Labour would negotiate to extend the life of the Tiwai Point Aluminium smelter by three to five years if elected, it says.Party leader Jacinda Ardern and energy spokesperson Megan Woods announced the plan today, with negotiations focused on establishing a fair price for the transmission costs paid to Transpower by the smelter.The party said it would require work on remediation, maintaining employment, and working with the government on future use of the site as conditions for the pricing, and would maintain the government's stance - in place since 2013 - of not directly subsidising the smelter's owner Rio Tinto.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppThe party would do this while also committing to maintaining fair electricity prices for consumers across New Zealand.Labour says the extension would allow for jobs to be protected in the short term, while providing the community with time to consider alternative options.The policy also includes expanding the Just Transition unit within MBIE, which focuses on reshaping New Zealand's energy system to be more renewable, affordable and secure, with an additional $5 million per year to support regions beyond Taranaki.In a statement, Dr Woods said the party wanted to support Southland to develop new industries that are future focused and provide well paid jobs for the region."We will be investing in Southland's economic development based on a transition plan developed by local leaders and the community. Southland has a proud history as a productive region and we believe they have a productive future as well.""Normally, any reduction in transmission costs for a major customer like the smelter would result in higher prices for other consumers. Labour will negotiate a way forward to keep the smelter operating and prevent extra costs falling on other consumers," she said.Republished by arrangement

Rakiura-Stewart Island in a snowstorm could just be the next best thing to Rarotonga for many school holiday visitors on the island this week.Southland district councillor Bruce Ford has lived on the island since 1968 and cannot recall many snowfalls during his time. This morning, as snow fell outside, he was browsing the internet for photos of Te Anau and Queenstown under a heavy blanket of snow and having a laugh remembering a conversation from the pub the night before.Advertisement“I went down the pub last night at six o’clock and the place was very, very busy, people everywhere.”“One lady I was talking to was saying she had intended to be in Rarotonga but this was the next best thing. No passport required to see these sorts of things,” he joked.The snow has prompted excitement in the small island community, which is presently hosting many families and visitors during the first week of the spring school holidays.It also caused a temporary power cut, as people turned on their heat pumps and prompted a sudden surge in electricity demand.Stewart Island-Rakiura ward community board chairman Jon Spraggon said the snowfall was quite rare but conditions were calm and the chill factor was not that high.When he did the weather station at abut 9.30am it was one degree Celsius.Snow in Oban. PHOTO: Kylie Bakker/Real Journeys“I went down the street for about half an hour and by the time I came back up the tracks had snowed over. It’s been snowing for the last half hour or more,” he said, when contacted by the Southland App.“The last time it was like this was quite a few years back, way back when the [Invercargill] stadium collapsed.’’While he was down the street, he met the people restoring power to Oban township.“A lot of Stewart Islanders have heat pumps these days, and it was running at some of the highest power usage levels at the present time,” he said.“There are a lot of visitors on the island at the moment. I know that Central Southland College started a tramp yesterday but they will be in the bush so it will be a little different there. It will be an interesting tramp for them. It will be hut to hut.”The snow just added to the adventure of going on holiday to Stewart Island during 2020. “It has been one of those years,’’ Mr Spraggon said.AdvertisementMr Ford thought it had been about 10 years since it last snowed.“We had snow one occasion on Christmas Day and everyone remembers that but apart from that, it’s pretty irregular.’’Stewart Islanders didn’t have to go out and do anything and could stay home, stoke the fire and boil the kettle, he said.The power outage was “very unusual’’ but “that’s all right. We have plenty of things to do inside.”The community was “happy enough” at the moment, weathering the COVID-19 storm and loss of international tourism, Mr Ford said.“That jet flight from Auckland to Invercargill has been quite a boon. We can have people from Auckland to Stewart Island in three and a half hours.’’ “We are having a lot of bird watching people, trampers and the likes. And we have Kiwis running around the township. People don’t believe that.”“The place is a bit of a slowdown and a reckoner, as to how things have changed in other parts of the world. You are five minutes out of the township and you are back amongst in the bush and it is really quite lovely. No matter how many times you look at it, it is just as lovely again,” Mr Ford said.

An annual refresh of water quality data on the LAWA (Land, Air, Water Aotearoa) website reveals that in Southland there has been little change in water quality over the last 10 years. This mirrors the national picture.Today (Sunday, September 27), marks World Rivers Day, and to acknowledge the occasion water quality data from all regional councils has been updated on the LAWA website.Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips said data highlights the challenge we have in front of us to turn things around. A lot of work was being done to make change, but significantly different approaches to how we manage our environment were needed.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App“Getting the improvements we all want for water quality will take time. We’re well underway with the People, Water and Land programme, which encompasses on-ground actions and regulation to ensure the changes and investment everyone is making gets the improvement we want to see.”This year LAWA has focused on the state of our rivers and streams, compared across four different land cover types and how water quality has changed over time. Southland’s results align with the national picture where water quality is best in rivers and streams running through catchment with native vegetation, and poorer water quality coming through pasture and urban land cover catchments.LAWA has assessed four parameters against the National Objectives Framework described in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020. Each parameter at each site falls into a band, from A (good) to D or E (poor). The parameters include a biological indicator of ecosystem health (macroinvertebrate community index - MCI), an indicator of safety for human contact with water (E. coli); a nutrient that can be toxic to instream life (ammonia toxicity), and a key nutrient (dissolved reactive phosphorus - DRP) which can lead to problematic algal growth.In Southland:• Of the 61 sites monitored for E. coli, just 10 fall into A and B band, suggesting these sites would be suitable for swimming.• MCI monitoring shows the lowest scores come in the pasture covered land with 17 of the 57 sites in the D band and none in the A band.• For ammonia toxicity the picture is a little better. None of Southland’s 61 sites fall into the D band, and over half are classified in the A band.• Dissolved reactive phosphorus results show 40% of sites fall into the A band, with the other 36 sites falling evenly across the B, C and D bands.“We’re working with farmers, the rural sector, business community groups and other councils to ensure the best decisions are made. It is clear we will all need to do more to improve water quality.“Last year we asked Southlanders what it is about our waterways that we value. We’ve taken this information and worked with Te Ao Marama (as the environmental arm of Ngai Tahu ki Murihiku) to develop a joint set of objectives and targets for Southland,” Mr Phillips said.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppThis information will be shared over the coming months.The LAWA project website shows the most up-to-date water quality data for rivers and streams monitored by regional and unitary councils, and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). Here New Zealanders wanting to learn about local river water quality can explore the state and trends of monitored waterways in their catchment.What is LAWA?LAWA is a collaboration between New Zealand’s 16 regional and unitary councils, Cawthron Institute, and Ministry for the Environment, with support from Department of Conservation and Statistics New Zealand.This evaluation requires an almost complete history of monthly measurements over the previous five years before a grade can be assigned, so not all sites that feature on the LAWA website can be graded. The ‘current state’ for 2019 at each site is based on data over the last five years (from 2015 to 2019). Land use is a key driver of water quality and ecosystem health. The analyses show differences in current state for 2019, among four different land cover categories, as defined by the River Environment Classification (REC) system. They are native vegetation, exotic forest, pasture and urban.What is the People, Water and Land programme?The programme is about taking the next steps to improve Southland’s water and land. It is a partnership with Te Ao Marama Inc. (as the environmental arm of Ngai Tahu ki Murihiku) and takes a ‘mountains to the sea approach: ki uta ki tai’. The programme’s vision is ‘inspiring change to improve Southland’s water and land’.

Police are seeking witnesses to an aggravated robbery at the Pomona Street Discount Dairy, Invercargill last night (September 26).Two men have approached the store around 8.45pm and one man presented a metal bar at the store worker, who has run away and called police.The offenders then entered the store and took cash and cigarettes before leaving on a motorised scooter and travelling west on Tramway Road.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppPolice are seeking assistance from anyone who witnessed the incident or saw the men travelling on a motorised scooter in the area around that time.Police are particularly interested in speaking to a woman who entered the store and made a purchase shortly after the incident but prior to the police's arrival to ascertain what she observed.Anyone with information that might assist the police inquiry is asked to contact is on 105 referencing file number 200927/1959.Information can also be passed on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Significant snowfall to fairly low levels is almost certain around the south over the next few days, according to 45S Weather Services.MetService last night warned of a significant weather event for New Zealand, with heavy rain and severe gales for many places, and heavy snow possible in parts of the South Island. Warnings and watches are in force for much of the country.The culprit is an active and complex low pressure system is forecast to move east across New Zealand this weekend, bringing periods of heavy rain and gales to many places. AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppMetService reports that, In the wake of this system, an unseasonably cold west to southwest flow should bring snow to low levels in western and southern parts of the South Island, possibly to near sea level in the far south.45S Weather Services further explains that a low, currently below about 976mbs, lies over Stewart Island and continues to deepen rapidly as it moves further southeast today, eventually reaching into the low 940's about 60S 178E. “That's a fair way southeast but of such magnitude that New Zealand and much of the Tasman will lie within its circulation for several days,” it says.“Very cold air is becoming entrained into this flow, ms2C currently at Macquarie and rule of thumb is that if it advects fairly directly in our direction, snow levels will reach near sea level when it's that cold there.” At 4pm today 45S Weather Services reported that despite sunny intervals enjoyed this afternoon, the weather would become less pleasant towards this evening, with showers more frequent near the coast and the ranges of Fiordland and western Southland, and this area continuing to be battered through the night.Temperatures were fluctuating up and down in showers and snow levels would be doing the same, with snow levels lowering slowly from about 700m to about 400m expected early this evening, then a drop to as low as 100m sometime before midnight, with some flurries possible to sea level by dawn.A surge in shower activity of the entire region is expected tomorrow as wind tends a little more directly southwest. Snowfalls are possible to sea level, with extensive snow cover likely above 100-200m.MetService also predicts large west to southwest swells from later today, affecting the west coasts of both islands, and the south and east coasts of central and southern New Zealand.The combination of snow and strong cold southwest winds is likely to cause disruption to traffic and stress to livestock. People are urged to take extra precautions, especially those travelling, and to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings for their area as the event unfolds, the MetService says.AdvertismentAdvertise on the Southland AppA heavy rain watch has been in force for Fiordland for the 16 hours until 1pm today with periods of heavy rain predicted to lead to rainfall accumulations that may approach warning criteria.Similar warnings have been in place for the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers, valid for the 13 hours until 10am today.At 8.50am this morning, Environment Southland advised the Lill Burn at Lill Burn-Monowai Road was 1.06 metres above normal and rising 273 mm/hour.Snow is expected to lower to 300m in the Fiordland, Clutha, Central Otago south of Alexandra, and Southland areas, and then to near sea level during Monday morning, continuing through Tuesday. Snow accumulations may reach warning criteria above 300 metres.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppFor anyone planning travel, the following road snowfall warnings have been issued:Milford Road (SH94): A significant period of snow is expected. From 11am Sunday till 2pm Tuesday, around 50cm of snow may settle on the road, initially above 600 metres, but lowering to 200 metres Sunday evening, possibly even to sea level. Road closed from Park Boundary to Chasm. Gale winds affecting tree sections of road and heavy snowfall in avalanche terrain is forecast. That, along with disruptive snowfall to low levels forecast from Sunday to Tuesday means the road is closed from Hollyford Junction to the Chasm and will remain closed Sunday and Monday. The closure will extend to Park Boundary from 4pm this evening. Crown Range Road: Snow showers are expected to affect the road on Sunday and Monday. From 1pm Sunday till 3pm Monday, 10 to 15cm of snow may settle, initially above 700 metres, but lowering to 300 metres on Monday.Haast Pass (SH6): Snow is expected to affect the road from Sunday afternoon. From 3pm Sunday till 9am Monday, 15 to 25cm of snow may accumulate near the summit, with lesser amounts down to 300 metres overnight Sunday and Monday morning, possibly even lower. Note, further snow is likely after this period.Lindis Pass (SH8): Snow showers are expected to affect the road from Sunday afternoon. From 5pm Sunday till 6pm Monday, 8 to 12cm of snow may accumulate near the summit, with lesser amounts down to 300 metres overnight Sunday and on Monday.Lewis Pass (SH7): Snow showers are expected to affect the road from Sunday afternoon. From 5pm Sunday till 4am Tuesday, 15 to 20cm of snow may accumulate above 600 metres,with lesser amounts down to 400 metres on Monday and Tuesday.Arthur's Pass (SH73): Snow showers are expected to affect the road from Sunday afternoon. From 2pm Sunday till 4pm Monday, 10 to 15cm of snow may accumulate. Snow level about 800 metres at first, lowering to 300 metres overnight Sunday.45S Weather Services forecast for SouthlandMonday 28th: Showers become widespread everywhere with winds near gale on the coast and tending west-southwest. Hail, and snow possible to sea level.Tuesday 29th: Cold showery SW winds with hail and snow possible to sea level.Wednesday 30th: Cold SW winds slowly easing and tending westerly, showers lighter and less frequent and clearing inland by evening. Snow level rising above 700m by evening.Outlook: Fine in most places on Thursday, freshening but much milder NW winds on Friday with rain in Fiordland and some falls further east, snow level 2000m, westerly strengthen over the weekend with showery periods and snow may lower to 800m by Sunday.Milford Road at The Chapel, taken this morning. PHOTO: Milford Road Alliance

Invercargill based joinery company, Pooles Joinery has built a stunning kitchen for a newly built Queenstown property, which has been nominated as a finalist for the Society of British and International Interior Designs (SBID) International Design Awards.The entry, which is named as a finalist in the Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom category (KBB), was submitted under Auckland-based kitchen design company Cronin Kitchens, which designed the kitchen.The house has been recently built as a luxurious holiday home, nestled against the mountains at Millbrook, just north of Queenstown. AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppPooles Joinery managing director Peter Fisher said to find out his team's work had been associated with such a prestigious award was fantastic news. He said the kitchen design by Cronin Kitchens was extremely intricate and required a lot of precise measuring, along with meticulous craftsmanship to make sure it fitted within the design requirements. "[The design] came down to the minutest detail," he said.A cantilevered, L-shaped element was seamlessly integrated into the marble island bench top and raised slightly above the rest of the marble to achieve the requested seating for five at the island. Despite the intricacy of this build, Mr Fisher said the team approached it the same way they did with all their jobs – with great attention to detail."It's all about the detail, we put the same effort into a standard kitchen as we do for a kitchen like this one [Queenstown kitchen]," he said."I had a client come in recently to see the progress of her kitchen and she cried when she saw it... that really makes your day."The awards are judged 70% by a panel of experts and 30% by public vote so Mr Fisher encouraged Southlanders to check out the entry on the SBID International design awards website and vote if they loved it.Entries come in from all over the world so Cronin Kitchens, along with Pooles Joinery, are competing against the best of the best in the industry. Just to be nominated as a finalist is considered a huge honour.Mr Fisher has owned and operated Pooles Joinery Ltd since 1995, however the company has been a long-standing business in Invercargill. It was first established in 1882 making it one of the longest-established companies in the area for bespoke joinery, cabinetry, and kitchen designs.The name Poole is associated with the late Mayor of Invercargill, Eve Poole who governed the city from 1983-1992. The business was in her family.

Just a little shy of 3000km and $30,000, Jono Hartland has put in a good effort.The 25-year-old Otago University graduate is hiking the 3000km Te Araroa Trail to raise money for mental health and suicide awareness.He lost his best friend to suicide when the pair were flatting together while at university in 2017.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppHe said that motivated him to set out on a journey of healing, but one which can also benefit others."The overwhelming motivation to it is to raise as much money for the cause of mental health and to increase awareness among young New Zealanders and emphasise how prevalent the crisis of mental health is," Hartland said from Tuatapere, some 140km from his final destination in Bluff."The initial motivation was losing one of my best mates."I had a very close friendship for a couple of years and ultimately lost him to suicide. About a year passed and then it dawned on me that I wanted to try and create a legacy for my friend."He set off from Cape Reinga in late November and so far had raised about $27,000 for the Mental Health Foundation and the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust.Jono Hartland at Nelson Lakes, just before he had to return home due to New Zealand going into level 4 lockdown. PHOTO: Jono Hartland via InstagramBut the Covid-19 pandemic interfered with his plans."I wanted to finish a couple of months earlier than this," he said."I was originally saying that I didn't want to be in Central Otago any later than mid-April due to the conditions and temperatures."But he had to join the rest of New Zealand in going into level four lockdown in March.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppBy that time Hartland had made his way to St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes National Park - still with more than 1000km to go."Fortunately by mid-May I was able to mobilise again and kept heading south," he said."At that point there wasn't a lot of people. A lot of people doing the trail originally started a lot earlier and they were able to get through to Bluff. Some people canned it completely."But I pledged to do this challenge and I didn't want to back down from it. I just took it on."He believed he was the only person still on Te Araroa Trail and it had been isolating at times, though there were benefits, such as little competition for huts.Standing above Lake Constance at the top of Waiau Pass on around Day 110. PHOT: Jono Hartland via InstagramBut the mid-winter hike had come with difficulties."The days are a lot more condensed, the yards just become a lot harder and you combine that with, there's been a lot of snow through inland Canterbury."The first good snow dump of the winter came while I was up at Stone Hut, which was just before the Stag Saddle, and there was 40 to 50 centimetres of new snow. So I was stuck there for a few days and then managed to kick on over the saddle. But knee-deep snow. Big, long, hard days. Just a total transformation from what I was used to hiking in summer."He had spent a few nights hunkered down in a tent with chilly conditions only a layer of canvas away."It's not the most pleasant experience at this time of year as you can imagine," he said."There's been a couple of nights it's been unavoidable so I have had to pitch my tent a couple of times. I camped up at the top of Stag Saddle at 2000 metres in that fresh snow layer which was pretty challenging. It was minus seven [degrees celsius]."AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppBut he just remembered why he set out on the journey to begin with."I've had a lot of support behind. It's been an overwhelming level of support. I've raised a lot more money than I would have ever thought possible."He hoped to reach Bluff on Monday (September 28) with his parents coming down to meet him.It was a reunion he was looking forward to, along with a hot meal and a cold beer.Where to get help:Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email [email protected]'s Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254Healthline: 0800 611 116Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.Republished by arrangement

New Zealand Daylight Saving officially begins overnight tonight so don't forget to put your clocks forward one hour before heading off to bed.Daylight saving starts each year at 2am on the last Sunday in September, and ends at 3am on the first Sunday in April (which will be April 4 next year). New Zealand first introduced daylight saving time in 1927. The current times have been fixed since 2007.Fire and Emergency New Zealand has another task it would like you to carry out this weekend – check you smoke alarms’ expiration dates and check their batteries.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppSteve Turek, National Manager Community Readiness and Recovery, said it took just three minutes for a house fire to become deadly."Working smoke alarms will give you and your family the best chance possible of escaping a potential house fire," he said."If you can, also check in on family, friends or neighbours who aren’t able to check their own smoke alarms."Eight-five percent of people say they have smoke alarms installed in their houses, but between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, only 60% of house fire callouts Fire and Emergency attended had working smoke alarms.Mr Turek said that of the houses that had smoke alarms, 10% of those households were not alerted to the fire by their smoke alarms, indicating there was an issue with the installed alarm. This showed how important it was to install smoke alarms throughout your house, and to regularly check the batteries and the alarms’ expiration dates, he said.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App"Smoke can’t be detected through closed doors, and you can’t smell smoke when you’re asleep, so we encourage households to install smoke alarms in common areas, bedrooms and hallways," Mr Turek said. "By ensuring good coverage across your house, you can have peace of mind that any fire will trigger off an alarm."Specialised smoke alarms were also available for people who were deaf or hard of hearing. These had extra features such as extra loud and lower pitch alarm sounds, vibrating alarms or flashing strobe lights, Mr Turek said.Anyone who needs assistance with their smoke alarms can call 0800 693 473 to organise a free home fire safety visit, which includes providing advice about smoke alarms and other fire safety tips.More fire safety tips can be found HERE.

For the first time in 30 years, Fiordland will be serviced by two floatplanes.Wings & Water owners Kylie and Ivan Krippner will take delivery of a sought-after 'G' model 1979 Cessna 206 on Monday (September 28). It is due to arrive by container to Te Anau Manapouri Airport to be assembled for operations from Te Anau lakefront. The Krippners describe their 'new' floatplane as the equivalent of the Holden station wagon of the skies. The aircraft is factory corrosion proofed and factory seaplane kitted, unlike other models.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppIt's arrival has been a long time coming, thanks to COVID-19 disruptions that made it impossible to have the aircraft 'ferry flown', as it normally would have been, from Cairns, Australia. The aircraft was purchased on the 26th March 2020, two days before New Zealand closed its borders, followed later by Australia closing its borders.Floatplanes and flying boats have been a part of the history of Fiordland since the building of the West Arm power station in the late 1960's and have been operating from Te Anau ever since. The Krippners have been operating the seaplane in Fiordland since late 2015, and said they loved being able to offer tourists, trampers, hunters and fishermen, flights to remote and exclusive places in Fiordland that were unable to reached by helicopter. They are currently operating the only commercial seaplane operation in the South Island.The company is still working through operating issues with the Department of Conservation. Until this is resolved, they said there would be one of Wings & Water's floatplanes, or the other, flying from their Te Anau lakefront premises.

The Invercargill City Council has secured $680,000 from the Provincial Growth Fund for the restoration of seven southern war memorials.The council applied for the funding when PGF offered the one-time initiative to help repair community memorials and town halls.Invercargill City Council parks asset planner Matthew Nind said many people may pass by small memorials without realising their importance, while other memorials were large and associated with ANZAC day.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App“All are equally important and represent all of our communities," he said.“Work will focus on repairs of these memorials, removal of invasive vegetation, and beautification to reinstate them as centrepieces of the community,” Mr Nind said.New Zealand sent a tenth of its population to the World Wars resulting in 29,928 fatalities from both conflicts.Communities developed local memorials not only to honour those who fought and died but as a place for people to connect with and to enable communities to grieve.The first two memorials to be restored will be the Troopers’ Memorial on the Tay and Dee Street roundabout, which was built in 1908 to commemorate the Boer War, and the Waikiwi Domain War Memorial, which was built around 1959.Work is expected to begin on Troopers’ Memorial in late October.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppInterim Parks and Recreation Manager Michele Frey said she was delighted to have been successful in the application for funding.“Our staff are extremely passionate about these important memorials, and their special place in our community. We’re very excited to be able to take the next steps in making sure they receive the best treatment possible.”The memorials selected, which work is funded for are:Kennington War Memorial GatesMyross Bush Community War MemorialRugby Park Footballers MemorialSouth Invercargill War MemorialSouthland CenotaphTroopers’ MemorialWaikiwi Domain War Memorial 

Government funding to switch coal boilers to clean energy is being rolled out to another 18 schools.The Clean Powered Public Service fund announced in January by Climate Change Minister James Shaw as part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme initially targeted eight schools and two hospitals.Shaw yesterday (September 24) announced the list was being expanded to include another 18 schools, bringing the total to 26.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppThe announcement allocates $50m from the $200m total for the switchovers.Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Wairarapa (Wairarapa)Waitaki Boys' High School (Otago)Big Rock Primary School (Otago)Murihiku Young Parents' Learning Centre (Southland)Meremere School (Waikato)Miller Avenue School (Waikato)Newfield Park School (Southland)Manukorihi Intermediate School (Taranaki)Ōhakune School (Manawatū-Whanganui)Greytown School (Wairarapa)Ōhau School (Manawatū-Whanganui)Pukerua Bay School (Wellington)Rosebank School (Balclutha) (Otago)Dipton School (Southland)Edendale Primary School (Southland)Invercargill Middle School (Southland)Pukerau School (Southland)Waikaka School (Southland)Shaw said the replacements at these 18 schools would reduce carbon emissions by around 36,500 tonnes over the next 10 years."Because of the inaction by previous governments, far too many of our schools still use old, dirty, climate-polluting boilers to keep their kids warm," Shaw said in a statement."We are changing that by making sure that more kids, now and in the future, will be kept warm at school by clean energy."The University of Canterbury, Lakes District Health Board, MidCentral District Health Board, Inland Revenue, Auckland University of Technology, and New Zealand Defence Force have also made upgrades under the fund.Shaw said further schools to make use of the fund would be announced later this year and next year."I have visited some of the schools we're supporting and in a couple of places have seen the old dirty boiler we're replacing, which are in rooms coated black by coal deposits that have built up over 60 years of someone literally having to shovel coal first thing in the morning so the kids have somewhere warm to learn. I've then gone on to visit another school that has already had the work done, and seen a pristine, quiet, hugely efficient wood chip boiler.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App"Seeing the work the fund is supporting pales in comparison to talking to kids and hearing how excited they are to find out that their school is helping the planet they are going to inherit from us. I am delighted that more kids and young people will soon have the same to say about their school."Republished by arrangement

If you and your family are leaving town these school holidays to enjoy the New Zealand countryside, Police wish you safe travels.National Manager for Road Policing, Acting Superintendent Gini Welch said a safe trip depended on several factors that shouldn’t be left to chance.Planning your journey was a key component, with thought needed about the time of day you were travelling, especially if you were unfamiliar with the route, she said. If planning a long trip, factor in breaks and share the driving.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App“Remember traffic volumes increase on our roads during school holidays, which increases the risk of serious crashes," she said. "So make sure you play your part in staying safe on the road."Drivers should put their phone away before setting off, and not let other people in the car distract them from what they were doing. “Watch your speed and your following distances."The margin for error was also reduced when road and weather conditions weren’t favourable. "When you’re travelling at higher speeds on the open road, if anything goes wrong, the speed you’re travelling at will have the biggest impact on the outcome of the crash. So take care and always drive to the conditions.“Make sure you’re well rested before you set off. Driving fatigued can be just as dangerous as driving drunk or drugged," she said.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App“Finally, don't be complacent about wearing your seatbelt – everybody in the car should be wearing a seatbelt or a child safety restraint. And if the family dog is coming too, it’s a good idea to have them in a car harness or crate.Spring weather in New Zealand could also be temperamental with ice, wind and sun strike potential problems.“So just keep these things at the front of your mind when you’re on the road and enjoy your journey safely.”

Four new directors are set to join Great South, Southland’s Regional Development Agency, and help lead the region’s recovery and future growth. Jason Franklin, Jeff Grant, Peter Heenan and Rachel Lindsay have been appointed and will begin their roles as directors at the upcoming AGM for the organisation, being held on Monday (September 28).Southland District Council Mayor Gary Tong, who chairs the Joint Shareholders Committee (a committee of the Southland Regional Development Agency shareholders), welcomed the new appointments to the board and said that he and the other shareholders were looking forward to seeing Great South build on the successes of its first year of operations.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App“With Great South committed to leading the development of a more connected, contemporary and competitive Southland region, the calibre of these appointments will be instrumental in guiding the organisation to achieve both its long and short-term goals,” he said.Great South chair Ian Collier said he was delighted with the appointments that had been made and was looking forward to working with Jason, Jeff, Peter and Rachel along with existing board members Lucy Griffiths and Maria Pera to build on a strong foundation and help drive and support the region’s recovery and future development.The new appointments have been made as a result of Joc O’Donnell resigning in August to concentrate on her own business in response to COVID-19, Dean Addie stepping down as part of the constitution, and due to the recruiting process that was already underway to fill the remaining two vacancies on the board. Mayor Tong said both Joc and Dean had played a significant role in the coordination and implementation of the Southland Regional Development Agency and their input and expertise had been greatly valued.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppMeet the new directors...Jason FranklinChief Executive for PowerNet Limited, Jason has over 20 years’ experience in long term infrastructure industries. Prior to joining PowerNet in 2012 as Chief Executive, Jason worked in a variety of senior roles for Rio Tinto and the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (ECNZ) and held a number of industry positions including, board member of the Major Electricity Users Group and a member of the Wholesale Advisory Group for the New Zealand Electricity Authority. Currently he is a Director of SmartCo Limited, and Invercargill Airport. Jeff GrantA member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, Jeff has been in governance roles fulltime for 24 years. This includes holding directorships in two family companies - DNG Holdings and Lakeland Adventures Wanaka - and previously being a Director for SBS Bank, Finance Now, PF2050, Southern Institute of Technology and previous Chairman of Mt Linton Station, OSPRI Ltd, AgResearch and Milford Sound Tourism. In July 2018 Jeff was seconded to the New Zealand meat industry for two years and was based at NZ House in London to oversee Brexit EU28 and UK Free trade Agreement process on behalf of NZ Red Meat Industry. Peter HeenanExecutive Director of Finance for H W Richardson Group Limited, Peter is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. With extensive financial management experience, Peter is a director on several HWR Joint Venture Companies, the trustee-treasurer for the Hospice Southland Charitable Trust and previously held positions on the Southland Boys' High School Board or Trustees and as a director of Netball Southland and Southern TeamCo Limited. Rachel LindsayA Partner at AWS Legal, Rachel is an experienced commercial and corporate lawyer with a background in civil litigation. Having graduated from the Institute of Directors governance development programme held in Invercargill, she is now an Associate Member of the NZ Institute of Directors, and serves on the board of directors of Tuatapere Hump Track Limited, is a board member for AWS Legal and is Deputy Convenor of the Southland Standards Committee.

Students across the country are getting a 'virtual field trip' into the wild and remote Dusky Sound, in Fiordland National Park this week to learn more about conservation and why it is so important.The trip into Dusky Sound called 'Expedition Fiordland', is organised by CORE Education through its 'Learning Experiences Around New Zealand' (LEARNZ) programme, and jointly funded by Fiordland-based charter company Pure Salt and the Ministry of Education. The expedition, which is now available to view online for free, aims to inspire kids to learn more about the world around them by taking them on a virtual tour of interesting places from their classroom. AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppIt focused on the Department of Conservation's Tamatea/Dusky Sound restoration project, which has a goal for Tamatea/Dusky Sound to be one of the most intact ecosystems on Earth.Dusky Sound is so geographically isolated and is one of the least modified parts of mainland New Zealand. With enough collaborative effort, conservationists believe the hundreds of islands there can become home to New Zealand’s largest ‘bio bank’ – a source of endangered native species that can be sent to pest-free locations throughout the country.This LEARNZ trip was slightly different, in that two lucky students from Canterbury were picked to go along on the week-long conservation trip.Aaliyah Raja enjoys a swim in the Fiord. PHOTO: SuppliedAaliyah Raja (13), from Pegasus and Yeshaya Bullmore (13), from Leithfield Beach, were chosen to take part, after entering an online competition sharing why they are so passionate about the environment and why they wanted to be part of the journey. They were accompanied by LEARNZ teacher Shelley Hersey, a film crew, DOC staff and staff from Fiordland based charter company Pure Salt, who ran the trip on their vessel the MV Flightless between September 14-19. The film crew filmed all sorts of the exciting content of the two teenagers and crew helping with the conservation work for the virtual field trip, which has been shared online this week.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App"We've never had kids with us for the entire journey before, but it was really powerful for students to see other kids taking part and not just adults," Ms Hersey said.The kids helped lay and check traps and installed acoustic recorders to monitor bird calls on the islands within Dusky Sound.She said it was certainly "through the goodwill" of Pure Salt that the trip was able to happen.Yeshaya Bullmore helps Pete McMurtrie from the Department of Conservation install an acoustic recorder to monitor bird calls. PHOTO: SuppliedThe trip was half funded by the Ministry of Education and half funded by Pure Salt charters – whose owners are extremely passionate about conservation. Co-owner/operator of Pure Salt Maria Kuster said she and her partner Seán Ellis run the company together and they just wanted to do their bit to give back.She said conservation was an "inter-generational" responsibility and they hoped that getting kids involved with the work on the ground would inspire them to get out there keep doing the work at home. "[By getting them involved in conservation] the disconnect between hearing the word conservation and actually getting your hands dirty disappears."AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppThey decided to sponsor the field trip to bring awareness to Dusky Sound, because they too share the dream of making it "one of the most intact ecosystems on Earth".LEARNZ has made a total of 12 educational videos from the trip which are targeted at children and are available for schools and anyone interested to view on their website anytime.Ms Hersey has taken three schools through the videos so far, via live online conferences and said it was very well received by the students. Tamatea/Dusky Sound was also the site of one of the world’s first conservation reserves and New Zealand's first conservation ranger, Richard Henry, in the late 19th century.The group aboard the MV Flightless. PHOTO: Supplied

The Southland Chamber of Commerce has expressed its disappointment that the Invercargill City Council did not seek external feedback from the business community as part of its internal review.The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) wrote a letter to the ICC on August 18, requesting it undergo an internal review after seeing multiple reports in the media highlighting “significant conflict among elected representatives and the chief executive”.In a press release issued today, Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sheree Carey says the ongoing and very public conflicts, as publicly noted by the DIA, are a "source of concern to the business community".AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App"The Chamber shares the DIA’s view that several high-profile capital projects appear to be testing the capacity of the council to provide strong, united governance and leadership," she says. On September 3, the chamber wrote a letter to Mayor Tim Shadbolt and the Invercargill City Councillors requesting they consider further investigation and consultation with the business and wider community as part of their evaluation process for the Department of Internal Affairs review.A second letter was sent on September 16, expressing the chamber's disappointment that the evaluation plan does not include external feedback.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App"The chamber has undertaken to continue to work with the council in a constructive manner to ensure better outcomes for the city. We have previously expressed the views of our 450 businesses and believe that it is important that those views are heard by the evaluator," Ms Carey said."We would like to be able to support the best possible outcomes in this process to enable our city council to drive Invercargill forward constructively and positively with our backing."AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppMayor Shadbolt responded to the chamber on September 23 stating that the ICC anticipates several actions will be recommended by DIA after the evaluation takes place and that external engagement could form part of those actions.All the Southland Chamber of Commerce correspondence has been sent to the Department of Internal Affairs and Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta.

A new employment support position has been created in Fiordland in recognition of the significant impact of COVID-19 has had upon Fiordland’s tourism industry and the area’s employment.Great South has appointed Glyn Saunders to the role of Fiordland Employment and Resource Planner, which has been established in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and MBIE to identify and implement redeployment opportunities in the Fiordland community. The position will be based mainly in Te Anau.Great South GM for Business Services, Ben Lewis, said an immediate focus for the regional agency was to develop and support initiatives that retained jobs and a skilled workforce across the region, and this was a clear example of the activity taking place in this area.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App“With Fiordland still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 and the absence of international visitors, this position will provide on the ground support for Fiordland jobseekers and businesses, working closely with them to source labour, help with training and upskilling, and retain talent within the local community.” Mr Lewis said Mr Saunders brought had extensive experience in project management and would be an asset to both the Great South team and the Fiordland community. A strong focus of the role would be on redeploying Fiordland jobseekers with roles within the Fiordland area and connecting them with the government agencies and support packages available. Mr Saunders would also manage demand for resources for recovery projects, assist local employers with accessing funding opportunities, work closely with education providers in the areas to establish connections into apprenticeships programmes and employment opportunities, and support the coordination of the ‘Jobs for Nature’ scheme in Fiordland. Great South Chief Executive Graham Budd said the appointment of the Fiordland Employment and Resource Planner highlighted the commitment and support Great South has to strengthen the region’s workforce. “From working with youth, skilled migrants, businesses looking to recruit and now directly with Fiordland job seekers, we are focused on developing a stronger and more resilient workforce which will support the economic recovery in Fiordland and the wider Southland region,” he said.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppMr Saunders will start the role on October 5 and said he was looking forward to contributing to the work Great South was doing to strengthen Southland’s future workforce. “I’m excited about the opportunity to work alongside the Fiordland community and key Southland stakeholders to respond to employment challenges in the area and make a positive and long-lasting impact. I believe my experience in managing projects across the world and understanding of the current market will ensure the Fiordland community can benefit from the support set to be on offer.”

The first 11km section of the Lower Hollyford Road, which has been closed due to extensive flood damage in February, will be repaired.A meeting of key stakeholders including Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), Southland District Council, Ngāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation agreed this morning that work on this would begin as soon as possible. The aim is to have this section of the road repaired and a safe road access by December 20, this year, subject to weather.The 11km section takes the road up to the point pictured above. NZTA has funding available up to $400,000 to carry out this work. AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppWaka Kotahi Otago Southland System Manager Graeme Hall said a working group comprising Waka Kotahi, Southland District Council, Ngāi Tahu and DOC would discuss options for the remaining 5km to the end of the road, which was extensively damaged during the February floods. The options could include reinstatement of that section of the road, which has been estimated to cost at least $2 million, or identifying alternative access.“The key partners who met today agreed that the working group will investigate the options for the last five kilometres of this access road to the Hollyford Track and report back mid-October. We need to review more closely the cost of reinstating this section which was significantly damaged in February and we need to explore the alternative options for access to the start of the track,” he said.All transport partners were strongly aware the road connects to the Ngāi Tahu pounamu/greenstone trail and their associated tourism businesses linked to the trail. It was important to reach a workable outcome for Ngāi Tahu, as well as other road and track users, Mr Hall said.

At 88 years young, Peter Grandiek is an avid cyclist and has no plans of slowing down on his bike anytime soon. He is gearing up to take on a 100km bike ride from Invercargill to close to Winton and back to raise money for St John's ambulance on October 16 - just four days shy of his 89th birthday.Mr Grandiek said this would be the farthest distance he has cycled in one go, but he wanted to do something special to celebrate his birthday and raise money for a cause close to his heart.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App"I've been picked up twice by the ambulance [St John’s] now," he laughed. "I think they are doing an incredibly important job. They're always there when you need them, and they couldn't survive without volunteers and the donations from the public."Eleven years ago, Mr Grandiek was working on his farm in Rimu, Southland when he had a sudden heart attack out of the blue. By all accounts, he felt like he was fit and healthy, he was a non-smoker, and had been taking some cycling classes at ILT Stadium Southland for a few years previously.A short while after the heart attack, he found out he would need triple bypass surgery. The surgery was significant but as he progressed in his recovery, Mr Grandiek decided to get back on his bike.AdvertisementHe started cycling again at the stadium, though a programme called CycloFit run by Cycling Southland, which helps people of all ages and abilities to get back on their bike. "I would recommend CycloFit to anyone," said Mr Grandiek.It wasn't long before his fitness improved and his instructor quickly noticed his speed and endurance on the bike. "The instructor told me: “I think you better get on the track because people are getting terrified of you flying past them,” said Mr Grandiek.Then, much to the shock of his doctor, six months later he was competing in the cycling world championships in Sydney.Since then Mr Grandiek’s love of cycling has flourished, and he has competed in cycling competitions all over the county.He has three stacked coat-hangers worth of medals to show for it. AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppLast weekend, Mr Grandiek took part in the Southland Road and Time Trial Championships, braving the elements to complete his 15km race. When asked about how he has the energy to compete in so many races he said, "age is just a number.”“You think when you get old that you can’t improve your fitness, but you have to disregard what age you are, the numbers mean nothing.”He said it's never too late to start a new hobby and look after your health. As well as cycling, Mr Grandiek also likes to keep fit by going to the gym and pilates classes.He hopes his story can inspire other people who are later in life to get on their bike and give it a go. AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppMr Grandiek’s 100km through Southland on October 16 fittingly coincides with the national 'Restart A Heart Day'.He will be accompanied on the ride with a group of support riders and the group will finish up at ASB Bank, Invercargill around 2pm that same day.ASB staff will have a BBQ going for supporters waiting to meet and greet Mr Grandiek and his support riders.To donate to Mr Grandiek’s 100km bike ride in support of St John's Ambulance, you can donate via his everyday hero page.

Covid-19 put a lot of stress on medical care professionals. Dental clinics have been affected perhaps more than other services. Currently in Te Anau one has to wait at least two months for a dental appointment and those who just want a check-up, are likely to hear a simple “No”.“What’s happening at our clinic is symptomatic of the New Zealand health system at the moment. Everybody is about two months behind,” Te Anau dentist, Rex Forrest said.If that seems like a long wait, well, it could be worse. Last Saturday (September 19) the Otago Daily Times reported that the University of Otago’s Faculty of Dentistry operation is facing unprecedented demand for its services this year due to Covid-19’s financial fallout. The school that is viewed by the public as an inexpensive alternative to private practices, has been receiving lots of inquiries from patients looking to enrol, to the point that the wait time for some clinics could be up to two years.AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland AppWhen local dentist, Courtney Robertson-Jones bought the Te Anau Dental Clinic in April last year, she didn’t expect the rocky road ahead in her first year of running the business.Having handed over the practice to the new generation, its previous owner, Rex Forrest, was looking forward to semi-retirement after 17 years of taking care of the Te Anau Basin community’s teeth. He continued a part-time involvement in the clinic in order to help Courtney in her initial year and also because he really enjoys his job.  “We’ve been advertising for a new dentist since last year, but couldn’t find anyone, and we are still lookin," Mrs Robertson-Jones said.During Covid-19 lockdown the clinic had to close its doors for six weeks. When it reopened at alert level 2, not only was the clinic six weeks behind with its appointments, but on top of that they had to meet the Ministry of Health safety and hygiene requirements.“We are triaging and trying to meet the needs of our patients, but the precautions we have to take slow us down.”The clinic now allows one hour between patients. After each visit the aerosols generated by dental hand pieces and scalers are allowed to settle for 30 minutes, before the room can be deep cleaned, then after another 20 minutes it’s cleaned again for the next patient. AdvertisementAdvertise on the Southland App“It’s [the dental surgery] like an operating theatre in a hospital, so we’ve got to be scrupulous. We’ve got to make sure our patients, staff and our families are safe,” Mr Forrest said.Other precautions include physical distancing, wearing masks, hand washing, measuring each patient’s temperature and filling questionnaires. This means the practice operates below 50% of its normal efficiency, he said.For Mr Forrest, the elusive retirement had moved even further away when Mrs Robertson-Jones took maternity leave at the beginning of May. He stepped in to help and found himself again being the only dentist in town.“I failed at retirement miserably,” he said.