Southland Federated Farmers vice president Kass Rauber said earlier this week some farmers were still badly affected after 130 hours with no mains power, following the violent storm that swept Southland two weeks ago.“They’d put generators into houses using a power chord through a window but they weren’t hard wired, Rauber says.“That has meant no appliances, no heat pump or hot water cylinder.""A lot of fuel tanks are all hard wired in now too.”All of these extra jobs each day had loaded up farmers.“Some are under a fair bit of stress and pressure.""There’s been some awesome community hubs set up at sports clubs and the likes,” he says.He believed that on Monday afternoon Fonterra estimated some 190 Southland farmers were still using generators and that excluded some areas.Deer farmers were also affected with velvet needing to be kept chilled in freezers and deer needing velveted.“We had people ringing to say they wanted generators to operate their deer handling.”Sheep farmers using automative lamb feeders were also affected.“There was a huge demand from livestock,” he says.Rauber says it was the first time there had been such a big event like this that was so widespread wiping out all of Southland, much of Otago and parts of Canterbury.“It’s put a huge drain on resources in the South Island.""Southland wasn’t even in the severe weather warning.""We were hit hard, quick and violently and a lot were caught off guard,” he says.

Fiordland's popular Lake2Lake Trail, between Te Anau and Manapouri, is finally set to become a fully off-road experience after The Fiordland Trails Trust (FTT) secured its last remaining key consents and agreements.The 28km multipurpose trail was first started in 2015 and follows the east side of the Upper Waiau River, however a small area of National Park - where biking is prohibited - forced FTT to search for alternative routes, including using a 2km section of State Highway 95.The new Balloon Loop and Supply Bay Road route, over PAMU and Department of Conservation managed land, will skirt around the national park but now remain completely off-road.Construction of the Lake2Lake's new Balloon Loop to Supply Bay Road section (in blue) is expected to start in 2026-27. Fiordland National Park boundary (yellow). Graphic: FTT/SuppliedFTT Chair David Boniface said the resource consents, granted by Southland District Council and Environment Southland, and a Community Agreement signed with the Department of Conservation, were a major milestone and marked years of commitment and perseverance.“It has been a very long road to get to this point, but we are absolutely thrilled to have consents and agreements in place.""This means we can finally deliver a fully off-road Lake2Lake Trail - a safer, world-class experience for locals and visitors alike.”Fiordland Trails Trust's Lake2Lake trail. Photo: Fiordland Trails TrustBoniface said having to direct users onto State Highway 95 had never sat well with the Trust.“Along with cyclists, other trail users, and NZTA, we’ve long held serious safety concerns about the requirement for trail users to go on road – on a busy State Highway – no less - for part of their journey.""Even with widened road shoulders, it really is not satisfactory.”“While the [new] route is not our original preference, it is an excellent compromise and it will contain many features including superb river views and vistas across farmland to the Takitimu Mountains,” Boniface said.With permissions secured, the focus now turns to fundraising the more than $600,000 required to build the remaining 5.4km of trail, he said.A dedicated fundraising committee has been established and is already exploring multiple funding pathways, with construction targeted to begin in 2026/2027.The finish line is finally in sight, Boniface said.FTT welcomes any expressions of support and these can be emailed to [email protected] Angus & Associates impact assessment concluded that the Lake2Lake trail attracts over 5000 out-of-town users annually and has generated more than $3m for the area, as of March 2023. In addition, nearly $1m has been generated from three major events that regularly use the trail.

A relaxed day out combining boutique-style shopping with something for everyone in the stunning garden setting of the Hideaway 201 is what the popular Southern Artisan Christmas Fête is all about.‘Come and make a day of it with friends or family’ says event organiser Jane Gilchrist - ‘there will be an amazing array of quality artisan stallholders to shop from in a gorgeous garden setting so it’s a fantastic day out’.This year marks the 18th anniversary of the annual fete, an event which attracts visitors from far and wide each year.Mrs Gilchrist said shoppers told her what they enjoyed most about the event was the great relaxed atmosphere within the garden, exciting new stalls, supporting local businesses & NZ made, the opportunity to spend time with friends and to find something different for Christmas presents.There will be more than 170 stallholders at the Southern Artisan Christmas Fete this year, including Yunca with their outdoor fires, Morrifield greenhouses and a large range of quality stalls showcasing garden sculpture, womens and childrens clothing & accessories, art, jewellery, home accessories & decor, skincare, plants and garden furniture and more.There will also be a selection of food stalls selling tasty morsels to eat on the day, such as burgers, cupcakes, steamed buns & dumplings, whitebait bites, woodfired pizza, fried chicken skewers, Hungarian fried bread with delicious toppings, Thai finger food, and cakes, slices and truffles along with Pimms, local whiskey, coffee, smoothies & iced tea.Stallholders will also be able to buy gourmet food treats to take home such as pesto, biltong, pickles, honey, whiskey, seasonings & rubs, cheese, chocolate, muesli, port and fresh flowers.The Hideaway restaurant and bar will be open on-site for lunch, cocktails and coffee.While shopping or indulging in some tasty treats, visitors will be able to enjoy listening to live music provided by Little Egypt with garden soloists and a full band during the lunch break so come along and soak it all in!The Southern Artisan Christmas Fete supports Southland community group fundraising efforts each year.This year the fete is supporting the Winton Lions Club, Hospice Southland, Soroptmist International GORE, Waihopai Primary School and Ronald McDonald House South Island.With a wide range of NZ made quality stalls, live music, and delicious artisan food all set in the heart of rural Southland, the Southern Artisan Christmas Fete is the perfect way start to your Christmas shopping or just enjoy a day out in the country.This year there is the added bonus of an amazing prize up for grabs worth $750 – any pre-purchased entry or lunch box ticket will be in the draw to win! A night at The Langlands Hotel plus a dinner voucher, coffee voucher from The Batch cafe, Hunting & Fishing voucher, a fresh bouquet of flowers from All for Love Flowers, a beauty float treatment from Beauty & Beyond and a photoshoot location voucher and restaurant voucher from The Hideaway 201 – this could be yours!Southern Artisan Christmas Fête, The Hideaway 201, Saturday, November 22nd 2025, 10am-4pm. $20 pre-purchased entry or $50 pre-purchased gourmet lunch box tickets or $20 gate entry on the day, cash only.A fabulous Destination Southland giveaway prize is up for grabs – pre-purchase any gate or lunch box ticket to go in the draw to win the weekend getaway prize worth over $750 - https://events.humanitix.com/http-www-southernfete-co-nzwww.southernfete.co.nz

A solo day walk turned into a rescue mission when Southland was in a state of local emergency.Southland Police are urging anyone heading into the bush to make sure they’re doing it safely after a day walker became lost attempting the Makarewa Falls Track on a stormy Labour Day.Sergeant Alun Griffiths from Police Search and Rescue, Southland, says Police were alerted through the iPhone emergency satellite system shortly after 5pm on Monday. “There was significant tree fall in the area, and she’d lost her way.“With limited gear and no navigational aid, we told her to stay put.”Snow was low on the bush line, and the ambient temperature was a mere two degrees, so Police responded swiftly with Land Search and Rescue teams from Gore and Invercargill.“Thankfully we found her, but she was very cold,” he says.She was given dry clothes and hot drinks then, once sufficiently warm, was assisted out to the carpark around 10pm."We’re lucky to have great access to stunning scenery in this part of the country,” Sergeant Griffiths says.“But we recommend when people head into the bush, they do it safely.“Assess the weather and conditions and take sufficient gear for your activity.“Carry two forms of communication.“Even experienced hikers can end up in situations where they need help."If you are going outdoors, no matter if it is hiking, hunting or climbing, please follow the five simple steps of the Land Safety Code:Choose the right trip for youLearn about the route and make sure you have the skills for it.It is important to choose a trip that suits everyone in your group.When you are looking at options, make sure to think about everyone's fitness levels and experience in the outdoors.Understand the weatherNew Zealand weather can change fast.Check the forecast and change your plans if needed.Weather can make or break a trip.It is one of the most important things to consider when going into the outdoors.Pack warm clothes and extra foodPrepare for bad weather and an unexpected night out.Any trip, even if it is short and easy, needs preparation.Packing the right things can make trips safer and more enjoyable.Share your plansTelling a trusted person about your trip details and taking a personal locator beacon can save your life.We all want our trips to go as planned - but sometimes they don't.If you get hurt or lost on your trip, how would you get help? Leaving trip intentionsTake care of yourself and each otherEat, drink, and rest, stick with your group and make decisions together.The best way to enjoy your experience in the outdoors and make it home safely is to look out for one another.Distress beacons can be hired for as little as $10 from many Department of Conservation Visitor Centres, and outdoor tramping and hunting stores.If you have purchased a beacon, make sure to register it at www.beacons.org.nzMore information on trip planning can be found at: Trip Planning — NZMSC

Slips, flooding and track damage from the recent wild weather has further disrupted the start of the summer Great Walk season across Fiordland, Southland and Otago.Hikers are being warned to watch out for heavy snow and the risk of avalanches. DOC Southern South Island Operations Director Aaron Fleming said rangers have not yet been able to access and fully assess conditions in many areas due to ongoing severe weather and the vast area to cove.“We’re asking people to think carefully before heading out and urge them be prepared to turn back or change their plans if needed. “Naturing is about connecting with the outdoors, but that connection also means respecting nature’s power and knowing when to pause or change plans.” Heavy snow and avalanche risk are key concerns, particularly on the alpine passes.The Routeburn Track is partially closed, with the section between Routeburn Falls Hut and Lake MacKenzie Hut inaccessible due to waist-deep snow and significant avalanche danger. The Milford Track’s reopening has been pushed back by another week due to ongoing avalanche risk after recent snowfall.The track was already delayed by two weeks earlier this month because of avalanche damage. The opening date for the Milford Track is now expected to be 19 November.The Kepler Track is expected to be inaccessible between Luxmore Hut and Iris Burn Hut for up to a week due to avalanche risk, and has also been affected by flooding in low-lying areas. Booked hikers affected by the closures will be contacted and offered refunds. In some cases (such as the Routeburn), alternative options may be available, and DOC staff will discuss these directly with walkers when they get in touch. Conditions and the weather are changing quickly, so visitor patience is appreciated as DOC staff work through contacting customers ahead of their planned walks. In southern Fiordland, the Hump Ridge Track has also sustained some storm damage however is fully open. There is also damage to tracks and infrastructure in other parts of the region, including the Catlins, Forest Hill Scenic Reserve, and a large slip on the Dart Track in Mount Aspiring National Park. “Our teams are trained and ready to carry out the necessary repair and avalanche control work, but we need a break in the weather to get in safely,” said Flemming. Safety for both staff and visitors remains our top priority. We will directly contact booked hikers if any further delays or disruptions are expected. “We want to get these tracks safe and repaired as quickly as possible.""Teams have been out this week making repairs where they can, and we’re bringing in more people and resources as weather conditions improve.” Visitors are advised to check the DOC website for the latest track alerts before setting out. DOC will provide another update on the impacted Great Walks on Friday 7 November.

Below is a list of programmed works for next week. These are also mapped HERE. *NB the planned Tour of Southland scheduled for 2nd – 8th November is now taking place from the 18th – 16th January 2026 due to the current state of emergency in Southland Key renewal sites in Southland currently under construction:SH1 Bluff highwayRenewal of almost 3km of SH1 between Clifton and Motu Rimu Road. Traffic lights in place when required, delays of 5 -10 minutes are possible.Underway and likely to continue until mid-December SH93 Old Coach RoadRenewal of almost 2.5km of SH93 near Slopedown-School Road. Traffic lights in place, delays of 5 -10 minutes.Underway and likely to continue until mid-December SH94 at The KeyRenewal of 3km of SH94 between Princhester Road and Blackmount-Redcliff Road. Traffic lights in place, significant delays. Underway and likely to continue until mid-December SH96 Wreys Bush-Nightcaps highwayRenewal of almost 1.5km of SH96 between Wreys Bush-Mossburn Road and Lynch Road. Traffic lights in place, delays of 5 -10 minutes.Underway and likely to be completed early next week. Key renewal sites in Southland currently with earthworks and drainage underway:SH96 near Heddon Bush RoadSH96 near OhaiSH99 near Wallacetown Highways South maintenance work with stop/go or traffic lights in place:SH1 Edendale-Woodlands highway between Edendale roundabout and Downs South Road, test Pits/Surface repair (team will be off the highway by 4pm)SH6 Dipton-Winton highway at Hundred Line Road, sealingSH6 Five Rivers-Lumsden highway north of Lumsden, pavement stabilisationSH6 Five Rivers-Lumsden highway north of Lumsden, pavement stabilisationSH6 between Caroline and Josephville, watercuttingSH6 between Athol and Lowther, watercuttingSH6 between Athol and Lowther, watercuttingSH6 between Athol and north of Garston, watercuttingSH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway at Hundred Line Road, renewing surface water channelSH99 between Riverton and Tuatapere, watercutting**Programmed work may be delayed due to weather/other factors. Other contractor work that we are aware of:SH1 East Road near Racecourse Road, stop/goSH6 Kingston-Garston highway south of Kingston, stop/goSH93 Old Coach Road near Kaiwera Road, stop/goSH93 Old Coach Road near Kaiwera Road, lane closureSH93 Old Coach Road near Dodds Road, lane closureSH97 Mossburn-Five Rivers Road at Five Rivers, stop/goSH99 Palmerston St Riverton, stop/goUseful 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.

Clutha and Southland residents are adapting to life on gas bottles and generators as thousands enter a second week waiting for the power to go back on.Lines company PowerNet said it had bolstered its reconnection efforts, with extra crews and seven trucks' worth of supplies, but 3670 properties were still offline across the two districts by Thursday night, the 30th of October.Severe spring storms last week, particularly on Thursday 23 October, had badly damaged infrastructure and private property in many parts of the South Island and lower North Island, with huge winds and heavy rain recorded in many places.Wind damage in Kaitangata. Photo: RNZ/ Katie Todd.In Kaitangata, Otago, Robyn Hale was preparing for the long haul.Last Thursday's wind brought down an enormous tree onto her house, taking out power to it and the granny flat she was now sharing with her two grandchildren.She said the three of them had been improvising - using car headlights as living room lamps, making trips to the laundromat in Balclutha, filling hot water bottles to keep warm at night, and making meals on a gas cooker."We're getting good at making two-minute noodles. I even made macaroni cheese the other night. It wasn't too bad...ish," she said.Robyn Hale and the remnants of her Kaitangata home. Photo: RNZ/ Katie Todd.Hale said friends had dropped off gas bottles for the cooker, which were hard to come by."We went in to get some the other day and there were none. Nowhere in Balclutha. The whole of Balclutha was cleaned out of them. There was no camping gear either, like camping lights and things like that," she said.Her house had been yellow-stickered after being sliced in half and left open to the elements.She said that apart from her cat and a wheelbarrow of food and supplies rescued by fire crews, she could not retrieve her belongings."You can see my bedroom, my bed is still made, but it's soaking wet. It rained and snowed in my bedroom the other day," she said.Hale and her granddaughter were in the house at the time the tree came crashing down with a deafening "bang", but she was relieved it had fallen on her house, not towards her older neighbours, she said.What is left of the tree that fell on Robyn Hale's home. Photo: RNZ/ Katie Todd.The three decorated the tree with a star before it was sent off to be chipped, and were planning a celebratory burn of the wood in a couple of years, she said."We're going to have a party when it's dry," she said.The yellow sticker on Robyn Hale's home. Photo: RNZ/ Katie Todd.On Tony Homer's Waitahuna farm, a span of powerlines was buried under a towering pile of macrocarpa trees, which he estimated had been standing for more than a century before last week's storm.He had been getting by with generators and satellite internet since then, but was looking forward to when it was his turn to be linked back up to the grid, and he could bring in heavy machinery to safely clear the debris.Tony Homer and the large macrocarpa trees which have fallen on his farm, taking out a span of powerline. Photo: RNZ/ Katie Todd."We've got generators on the houses and the woolshed. It's Groundhog Day, I suppose, filling those a couple of times a day," he said."I don't think we've ever experienced more than two days, in my memory, of power outage. So it's quite a novelty, really, but I think it will wear thin pretty soon."At the neighbouring farm, Don Murray said livestock were beginning to cotton on that the electric fences were not live."The lambs particularly are starting to test the fences a bit," he said.He too was using generators to power his freezers and hot water cylinder, but said after seven days "you wouldn't want to go on too, too long."Alistair Storer's wind-damaged sheds. Photo: RNZ/ Katie Todd.Back over near Kaitangata, Alistair Storer was facing a long clean-up of his wind-shredded farm sheds, where he said it looked like a bomb had gone off.But he was celebrating small wins as he was one of the residents to get power restored yesterday.He said the moment he realised it was back felt "bloody good.""I was sitting there in the chair reading, and I looked up and the lights on the TV were on. And I thought, shit, we've got it back," he said.Published by Permission

One of the biggest international events to ever come to Winton is set to go at Central Southland Raceway on Sunday 9 November.Ten of the world’s best harness racing drivers descend on the town on that day to fight out the fifth of six rounds of the World Drivers Championship 25.The drivers come from Italy, USA, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Germany, France, Finland and of course New Zealand – represented by seven-time New Zealand champion Blair Orange.Orange is rated as favourite by many of the other competitors, home advantage being a factor in that favouritism. However, luck will play a big part for all the drivers with drives in the championship heats decided by draw.Rick Ebbinge of the Netherlands has won the last two World Drivers Championships and this year the Dutch representative is Jasp Van Rijn. While he has 900 career wins Van Rijn has never raced with pacers before, only trotters, so has a big learning curve ahead. 2013 Champion Pierre Vercruysse of France is among the field while the 2017 Champion, Canada’s James MacDonald, is also in the line-up and has driven 4,087 career winners. Another prolific winner over the course of his career is Giampaolo Minnnuci, who represents Italy.Gary Hall Jr of Australia will be a familiar name to many kiwis having reigned 4,171 winners and has driven in New Zealand many times before. Hall says competing in this championship is a career highlight.Completing the field is 22-year-old Brett Beckworth (USA), Santtu Raitala (Finland), Michael Nimczyk (Germany) and Mats Djuse of Sweden whose biggest win came in the Copenhagen Cup.Racing will commence at 12 noon on the day with a full day of races highlighted by four World Driver Championship heats.Drivers are matched to horses in each heat through a random draw, ensuring a level playing field, and points are awarded based on race finishes.Elsewhere on the day great prizes will be up for grabs in the Ladies Fashion In The Field competition where judging will be based on the most stylish and best dressed lady so hats and heels are essential.Hospitality and sponsorship opportunities are almost sold out so be in quick.Trackside marquee packages are also available for groups of all sizes.To make inquiries or arrange sponsorship or hospitality bookings contact the Winton Harness Racing Club through Lindsay Beer at either 021 351 499 or at [email protected]

Communities are picking up the pieces in Southland one week after a storm took its toll on the region, with more than 2800 properties still without power.Last Thursday, the region copped the full brunt of extreme weather which was described by district mayor Rob Scott as the most intense he'd ever experienced.A state of emergency will remain in place until at least Friday morning, and Emergency Management Southland is encouraging people to continue checking on friends, whānau and neighbours.PowerNet says supplies for repairs are flowing into the south but around 2,820 Southlanders remain without power.In Invercargill, mayor Tom Campbell said the clean-up was well underway with a focus on inspecting parks and reserves.“Queens Park is being inspected tree by tree and arborists are already clearing up, but it will be a long process and I don’t have a reopening date,” Campbell said on Thursday.Damage at Queens Park, Invercargill, which is closed due to last week's storm. Photo: Supplied.Trees toppled en masse across the city, and the council was concerned people were still accessing parks and reserves despite repeated warnings.Most of those spaces remained closed in Invercargill, with a similar status in place for the district's parks, reserves and playgrounds.External support has been committed to Southland to the tune of $75,000 from the Mayoral Relief Fund, and $50,000 from the Ministry for Primary Industries — split with Clutha.According to joint numbers from insurers AMI, State and NZI, more than 1100 claims were made in the region for wild weather events this month.Community events are being held to provide some support.Barbecues have taken place at Woodlands and Riverton/Aparima, while Tokanui, Dipton, Ōtautau and Mossburn are all gearing up for their turn.The PSN Cellular Network Visibility Service in action at FENZ's Wellington operations centre. Photo: Supplied.Community hubs are also open for power, internet and showers.New technology assists emergency managementA new public safety network has been made available to both Emergency Management Southland and NEMA on a temporary basis to assist with communication.The network is administered by government entity Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) and offers a range of functions for first responders.Those include roaming across Spark and One NZ networks, special priority for phone-use during emergencies, and maps showing network statuses.NGCC chief technical director Steve Lawrence said Kiwis came together during times of crisis and making the network available on a temporary basis was "the right thing to do”.Damage at Queens Park, Invercargill, which is closed due to last week's storm. Photo: Supplied.Environment Southland GIS team leader Geoff Welch said the network had been used to check cell coverage for welfare and operational staff as well as flood monitoring teams.“It has been very useful for both, as has the speed with which the team were able to grant us access, which is vital in these response situations,” Welch said.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardWeather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Becoming Fine Tomorrow: Fine Sunday: Showers Monday: Rain developing late Tuesday: Showers

St Peter's College's 'The Lost Larder' - a venture that turns overlooked and under-used ingredients into premium products - has been named the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) Southland Company of the Year 2025, at the competition's regional finals held at SIT Centrestage Theatre on Wednesday (29 Oct).The event required Southland’s top student business ventures to pitch before an industry judging panel - “Dragons’ Den” style.CEO of McIntyre Dick, Rachel Lock said the calibre of ideas and execution from this year's student companies had been exceptional and Southland should be proud of these emerging entrepreneurs.The Lost Larder stood out for a well validated service, sharp execution, and a compelling growth story,” she said.The venture's launch product is a refined Waituna New Zealand eel pâté, co-developed with Southland chef Ethan Flack, backed by lab testing and packaging/compliance work to meet retail and restaurant standards.The Lost Larder's mission is to celebrate Aotearoa’s wild and foraged bounty at home first, then scale nationally.Near-term goals include retail placement (e.g., specialty seafood outlets and premium grocers), Air NZ contract and strong restaurant distribution across Southland and Otago - supported by creative partnerships and early pre-orders.The Lost Larder will represent Southland at the YES National Awards in Wellington this December.2025 Southland YES Award WinnersMcIntyre Dick – Southland Company of the Year: The Lost Larder (St Peter’s College)SBS Bank – Financial Excellence Award: La Lueur (Verdon College)South Port NZ – Resilience Award: Ako Kiwi (James Hargest College)Vet South – Primary Industry Award: The Lost Larder (St Peter’s College)Rio Tinto | NZAS – Sales & Marketing Award: The Lost Larder (St Peter’s College)ILT – Murihiku Mover & Shaker Award: Aroha (Aparima College)Community Trust South – Southland Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Millie McFadzien (St Peter’s College)Special recognition - Lynne Grove (Aparima College) was presented with the YES National Teacher of the Year award, acknowledging her many years of dedication and impact supporting student entrepreneurs. Lynne will also travel to Wellington to be recognised at the YES National Awards.Nikita Rohloff, YES Southland Regional Coordinator said “Our YES teams have put in countless hours this year - customer interviews, late-night prototyping, market days and real-world problem solving and tonight was about recognising that mahi. It was very special to see them celebrated on stage in front of their families, friends, teachers and sponsors. We’re incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved and excited to see where they take these ventures next.”The evening featured pitches from five finalist companies - Glamour Glasses (James Hargest College), La Lueur (Verdon College), Sticky Steps (Southland Boys’ High School), Tiki-ni-Moana (Aparima College) and The Lost Larder (St Peter’s College) with supporters filling the theatre to cheer them on.Principal event support came from the Southland Business Chamber, with additional sponsorship from McIntyre Dick, SIT, Community Trust South, ILT, SBS Bank, Rio Tinto | NZAS, Elm Marketing, Vet South, South Port, and COIN South, alongside support from the Southern Farmers Market.

Free blood testing has finally been rolled out for nearly 24,000 people living in Te Anau and Wānaka.Paying a co-payment at the local general practice or travelling up to two hours for a free blood testing has been a bone of contention in both towns, when patients in metropolitan areas have been receiving free blood tests.The announcement was made today (31 Oct) by Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Matt DooceyHealth Minister Brown said the rollout would mean that 4,400 people in Te Anau and 19,350 people in Wānaka could now access blood testing free of charge at their local GP."Together, these towns will deliver approximately 25,000 free blood tests every year,” he said.Minister Doocey said removing the cost barriers was an important step in improving access to healthcare, providing care closer to home for rural communities, and addressing a long-standing inequity between rural and urban areas.“This initiative will lead to earlier and more timely diagnoses for people who have previously delayed testing due to travel or cost,” Doocey says.Ministers Brown and Doocey also acknowledge the advocacy of Southland MP Joseph Mooney and Waitaki MP Miles Anderson in improving access to rural healthcare.“By listening to locals and removing barriers like cost and distance, we’re making healthcare more accessible and ensuring rural New Zealanders get the care they need, right in their own communities,” Brown said.Southland MP Joseph Mooney said he was incredibly pleased that people in the Fiordland basin would now benefit from access to free blood tests, "a vital public health service that has long been needed in our region and something I have been advocating for many years,”“This is a tangible delivery of the Government's plan to shift some services into rural settings and ensure healthcare is provided closer to communities.""It’s fantastic to see Health New Zealand and WellSouth delivering on the government's new priorities which will make a real difference for local families."Fiordland Medical Practice GP James MacMillian-Armstrong said the news was fantastic and would certainly help ease the anxiety on those who required regular or repeat blood tests."It's been a glaring inequality for a long time."You could go and get your free blood tests in Gore and Invercargill, but we have had "woefully inadequate funding.""It's a win for rural practice [and comes] on the back of years and years of beating the drum [both] locally and nationally," he said."We are pretty excited about it."MacMillian-Armstrong said that while Te Aroha haven't guaranteed it will be forever [the initial contract was for one year with a proposal to extend it up to 3-years] they were cautiously optimistic."I think the ministry is finally beginning to show some willingness to put their money where their mouth is for rural inequality.""I think it is a postive move and I think it will be very hard to go back."MacMillian-Armstrong there was still six to ten other things, including X-rays, that rural patients had to pay for that were free in other places.However things were now moving in the right direction, he said.Te Anau local and Fiordland Health Trust trustee Richard Wason said Te Anau had been pushing for free blood tests for a long time and it had been a fight to get it."People who live in the country are discriminated against.""We [also] have to pay for X-rays.""We are the furthest away from a base hospital," he said.

As the clean-up from last week’s storm continues, Fire and Emergency is asking farmers and lifestyle block owners in Otago and Southland to pause and plan before starting to burn debris.Otago District Manager Craig Geddes says people might be tempted to push fallen branches, broken fence posts and other debris into piles near where they fell and set them alight, but he says a more deliberate approach will be much safer and effective and will prevent fires from getting out of control."The last thing anyone needs now is for their fire to escape and cause more damage to their own property or the neighbours."He adds that many firefighters are also trying to clear and repair the damage on their own properties after the storm. "They too will appreciate people being extra careful to avoid causing unwanted fires at this time."Southland District Manager Julian Tohiariki says it’s understandable that people are keen to clear their properties."We’d like to remind everyone to be cautious and make sure their burn piles are a manageable size and extinguished properly so they don’t reignite and get out of hand, given that we are in our windy season."There is extensive guidance about burning on www.checkitsalright.nz including a simple "can I light a fire" tool.Tips include:- Place the burn pile on the lee side (sheltered side) at least 30 metres away from trees, hedges, sheds or other structures, and avoid powerlines.- Create a five-metre wide fire break to stop a creeping ground fire- Let the material dry out. Newly fallen branches and other green material will not burn cleanly, creating more smoke.- Before burning, always go to www.checkitsalright.nz to check that it is safe to burn and see any restrictions for your location, including if you need a fire permit.People should also check their local council’s restrictions on outdoor burning and be mindful of their regional council air quality rules.

Essential supplies needed to repair electricity networks in Southland and Otago are flowing to the southern region to replenish depleted stocks.This included thousands of kilometres of lines and other materials needed to support repairs.PowerNet Chief Executive Paul Blue said our supplier Cory’s had been doing an exceptional job in making sure PowerNet got what was needed, via seven truck-andtrailer units, air freight, and train.“Cory’s, alongside our fantastic industry colleagues from Network Waitaki, Unison, Delta, Connetics, Central Power Installations, ElectroNet and Aurora Energy, have been amazing in providing materials, staff, and equipment to support our restoration efforts. Some material supplies had run low, and the latest shipments will keep our progess moving,” he said.Mr Blue said as at 12pm on Thursday 30 October, approximately 2,820 customers in Southland and 1,550 customers in Otago remain without power.“Our expanded team is doing an exceptional job in challenging conditions. While we’ve made some great progress in getting the lights back on (and the milking sheds running) for many, there is still a significant amount of work ahead which will continue into next week,” Mr Blue said.Meanwhile, PowerNet has recently established an online form for people to log their individual faults. “We encourage people to fill the form out for friends, family, or neighbours who cannot access the form,” Mr Blue said.“This is the best way for customers to let us know their situation and to tell us more details of any damage. “Thank you to the many people have reported their individual outages to us already. We have recorded as many of these as possible, and this form allows you to provide further information to us which helps streamline our restoration process.”Customers can still call 0800 808 587 to log their fault if they can’t access the online form, however there will be a long delay in answering due to high call volumes.It’s extremely important our call centre remains available for emergency situations where there is an immediate danger.https://powernet.co.nz/outages/report-a-fault-or-power-problems/ By the Numbers as at 4pm 30/10 The Power Company Limited network (Southland) Total Customers: 38,200Customers without power: 2,200OtagoNet network (South Otago) Total Customers: 15,700Customers without power: 1,470Please note these numbers will change as we undertake repairs and identify faults on the network.

The former Lighthouse Gallery in Gore Street, Bluff is rebranding and reopening with the big launch due to coincide with the Arts Murihiku Southland Arts Trail event over the weekend of 1st and 2nd of November. The café and the attached art gallery will be part of the trail and with the business rebranded as the Artfull Coffee Shop will be open from 10am to 4pm over the weekend. Sue Lattimore runs the café which offers a mouthwatering array of cabinet food with delights such as sausage rolls, potato top mini pies, cheese rolls plus good coffee. There are other beverages too including tea, Benger Juices and water. The beauty of the café is not only the range of food offerings but also in atmosphere and ambience.There is a separate room available for meetings and club gatherings etc. so with a coffee and some tasty treats you can meet and gather to discuss your business or share your hobbies.In the attached gallery there is also plenty of seating in a rustic area surrounding by plenty of thought- provoking art. The Lighthouse Cafe. Photo: SuppliedFor summer a cosy, sheltered, outdoor area is being developed. The gallery itself is attached to the café and it is full of a myriad of art. The gallery is run by Greg Stapleton and entry is free. Artists are welcome to exhibit their work in the gallery and offer it for sale as well. A walk through reveals the talent, currently, dominated by but not limited to, Bluff artists. “Artists from everywhere are welcome,” says Sue and Greg. While wandering through the gallery there is an area where you can paint or draw your own masterpiece. Available for all it is particularly ideal for kids while the adults enjoy a browse and coffee.Adults are however welcome to create their own art as well. Art adorns almost every wall although Stapleton is quick to point out one area just waiting for more exhibits. Art is sold on behalf by the gallery and the prices range quite considerably with something affordable for everyone’s budget. The café and gallery are the perfect Bluff attraction for wet weather visits’ to the port town too. Enjoy a coffee in the rustic area while the kids create their work – perfect for a blustery, wet day activity. Gallery at Lighthouse Bluff. Photo: SuppliedSue and Greg say they have had inquiries about holding yoga classes and art classes and nothing is off the table at present. The café and gallery will be open at 30 Gore Street in Bluff from 10am to 4pm over the weekend of 1st and 2nd of November and is well worth a visit.Going forward hours will be flexible. Keep an eye on the artfullcoffeeshopbluff facebook page where they will promote their hours as they develop the business. Meanwhile the duo say they look forward to welcoming people to come and relax in a pretty special space.

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardComments:Expect normal travel times.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Showers Tomorrow: Fine Saturday: Cloud increasing Sunday: Showers Monday: Showers

Invercargill’s newly elected representatives have officially taken up their positions at a swearing-in ceremony held at the Civic Theatre.The 12 city councillors, led by new Mayor Tom Campbell, and members of the five-strong Bluff Community Board took part in the ceremony yesterday.A welcome from Reverend Evelyn Cook, who served as the mana whenua representative for the Waihōpai Rūnaka during the last triennium, set the tone for a night of reflection and celebration.Outgoing Mayor Nobby Clark also shared his parting thoughts, while the incoming Mayor Tom Campbell spoke on his vision for the city’s next chapter and Council Chief Executive Michael Day shared some words of wisdom.Mayor Campbell said the swearing-in ceremony was an opportunity for elected members to come together to celebrate. “I would expect every one of us would agree that being elected to represent and lead our community is a tremendous privilege, and something that holds a great deal of importance to us all,” he said.“The swearing-in ceremony is a poignant opportunity for each of us to join together in unity, as we celebrate our community’s next chapter. I am very much looking forward to working alongside all of our elected members, as we help to shape Invercargill and Bluff’s future.” This term will see two new elected members at the Council table.Both Andrea de Vries and Lisa Tou-McNaughton were set to attend their inaugural full Council meeting on Tuesday, 4 November, alongside returning elected members Campbell, Steve Broad, Alex Crackett, Grant Dermody, Trish Boyle, Darren Ludlow, Ria Bond, Ian Pottinger, Allan Arnold, and Barry Stewart.Marcus Lush, who served as an Invercargill City Councillor between 2021 and 2022, will also return to the Council table this term.Meanwhile, Jo Eruera, Ray Fife, Frazer Murdoch, Haylee Simeon, and Justin Sutherland were elected to the Bluff Community Board.Invercargill City Council's first meeting would be held on Monday, 24 November.Newly elected representatives to the Southland District Council are (standing, from left) are Cr Matt Wilson, Cr Paul Duffy, Cr Tom O'Brien, Cr Sarah Greaney, Cr Jon Spraggon, Cr Jaspreet Boparai, Cr Michael Weusten, Cr Brian Somerville, Cr Philip Dobson and Cr Don Byars; (sitting) Deputy Mayor Christine Menzies, Mayor Rob Scott, chief executive Cameron McIntosh and Cr Julie Keast (standing). Photo: Southland District Council/FacebookNewly elected and re-elected members of the Southland District Council also made their declarations in chambers before going straight into their first meeting.The 2025 Gore District Council. Photo: Gore District Council/FacebookGore District Mayor Ben Bell has appointed Councillor Joe Stringer as his Deputy Mayor.Councillor Stringer's business acumen and deep understanding of both our rural communities and commercial sector make him an ideal choice for this role, Bell said.The new Gore council is set to implement a new streamlined governance structure, moving away from the previous committees to portfolios. Council meetings will continue to be monthly, while Risk and Assurance, will be bi-monthly.The change is designed to simplify council, while making it easier for residents and business owners to contact the right councillor to raise issues with."We have listened and learned from the previous term," Bell said."By moving to a more streamlined structure and reducing duplication, we can ensure our team is focused on delivering for our community rather than tied up in multiple committee meetings."

The clean-up is now underway in Invercargill and Bluff following last week’s storm, but the extent of the damage is still growing, with additional trees reported to have fallen overnight.A state of emergency was declared for the Southland region on Friday, including Invercargill and Bluff, after gale-force winds struck the province, causing significant damage across Invercargill city parks and facilities.Council Chief Executive Michael Day said almost all of the city’s green spaces remained closed until further notice due to safety concerns. The Parks team had reported more trees had fallen overnight and into this morning.“We cannot stress enough how important it is for people to stay out of all of our parks, reserves, sports fields, and playgrounds until they are reopened,” he said.“We are absolutely not out of the danger zone. We have been really lucky that nobody in our community has been injured, or worse. Even though the winds have eased, a huge number of trees and branches are still in a really precarious and vulnerable position, and they are extremely dangerous. Despite our repeated warnings, and the continued threat to public safety, we’re still getting reports of people accessing our parks and reserves. Please stay away. Safety of our staff and community is our first concern."Staff and contractors were now focusing efforts on restoring public access to those areas and facilities that had sustained significant damage. “Our teams are working to get our community back on its feet as quickly as we can. The storm itself was relatively short, but unfortunately the aftermath will be much more prolonged and time-consuming,” Day said.As of Wednesday, only Surrey Park and its surrounding areas – including the grandstand, softball area, old Surrey Park School site, and the Pirates-Old Boys Rugby Club grounds – had been deemed safe enough to reopen.The Otepuni Walkway (between Elles Rd – Lindisfarne St, and Forth St – Elles Rd), Thomsons Bush, Donovan Park, Anderson Park, Queens Park, and the Omaui Scenic Reserve had all been deemed particularly high-risk, and would require the most work to restore, Day said.It was important people allowed the Parks team and its contractors to continue technical assessments of the damage, and begin the clean-up, he said. As part of the recovery process, some smaller branches that had fallen would be mulched.Meanwhile, logs and trunks would eventually be made available as free firewood for the community or milled for other use, he said. “The damage that’s been sustained to our green spaces is unlike any other weather event we have seen in our parks and reserves before. The recovery effort will take weeks, if not longer, and it is going to require a huge amount of work, specialist equipment, and expert knowledge. The scale of the destruction is really staggering,” Day said.Another key focus for Council’s teams had been restoring the roading network. Debris from trees and other vegetation had overloaded many kerbs and roadside drains, however the team had worked around the clock to remediate this, he said.Most roads had now been reopened, with work to remove damaged trees at the Queens Dr and Don St intersection now completed. Queens Dr (between Yarrow and Tay streets) and Don St (between Doon St and Queens Dr) had been temporarily closed to allow work to be undertaken safely.Sandy Point Rd was also reopened this morning. However, all forestry areas were still unsafe and must not be entered. This included any recreational areas, including the Sandy Point mountain bike tracks and car park, Day said.Bus service operations and railway crossings were operating as usual. Splash Palace had sustained significant roof damage on Thursday, but had been reopened this morning, he said. “Everybody’s safety – our customers, and our staff – is our highest priority. Fortunately, we’ve been able to sort out a temporary solution to allow us to welcome our community back to the swimming pool safely, while we get a permanent fix sorted,” he said.All three waters operations, as well as the transfer stations, in Invercargill and Bluff were also running as normal. Te Hīnaki Civic Building, the Invercargill Public Library, and the Civic Theatre were open as well, however the Bluff Service Centre remained closed until further notice due to ongoing power issues, he said.“It’s going to take quite some time, and a community-wide effort, for our city to resemble something a bit closer to what we’re used to. But the work to get through it has begun, and we appreciate everybody’s support as we do the mahi to get back to normal.”Council would continue to provide updates with the latest information on its own channels, including the Antenno app – which sent alerts straight to your phone – as well as on social media and its website here.

Unrelenting westerly weather since late August have driven Te Anau and Manapōuri Lake levels to their second-highest two-month inflow on record, according to Meridian Energy.Both Fiordland lakes are used as hydro storage for Meridian's Manapouri Power Station.Since September 23, the Te Anau lake control gates have been fully open, discharging water at maximum capacity to ease pressure on the system.Queens Reach on the Upper Waiau River. Graphic. Environment SouthlandFlows in the Upper Waiau River peaked at 7.6m (3.6m above normal) on Sunday (25th Oct).Meridian said that to maintain full generation capacity at the Manapōuri Power Station, they have deferred all non-essential maintenance outages.Despite these efforts, lake levels are not expected to return to normal until mid-November — even if the rain stops, they said.A very full Lake Te Anau. Photo: Southland AppMeridian expressed gratitude to PowerNet and electricity distribution businesses (EDBs) across the region, acknowledging their tireless work to restore local networks affected by the weather.The generation company says it will continue to keep the community informed and hopes conditions begin to settle soon.