: ODT/Supplied“This undoubtedly impacted the effectiveness of the responses and led to knowledge and process gaps within key functions,” the report said.In regard to the actual declaration of emergency, feedback was given about a lack of clear process for making that decision, and who needed to be involved.Communication was also an area of concern, with many interviewees noting there was no “common operating picture” across agencies.Emergency Management Southland is made up of the four Southland councils — Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council and Environment Southland.Gore mayor Ben Bell took exception to parts of the report, saying it showed his council declared an emergency too early, when he felt the actual issue was that the civil defence emergency management group wasn’t ready for them.He also noted the previous emergency management group controller was not involved in the review.Southland mayor Rob Scott had been partly critical of how Bluecliffs was handled, but was pleased with the direction emergency management was taking.“It’s making really good progress towards being exactly where it needs to be,” he said.The report showed current emergency management controllers had noted the position needed to be given more importance within organisations, instead of being an extra responsibility on top of current roles.Recommendations included reviewing staffing, more training and developing a consistent procedure for declaring an emergency.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Specialist disappointed older people being let down over Dunedin Hospital revamp
Specialist disappointed older people being let down over Dunedin Hospital revamp

31 January 2025, 7:32 AM

The government is being unrealistic and ignoring the needs of an ageing population, an associate professor of psychiatry says.Dr Yoram Barak - also a consultant psycho-geriatrician at Dunedin Hospital - said the government's revised plan for the city's replacement hospital is wishful thinking on its part because there was no way to wave a magic wand and make the growing health needs of older people disappear.Health Minister Simeon Brown says the revised plan announced on Friday will deliver the project within budget, and it has also been future-proofed to allow for growth in the region.The rebuild was paused last year after a report estimated costs could climb to $3 billion; the government's budget is about $1.9b.Today the government confirmed the build will go ahead at the former Cadbury Factory site.The new hospital will open with 351 inpatient beds - 59 fewer than originally proposed, but with capacity to expand to 404 beds over time.There will also be a staged delivery of more operating theatres and imaging services like Xrays and MRI although no timeline was given.Associate Professor Yoram Barak Photo: Otago UniversityAssociate Professor of Psychiatry and consultant psycho-geriatrician at Dunedin Hospital, Dr Yoram Barak told Checkpoint he was "leaning heavily" towards disappointment.Otago and Southland had populations that were ageing faster than the rest of the country and both regions were "in dire straits already" when it came to management of those suffering from dementia.While he had no official confirmation, he believed psycho-geriatric beds had been cut by 50 percent."So yes disappointed."On those grounds the revamped design was an unrealistic decision by the government, Professor Barak said."Cutting down on older persons' health is the worst decision possible when we're looking ahead into the future."The ageing of the population is not going to go away. You can't wave a wand and just wish that Alzheimers disease and other major mental health challenges for the ageing population will go away."They're here to stay and they will be increasing tremendously."He said by 2035 the country would be struggling with a shortage of 12,000 resthome beds for elderly people with dementia, government data showed.If services at the hospital were reduced it would not be able to deliver them in a safe way for its community.Around the world there was a tendency to ignore the needs of older people and he was frustrated the New Zealand government seemed to be following the same pattern.More than 60 percent of services across GPs, outpatient clinics, inpatient services and surgery were used by those aged over 65."The government is simply ignoring that."Asked about his confidence in the new health minister he said he was unhappy with Brown because he did not believe he was prioritising the needs of elderly people.Changes are 'nuanced' - Health NZ managerThe head of infrastructure delivery at Health New Zealand Blake Lepper said it was an exciting day because the project now had some certainty.The hospital would have many of the key features that had been promised previously, however, clinical staff had been enlisted to help determine which features could be dispensed with for the initial phase.Lepper told Checkpoint the details of the changes had been made public but it was difficult to describe them within an interview."A lot of these changes are quite nuanced and hard to explain in a building that is 70,000 square metres, 11 storeys, with dozens of clinical specialities in there. A simple list is not particularly easy for me to run through."He agreed there would be fewer beds, fewer theatres, and fewer geriatric mental health beds from what had been originally proposed.However, all the "core functionalities of a modern tertiary hospital are still completely within this hospital".The clinical leadership group had provided feedback to Health NZ that they were confident it would have what they needed to work effectively."We've absolutely had to make trade-offs and we've had really difficult conversations through this period as we've sought to work within that budget that's been given us."Asked about timeframes of when some deferred work might go ahead, such as extra patient beds, he said 351 would be enough at the time the new hospital opened and in coming years the region would still need to pay for other health services, including in areas such as Invercargill and Central Otago.Lepper refused to say how much it had cost to have the project stalled for several months.The local clinical advisory group for the new Dunedin Hospital has welcomed the government announcement.In a statement they noted the fit-out of several areas will be staged, and there would be redesign work to come. Members were confident the new design could provide safe care, could be adapted in the future, and will be efficient to run and staff.Members would work with the design team to deliver the best possible hospital for the Southern community.Dunedin mayor Jules Radich has welcomed today's announcement. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKERMayor Jules Radich said he was happy as could be expected with the announcement.It was pleasing to have confirmation that the build would go ahead on the former Cadbury's site as planned, and that the size of the building remained the same."Clearly, we are not getting all the services and facilities upfront, but there is clear intention to provide them. So there is clear intention to build all of the services and facilities that the region needs. But the critical element for that is having the full and complete structure."Radich said he was confident demand would not reduce and additional services would be needed.'A promise has been broken'Nurses Organisation president Anne Daniels said she suspected the new plan was purposefully meant to divide residents.She said the region was not getting what it was promised with the 2017 business case for a new hospital."I understand that there is a feeling that building a shell that would allow us to fulfil that promise in the long term is something that some people think is a good idea, but at the end of the day it is a promise that has been broken. It is not going to be the hospital that we need right now."Daniels said the new hospital would open with 16 fewer beds than the existing hospital and even after it was scaled up over time, it would have six beds less than originally promised.About 100 protesters gathered at the site of the announcement, among them medical student Kate Bryant.She said the government was selling the plan as good news, but they had not stuck to their promises."This is a hospital. Isn't this the one thing you don't undercut? This is for the health of the people. This is one thing you are meant to give as much as you can. It just shows how much this government doesn't care about its people."Bryant said she feared people would die if the region ended up with a sub-standard facility.Published by permission

Dunedin to get scaled-back hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown confirms
Dunedin to get scaled-back hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown confirms

31 January 2025, 7:25 AM

The government has confirmed its replacement for the beleagured Dunedin Hospital inpatient building will be downsized from the original proposal, prompting criticism from the opposition.While the number of inpatient beds will be reduced, health minister Simeon Brown, said there was capacity to expand."The site will also be futureproofed so new beds and services will be able to be brought online when needed."The new Dunedin Hospital will be able to adapt and expand in years to come to ensure it responds to changing needs."Last year, a government-commissioned report found plans for the long-awaited hospital could not be delivered within the $1.2 billion-to-$1.4 billion budget set in 2017.It projected the costs would balloon to $3b, a figure the coalition described as unaffordable.Protesters at the hospital on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Delphine HerberThe plan the government has gone with is expected to cost $1.88 billion.It meant the government went back to the drawing board on the hospital, with construction of the inpatient building paused.Options were to scale back the size of the inpatient building, or a staged development which included refurbishing the current ward building while also constructing a smaller clinical services building.The inpatient building on the old Cadbury factory site was originally proposed to have 410 beds, with a 53-bed emergency department.The potential cutbacks prompted protests. An estimated 35,000 people marched through Dunedin's streets to plead with the government to deliver the hospital as originally planned.Brown said the government listened to the Dunedin community and was committed to building the hospital they needed."The site will also be futureproofed so new beds and services will be able to be brought online when needed. The new Dunedin Hospital will be able to adapt and expand in years to come to ensure it responds to changing needs," he said.The new hospital will provide:351 beds, with capacity to expand to 404 beds over time20 short-stay surgical beds, a new model of care22 theatres, with capacity to expand to 24 theatres over time41 same day beds to provide greater capacity for timely access to specialist procedures58 ED spaces, including a short-stay unit and specialised emergency psychiatric care20 imaging units for CT, MRI and Xray procedures, with 4 additional spaces availableThe current hospital has 367 overnight beds, 17 theatres and procedure rooms, and 31 ED bays, according to a Te Whatu Ora document from 2023.The final design, approved in 2022, had 410 overnight beds, 26 theatres, and 53 ED bays.A PET scanner, as originally proposed by National during the election, was nowhere to be seen in the announcement.Brown said there was space in the building for a PET scanner, with Health New Zealand confirming it would work through adding one now it had certainty on the building.There will be no changes to the number of floors to be built. Some services, like pathology, oncology, education, and administration will remain at the existing hospital.Brown said there were few suitable sites for the new hospital to be located, and while the Cadbury site had numerous issues such as contamination, flood risk, and access issues, he was confident they could be overcome."It's clear that using this site to build a new hospital would be far less disruptive than constructing a new complex at the existing hospital," he said.Construction to resume later this yearSpeaking to media on Friday, Brown said construction would resume by the middle of the year, and finish by 2031 at the latest."We went through a process to make sure we delivered for this region, we delivered within budget, but obviously we listened to what was needed here in this region as well."While there were fewer beds than proposed, Brown said the capacity could expand. He said the announcement was about providing the community with certainty about what can be delivered on opening."There's a range of opportunities or options that can be used in the space in the hospital, so what we're doing is we're future-proofing it for that with additional space for theatres, for beds, for scanning. So as the needs change and develop in the region, there's the capacity for that to be able to be done."Labour said the announcement was a win for the people of Dunedin, but criticised the government for the delays."According to one estimate, the Government's poor negotiation and delays cost $100,000 per day while it sat still. This is money that should have been spent improving healthcare," said health infrastructure spokesperson Tracey McLellan."The building of the new hospital, which Labour began and paid for, falls short of the promises National made during the election campaign, but it is the best of a bad situation."Published by permission

Southland Drug Operation Smashed
Southland Drug Operation Smashed

31 January 2025, 6:01 AM

Police have smashed a significant Southland drug operation, thanks to some dodgy-looking crockery intercepted by Customs in Auckland.Kilograms of drugs, including over 30kg of cannabis, and over $60,000 cash have been seized and two Invercargill men have been arrested and charged.The operation began at the Auckland International Mail Centre on 6 January 2025, when a package caught the attention of Customs officers.It was declared to contain dining plates, but an X-ray raised suspicions and testing revealed more than 2kg of MDMA had been pressed into plate shape and coated with paint.The package was addressed to an Invercargill property, and the Southern District Organised Crime Group immediately got to work, gathering information and preparing a search warrant.On 23 January the Invercargill property was searched, and officers turned up ketamine, cash, ammunition and cannabis.But the most significant discovery was evidence that showed a connection to another Southland address.Southern District Crime Manager Detective Inspector Shona Low said given the quantities of MDMA intercepted at the border and clear signs of a wider drug operation, Police quickly obtained a search warrant for the second property and prepared to search it that same day.At that address, Police were met with an overwhelming smell of cannabis and found a sophisticated grow set-up, numerous plants, and more than 25kg of high-grade cannabis head, packaged and ready to be sold.A sizeable amount of a substance, believed to be ketamine, was also located, along with another half-kilogram of MDMA, and more than $60,000 cash.This is offending on a scale rarely seen in Southland and serious harm has been prevented, thanks to Customs and Police working closely together and acting fast.This wasn’t someone growing a cannabis plant for their own use.It was an organised, sophisticated drug operation designed to make a profit, without any concern for the people affected or damaged by it.The drug trade feeds people’s addictions and fuels crime by encouraging desperate individuals to steal in order to pay for their next hit.We know this won’t stop the supply of drugs, it won’t stop organised crime groups or others from trying to profit from addiction, but it will put a noticeable dent in the availability of illegal drugs in the district and the harm caused by them.We want to thank the highly trained Customs officers whose efforts have contributed to keeping our communities safe.By the numbers:18kg (40lb) of high-grade cannabis head12kg (28lb) of leaf22 Cannabis plants431g (15.2oz) of MDMA0.46g of cocaine210g (7.4oz) of suspected ketamine6 rounds of .303 ammo, and a magazine8 rounds of .300 ammo250 rounds of .22 ammo$60,400 in cashA 38-year-old Invercargill man appeared in the Invercargill District Court on 24 January, charged with:Supplying ecstasySupplying ketamineCultivating cannabisPossession of cannabis for supplyPossession of ecstasy for supply.He has been remanded in custody.A 34-year-old Invercargill man appeared in the Invercargill District Court on 28 January, charged with:Possession of ketamineUnlawfully possessing ammunition.

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