The reinstatement of Covid-19 Alert Level Two has forced Fiordland’s Department of Conservation to cancel its Sunday film night, planned to kick off Conservation Week.DOC Fiordland ranger Crystal Brindle confirmed 2040, by award-winning director Damon Gameau, could not go ahead under the current Covid situation but Friday's weeding bee on the Lake 2 Lake Trail, with the Fiordland Trails Trust, is still going ahead.The movie embarks on a journey to explore what the future would look like by the year 2040 if people embraced the best available solutions to improve the planet and shifted them into the mainstream.DOC’s Facebook page says the rest of Conservation Week’s scheduled events will be reassessed "in due time".As soon as another screening date can be secured the film will be re-advertised on Facebook and Eventfinda.Conservation Week runs from August 15 -23. The theme is Nature Through New Eyes.Participants in Friday's weeding bee should meet at the Marakura Yacht Club carpark at 10am. Bring lunch and a drink, sturdy shoes, warm clothes or overalls, gardening gloves, secateurs, loppers or hand saw. Some gloves and hand tools will be provided, along with Vigilant gel. If wet, check Fiordland Trails Trust Facebook page for an update.

Invercargill Police investigating an aggravated robbery that occurred on Tay Street last week have made an arrest.On 7 August three offenders entered an address on Tay Street and assaulted a person before taking a number of items from them.As the trio left the premises and got into a vehicle, the victim attempted to stop them from leaving.The victim was thrown from the vehicle and sustained minor injuries.The vehicle was last seen turning right onto Camden Street travelling towards Harvey Norman and Mary Street.A 19-year-old man appeared in Invercargill District Court today charged with Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Injury.Enquiries are ongoing to locate the remaining two offenders.They were described as medium build and both were wearing red t-shirts and tanned trousers at the time of the incident.If you have any information that may assist with the investigation please contact Police on 105 quoting file number 200807/8370.Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

QR app codes are now mandatory for businesses and services, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield have revealed, as they announce new Covid-19 cases in New Zealand.Dr Bloomfield says there is just one new confirmed case in managed isolation recorded today, plus the four cases of community transmission announced last night.Four further probable cases have also been identified, he says, and they are all in isolation.There are 22 active cases in New Zealand, he says.If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centre.Ardern and Dr Bloomfield announced increased Covid-19 alert levels across the country last night after four new cases of community transmission.Those four were members of a family, and Dr Bloomfield revealed this morning that one of them had travelled to Rotorua while symptomatic.This afternoon he said the visit to Rotorua had not resulted in anyone who is classified as a close contact, but health officials were taking a very precautionary approach.He says the symptomatic family members visited Waiora Lakeside Hotel between 8 and 11 August, and visited the Skyline Gondola and Heritage Farm and 3D Art Gallery.Two of the new probable cases are related to the first case, and two are co-workers of the family, Dr Bloomfield says. Three are adults and one is a teenager, all of them symptomatic.Over 200 close contacts of the family had been identified by about midday, Dr Bloomfield said.He has made an oral direction under Section 70 of the Health Act, ordering any employees or visitors to Americold in Mt Wellington, and Finance Now on Dominion Road - and their households - to remain at home in isolation until they are contacted by officials and given further direction.Across the world, there have been 19.9 million cases yesterday, Ardern says. New Zealand's approach has been successful, but it takes us all working together."We know how to beat this, but we also know we don't need to look far to see what it can mean if we don't get on top of it. We have a plan and now is the time to follow it."App QR code display to be mandatory - ArdernArdern said that at midday today a new public health order also came into effect.The order provides the legal basis to require people to stay at home, unless they are working in places where it is safe for them to do so.It also includes two new provisions. It is now mandatory for any business or service to display the QR code for the tracing app at all entry points. Businesses will have one week to comply.People travelling out of Auckland are also required to wear a mask while on a plane.The Auckland region moved to level 3 at midday today, with the rest of New Zealand moving to level 2 simultaneously. The increased levels will remain for three days until midnight Friday, when alert levels will be reassessed.Ardern said the Covid-19 leave support scheme was there for all businesses experiencing financial hardship, and applications for the wage subsidy extension would remain open until 1 September.The small business cash flow scheme remains open until 1 December and the Covid relief payment for people made redundant remains open until 13 November.Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Treasury are working on targeted economic support for Auckland if the city is to remain in level 3 beyond Friday, Ardern said."With support aside, the best economic response remains that strong health response, going hard and going early with a lockdown is still the best strategy for getting business back open as soon as it is safe."Level 3 travel measures also include roadblocks being set up by police and defence force at the exits from Auckland.Rest homes are also going into full lockdown until midnight on Friday, effectively operating at level 4.The ministry has begun a mass testing regime, calling for anyone with symptoms to seek testing. Auckland's Covid-19 testing centres are extremely busy, with queues snaking kilometres as hundreds of people line up for tests. The healthline has been inundated with calls as well, with reports of some people waiting on hold for hours.If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centreRepublished by arrangement

The things other people say about Southland have kept publishers in print for decades.The Rolling Stones famously insulted Invercargill as the “A***-hole of the World” after they were pelted with jelly and their comments were duly recorded for posterity by journalists.The Lonely Planet’s travel guide description of the southern city as a “pit stop between Fiordland and the Catlins’’ might also seem a little unkind, because the truth is motoring enthusiasts will find plenty to do in town.However, Dunedin writer Ian Dougherty would have people forget the awful comments outsiders have said.His new book, Southern Spirit: The People and Places of Southland, describes Southland as one of the finest combinations of people and places anywhere.It’s his 28th book and gives his own take on a region he regards as part of his extended back yard.The book celebrates the southern landscapes, the fantastic fiords of the west, the green plains and the fossil forests in the east. It is illustrated with 150 photographs by Mr Dougherty and other photographers.Readers are introduced to some of the world’s rarest plants and birds and served with southern delicacies such as oysters and cheese rolls.Characters include Bert Munro, Derek Turnbull, and Bill Richardson.The Southern Spirit book celebrates Southland's "enormous playground". IMAGE: SUPPLIED“It acquaints readers with old and new settlers, authors and artists, brewers and distillers, champion shearers and sawyers, and machines and the people who collect them. And it lays out the region as an enormous playground relished by locals and visitors alike,’’ Mr Dougherty said.Mr Dougherty is a former journalist and has a masters’ degree in history from Otago University.He was born and raised in Dunedin and returned there to live about 18 years ago after several years living and writing in other places, much of it in the south.He has worked as a journalist in Invercargill, taught journalism at the Southland Polytechnic (now the Southern Institute of Technology) and lived for several years in the fishing village of Waikawa on the region’s south-east coast. His keen interest in tramping has given him a first-hand knowledge of Southland. He’s also a fan of old-fashioned book shops and the experience of having and holding a book.Mr Dougherty believes New Zealanders have a lot of appetite for the non-fiction genre, with Otago and Southland readers particularly good supporters of book shops and the printed book industry.“My books are all available hard copy, until I sell out, and then I put them online . . . But I still love the tactile side of reading books,” he said.Throughout his writing career, he has continued to work as a freelance journalist because it helps pay the bills. He presently writes for two University of Otago publications and has also written for organisations and institutions in Wellington and Christchurch. “It is a pretty solitary activity actually, but I don’t mind it. I enjoy doing my own thing,’’ he said.Uncharacteristically, this is the first time in 26 years he has “nothing in the pipeline’’.“But I have a few ideas. Each book takes on average, about a year. That is usually six months research and six months writing,’’ he said.Dougherty has self-published his books through his business, Saddle Hill Press.His other works include Arawata Bill: The Story of Legendary Gold Prospector William James O'Leary and a book on Southland’s champion netball side, Southern Sting: The Team That Inspired a Region.Southern Spirit was designed by Craigs Design and Print in Invercargill.GET A COPY: Southern Spirit: The People and Places of Southland is available from book and gift shops and from Saddle Hill Press. Recommended retail price: $30 

National's party leader Judith Collins has called on the Prime Minister to delay the election, saying it is not possible to have a free and fair vote in the circumstances.Joining Collins, joined by other National Party members - Gerry Brownlee, Paul Goldsmith and Shane Reti - was speaking from the Legislative Council Chamber at Parliament.She said she wanted to express her disappointment Auckland had returned to alert level 3 and the rest of New Zealand was in level 2.Her statement comes after four new cases of Covid-19 in the community were identified last night, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield announcing increased Covid-19 alert levels across the country.Collins said she had asked for a meeting today with the electoral commission, saying it would not be possible to have a free and fair election."We are calling on the Prime Minister ... to shift out the election date to a date later in November."She said if that was not possible, the Prime Minister could instead defer the election to next year."We think that is probably the better alternative.""It's very hard to have any democratic vote if people can't vote, that is the problem."Collins said it was not acceptable for New Zealanders to be left wondering if they can vote on election day. She said relying solely on a postal vote was "utterly ridiculous for anyone who cares about democracy".She said there had been "absolutely no transparency" and there had been no ability for National to be involved in any decision making."We would like to have clarity, we would like a timeline."Collins said it was unacceptable that Dr Reti, the party's health spokesperson and a former GP - was still waiting for an update from health officials. He had been trying to talk to them all day, she said.She confirmed the party was cancelling its campaign launch, which had been planned for Auckland.The four cases of community transmission were members of the same family, and Ardern revealed this morning that one of them had travelled to Rotorua while symptomatic.The Auckland region moved to level 3 at midday today, with the rest of New Zealand moving to level 2 simultaneously. The increased levels will remain for three days until midday Friday, when alert levels will be reassessed.Collins this morning had urged Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to delay the dissolution of Parliament, which she has since done.If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centreRepublished by arrangement

Police have today arrested a man in relation to an aggravated robbery in Invercargill on July 30.Detective Matt Wyatt said a 37-year-old man had been charged with aggravated robbery and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was due to appear in the Invercargill District Court today.The victim is still in hospital in a stable condition.Mr Wyatt said police would like to thank the public for their assistance.Inquiries are ongoing to identify others involved in the offending. Anyone with information in relation to this case is asked to call 105 and quote file number 200731/0942, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.

Rest homes are going into full lockdown until midnight on Friday, effectively operating at level 4.Aged Care Association chief executive Simon Wallace told Nine to Noon no visits from family would be allowed."We have decided that we will go into full lockdown. So every rest home in New Zealand will go into full lockdown immediately, we will be in that situation until midnight on Friday and then the situation will be reassessed at that point," he told Nine to Noon.Full lockdown meant rest homes would be operating under level 4 restrictions, he said."It means there will be no visits, no family visits to their loved ones in rest homes and all the guidance and all the precautions that applied when we were at level 4 will apply for the next three days."He said rest homes were not taking any chances."We have seen what has happened in Melbourne where aged care has been particularly affected, more than 100 rest homes in Melbourne have had Covid-19 outbreaks and they didn't move quickly enough in Melbourne, we're moving quickly here and we can not afford to take any risks at all."The measure was precautionary and would be reassessed on Friday, he said."We are working very closely with the Public Health Units at the Ministry of Health and we've advised them this morning this is what were doing, we've advised the Minister of Health that that is what we are doing - that decision has been supported."Tests for Covid-19 in two aged care facilities in Canterbury at Brookhaven retirement village in Woolston and Village Palms home in Shirley have come back negative, he said."I have had verbal conformation from the Ministry of Health that the testing of the residents at the two facilities in Christchurch has come back negative."If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centreRepublished by arrangement

Queenstown trial lawyer Joseph Mooney (41) is a keen surfer, cyclist and skier, a proud husband and dad of three – and now he’s gunning for a new job from September 19, as the Southland electorate Member of Parliament.Mr Mooney was selected by the National Party at the end of July, to stand in the traditional safe seat of Southland (formerly Clutha-Southland), replacing the incumbent Hamish Walker, who is retiring from politics.Many Southlanders may not be familiar with Mr Mooney – though those who require his services in court will be. However, Mr Mooney is certainly familiar with the region, having first toured it by bicycle 20 years ago. Now, he drives all over it to get to courts in Alexandra, Gore, Invercargill and Queenstown.The former Hawke’s Bay man still fondly recalls the moment two decades ago when he pedaled over the Crown Range from Wanaka and rolled down the mountain towards Queenstown. He was nearing the end of a massive tour of the country, during which he had met his wife-to-be, Silvia, at Maruia Springs. She was also touring by bike. The view of the south from the Crown Range spoke to his heart and he promised himself one day he would live in Queenstown.Moving south took a little longer than he wanted but since moving his family to Queenstown five years ago, he’s built a business and a house and become familiar with the towns in his electorate.He is excited about entering politics and working on solutions for his constituents during the post-COVID economic turmoil.The "Incredible Electorate": Southland's boundaries were recently redrawn to include parts of Central Otago. IMAGE: Supplied“It is an incredible electorate. In one way it is the land of milk and honey. But you have also got the mountains, the lakes. You have also got Fiordland, parts of the Catlins, you have got the orchards and the ancient, old gold mining regions of Alexandra, Clyde and Roxburgh. It is just an incredible, incredible electorate,” he said.Mr Mooney was born in and spent most of his childhood in the Hawke’s Bay and, contrary to a recent media report, he is not Maori.That is something Mr Mooney says people have assumed about him throughout his life.At age 13 he chose to immerse himself in Maori culture and took Te Reo courses out of interest. Later he became “an honorary member’’ of Waikato University’s Maori Society. “But I am not Maori... I can’t point to any Maori in my whakapapa... I am not going to claim that.’’He spent some of his teenage years in Auckland, and then went overseas for a while.On his return, he went to live in Raglan, where his younger brother had joined the surf academy, and decided to study law at Waikato University.National Party deputy leader Gerry Brownlee has described Mr Mooney as a man from “struggle street’’ but did not elaborate.The Southland App asked what that was about. Mr Mooney said he had put his hand up for service at a time when he was doing well and had built his business up to become a senior trial lawyer. Now, people were asking “what on earth are you thinking”.But as a young child in the 80s, he could vividly recall there was not always enough food on the table, though he did not know why.He left high school without qualifications, feeling he had failed and didn’t have the brains for university.He admitted he had not talked through “the full mechanics’’ of this period with his family, but he is motivated to help families through the difficult times ahead.“My wife and I were talking about what we could do to help. Stuff came up and I thought I had better put my money where my mouth is, and offer my services if people want them, so I can do everything I can to try and ensure people in our electorate have food on their tables.’’As a young adult, he spent time working with his brother in small businesses, in particular a storage and removal company, and decided it was time to give education another go.His brother was dealing with a lot of business regulations while managing staff, keeping clients happy and paying the bills. Mr Mooney discovered he was really interested in law. “It really is the DNA of society.’’He graduated from Waikato University with an honours degree in law when he was “around 30-ish’’. He and Silvia had married when they were 23 and the youngest of their three children was born while he was still studying.  Joseph Mooney says he is committed to listening and solving problems. PHOTO: SUPPLIED/JOSEPH MOONEYStanding for Parliament was not something Mr Mooney was planning to do three months ago. But three months ago, National Party incumbent Hamish Walker was planning to stand again, until he fell from grace for leaking Covid-19 patient details.Mr Mooney does not think his late start in the election race will hold him up during the next five weeks of campaigning.He wants to meet as many people as possible, hear what they find challenging, and consider what a National-led Government could do to assist.Two problems he would like to help resolve quickly are regional unemployment and work visa issues for migrant workers.“We have got a lot of people who have lost or are losing their jobs in Queenstown and orchard growers in Alexandra and Clyde [who] are desperately looking for workers. There’s mounting concern they don’t have enough pickers for their cherries and stone fruit and applies in the near future. These problems are an hour away from each other and they need help from the Immigration Department to change the visa status for a lot of these people who have lost their jobs in Queenstown, so they can go and pick fruit.”Mr Mooney is also keen to raise the profile of the primary sector and emphasise its importance to New Zealand’s economic survival, domestic food security and export revenue.The looming closure of the Tiwai Point smelter is important to his electorate, and Mr Mooney is deeply concerned about it. But he frankly admits he has not yet got enough information about it yet to fully comment.Mr Mooney said his main goal was to listen and find solutions to problems. The work would be “same but different’’ to his work as a trial lawyer.“I love being a trial advocate. But I felt I had skills that would be of assistance. As an advocate your job is to listen to people and to absorb a large amount of information coming from a lot of sources and distill it into the most important facts to put in front of the decision maker. I thought those skills would be quite helpful,” he said.Mr Mooney said he has empathy for folks around the region who are finding mind health a challenge at the moment.“But out of adversity comes opportunity. Things do get better and I can say that because I have lived it many times myself,” he said.Keeping fit for the bear pit at Parliament is high on his list of priorities. Mr Mooney rejuvenates by – you guessed it – spending time with his family, riding mountain bikes, skiing, and going for walks.

Bevan Gerrard became the most recent Life Member of the Southland Sports Car Club after the organisation’s 72nd AGM last month.Mr Gerrard, originally from Winton and now based in Invercargill, has been involved with the club for more than 45 years after good mate Ray Galt got him involved initially. “Car trials were a big thing at the time, we had one a month and we did alright,” Mr Gerrard recalls. He also competed in rallysprint and sprint events in a Ford Anglia that he and Galt built up while rallying was another discipline in which he competed both as a driver and co-driver with Mr Galt and another club stalwart Rodger Cunninghame.Once he stopped competing, Mr Gerrard became involved behind the scenes, firstly on crash crew duty before becoming chairman of the social committee.“I don’t know how I managed to get that job,” he joked. “We had all sorts of activities in those days.”One tale told at the AGM related to a club working bee where Mr Gerrard and Mr Galt were tasked with building a brick wall. After completing the job, they went upstairs into the clubrooms only to hear the wall fall over. In his defence, Mr Gerrard remembers that “it was blowing a gale at the time”.Mr Gerrard became a member of the race committee in 1991, working in timekeeping and lap scoring and becoming chief timekeeper. Initially stopwatches were used but in 1997 timing became computerised and Mr Gerrard had to become computer savvy.Helping at the club became a family affair for the Gerrard family. His wife Liz, who he met through Mr Galt (Liz had gone to school with Mr Galt’s wife), has worked with him in timing over all those years, while the couple’s children, Alice and Leon, both spent around 10 years working in the timing team at the circuit.The family also worked together on the club’s rally events when Mr Gerrard was the Assistant Clerk of the Course.“The whole family would head off to the start of stages to perform start line duties,” Mrs Gerrard said.For the last nine years Mr Gerrard has been chairman of the race committee, which involves planning and organising the many race meetings held at Teretonga Park. It was a role Mr Gerrard said he would do “a couple of years”.On receipt of his Life Membership Bevan acknowledged the support of his family particularly that of Liz, who has worked alongside him as they have run the timing team together.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield have this evening confirmed four cases of COVID-19 have been detected in one household in Auckland, prompting the resumption of restrictions nationwide.It is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Zealand 102 days where the source has not yet been identified.As of midday tomorrow (Wednesday, August 12), the Auckland area will move to a Level 3 lockdown for three days while the rest of the country will move to Level 2.Aucklanders have been told to work from home, although essential services will remain operating and children of essential workers may attend school. Public gatherings of more than 10 people will not be allowed.Anyone currently in Auckland who does not reside there is allowed to return home but asked to monitor their health.The rest of the country will move to Alert Level 2 for three days meaning no public gatherings of more than 100 people, physical distancing of one metre and masks are advised to be worn in areas where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as on public transport.Testing is being ramped up throughout the country, with anyone in Auckland displaying symptoms urged to get a test. People working in high risk areas, such as at the borders or managed isolation units will also be tested. Test are not being required of people who are not symptomatic.Reminders for Level 2You can still continue to go to work and school, with physical distancing.Wear masks if you can in public.No more than 100 people at gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga.Businesses can open to the public if they are following public health guidance, which include physical distancing and record keeping.People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, for example those with underlying medical conditions and old people are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home.Practice good hygiene - stay home if sick.CLICK HERE to view a detailed summary of Alert Level 2 restrictions.View tonight's announcement below

Four political hopefuls vying to be Southland's next MP outlined their goals and aspirations for the region at a 'Meet the Candidates' meeting in Lumsden last night. David Kennedy from the Green Party, Jon Mitchell from Labour, National candidate Joseph Mooney and Joel Rowlands from The Opportunities Party addressed an audience of about 30.The two-hour meeting was held in the Lumsden Senior Citizens Hall and began with a round of introductions from the candidates followed by an hour-long question and answer round where each candidate had one-minute each to answer questions from the public. Candidates were asked questions on a variety of topics, such as how they would vote on the upcoming cannabis and euthanasia referendums, if they would re-open the birthing unit at Lumsden, their position on the recent Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and their stances on reducing fossil fuels. National candidate Mr Mooney said in his personal view he was for medicinal marijuana use but was undecided on euthanasia. He then said the new tenancy bill was well-meaning but poorly thought through and would ultimately cause more harm than good. All candidates agreed that the storage of the toxic ouvea premix around Southland and mainly Mataura needed to be removed as soon as possible. Mr Mooney was appointed as the National Candidate for Southland under two weeks ago, taking the position after Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker's decision not to seek re-election. He previously worked as a senior trial lawyer in Queenstown and said if elected he would be committed to stimulating the economy post-COVID to ensure future generations would grow up in a thriving economy. "We're going to go into hard times because of the pandemic... I don't want kids to experience what I experienced as a kid."Green candidate Mr Kennedy is a retired teacher and is thoroughly involved in the local community. He holds several governance roles including chairing the committee for the Southern Farmers’ Market and helping lead the development of a transitional museum and art gallery.He said he was committed to creating a sustainable future and tackling social and environmental issues in Southland such as the state housing shortage, child poverty, income disparity, climate change. "This election should be about electing a government that will focus on developing a sustainable economy that allows our people and nature to thrive post-COVID," he said. The Opportunities Party candidate, Mr Rowlands battled through public speaking nerves to deliver a powerful speech about why he is running for the Southland seat. Having lived in social housing himself, raising a young family and losing his mother to suicide he said more needed to be done to address social, housing, economic and health issues in Southland."I'm passionate about helping small businesses... and I'm against growth for growth's sake."Included in TOP's main policies was introducing a 'Universal Basic Income' or UBI where all adults would be paid $250 a week and children $40. Labour candidate, Mr Mitchell has a strong background in disaster management. He is the deputy director of Response + Recovery Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and subject matter specialists, that delivers disaster response and recovery leadership development programmes on behalf of the government. He also has three degrees.He said Southland needed strong leadership after being somewhat forgotten about. He said he was passionate about advocating for better education, training, and employment opportunities to stimulate local growth as well as improving local maternity services. One member of the public, Patricia Boyer travelled from Gore to hear the candidates speak in person and said it was interesting to hear what they had to say, although her opinion on who she would vote for hadn't be swayed by any of the other speakers. The question and answer rounds mostly ran smoothly, with outbursts from the crowd kept to a minimum, until a question around asset taxes were asked.The question was "Do you think that the asset tax proposed by the Greens is fair and equitable?".Mr Mitchell declined to answer saying "I'm not here to talk about the policies of the other parties so I won't comment."Mr Mooney said more tax was not the answer to growing the economy. Mr Kennedy said ultimately the tax was aimed at combating the growing divide between rich and poor."The economy should benefit people," he said"Some people grow grotesquely wealthy," he saidTo which a member of the crowd scoffed saying that was a load of rubbish. Earlier in the meeting, Mr Kennedy said Southland earned 30% of the country’s export income from only 3% of the population, and yet the median income in Southland was only $32,000."Income disparity is growing in this country and that needs to be reversed," he said.

The Western Southland target shooting team won by a whisker, and a few bullseyes, at the Southland Inter-association teams event in Tuatapere on August 1.Target Shooting Southland president and member of the Western team, Quinton Erskine, said it was the first time the Western team had won either of the Challenge Shield (overall trophy) or the West Dome Trophy (handicap trophy).The competition is for smallbore rifles, shooting over a 20 yard range.“Because we were running it, we had no idea we were even close until the points were tallied at the end,’’ he said.The Challenge Shield has been competed for since 1947 and the West Dome Trophy since 2001Mr Erskine said there were 32 shooters at the event, representing teams from Western, Eastern, Southern, and Northern Southland, and Invercargill.“The competition was very close. We had 1437 points with 59 inners (bulls eyes). The team that was second [Southern] had 1436 points and 47 inners and the third team [Invercargill] had 1436 points and 46 inners.’’The Western team comprised Eric Sinclair, Allister Campbell, Courtney Erskine, Allan Sinclair and Quinton Erskine.Mr Erskine said his daughter Courtney (17), shot well for the team, contributing 284 points and 12 inners out of a possible 300 point and 30 inners.“For a junior, that is a really good score.’’Mr Erskine said a few juniors competed for various sub-associations but over the last decade he had noticed a decline in uptake of the sport. The Covid-19 flu pandemic had forced the cancellation of competitions earlier this year.

Meridian Energy has confirmed it offered a four-year window of opportunity for the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter to continue operating at Tiwai Point, but the offer was rejected.The smelter’s owner, Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, announced on July 9 that it would close the Tiwai Point smelter by August 31, 2021, impacting on 2600 jobs.That created enormous stress in a region reeling from the negative economic impacts from floods in February and Covid-19 shutdowns in March and April.Both events have seriously affected Southland’s international tourism and hospitality industries.The smelter closure would directly affect 1000 employees, as well as another 1600 jobs in the local businesses that supply or provide support services to the smelter.Southern leaders have secured the support of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Energy Minister Megan Woods and Finance Minister Grant Robertson, for assistance in the region during the transition to closure, though details have not been announced.Radio New Zealand reported on July 23 that Winston Peters, the leader of the Government’s coalition partner, New Zealand First, had scuppered Ms Ardern’s plans to announce a roughly $100 million support package before the September 19 election.Labour list MP Liz Craig, of Invercargill, told the Southland App this week that a five-year transition period was preferred but any decision about a longer transition period was ultimately one for Rio Tinto.Meridian Energy supplies electricity to the smelter and there is intense debate about how quickly that power could be made available to the national grid once Tiwai closes, and how long South Island generators might have to spill water before transmission upgrades have been completed. Transpower is spending more than $100 million on the transmission upgrade, which is scheduled for completion in 2023.Meridian’s electricity supply negotiations with Rio Tinto have been confidential.Chief executive Neal Barclay told the New Zealand Stock Exchange on Monday (August 10) that media reports had suggested a further decision on the future of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter would be announced to its staff in the next 4-6 weeks. “Meridian has no knowledge in relation to any such announcement. As has been widely reported, Meridian has put a confidential proposal to [New Zealand Aluminium Smelters] with the objective of allowing NZAS to close down the smelter over a longer period of time. Meridian has proposed up to four years. To date that proposal has not been accepted and Meridian's current expectation is that the smelter will close on 31 August 2021 as previously announced,’’ Mr Barclay said.

Invercargill’s city centre master planning project now has a team to promote, drive, and champion it, with the formation of a special City Centre Governance Group.In June, urban design specialists Isthmus Group began developing a master plan for the city centre to give direction on what the Invercargill City Council can do to return vibrancy and connectivity to the CBD.Recently, the council established a City Centre Governance Group to provide oversight of the wider project team working on the master plan. Members of the governance group were selected to ensure direct links to the community, support for engagement with key stakeholders, and to provide a vehicle for businesses already based in the city centre to have an influence on the outcomes of the plan.The group is chaired by H&J Smith Chief Executive John Green and members include ILT Chief Executive Chris Ramsey, SBS Bank Chief Executive Shaun Drylie, Iwi representative Michael Skerrett, Invercargill City Councillors Ian Pottinger and Alex Crackett, and Isthmus Principal David Irwin from Auckland.Mr Green said the governance group was a good example of where the public and private sectors could join forces to ensure the best outcomes for the city centre’s design; supporting social and economic development through a vibrant and healthy central city.“The governance group’s role is to provide oversight to the project working group, which is responsible for developing the master plan,” he said.“We have already had some discussions about what a master plan truly is, and in our view it should be a robust framework to support the activities and developments taking place in the city, to ensure they are cohesive, and in recognition that each of these projects will happen in its own timeframe with its own outcomes,” Mr Green said.“Part of our role is to make sure the scope of the master plan project includes engagement with key people and projects, as well as identifying issues to be considered during the process,” Mr Green said.“Later this year, a formal proposal will be presented to the Invercargill City Council with the master plan produced by Isthmus. It will be the result of extensive community and stakeholder engagement by the project working group and will include ways we can create a fantastic central city where people want to meet up, shop, work, and play.”Mr Green said the Governance Group was excited to be part of the process, and was looking forward to hearing what the project team discovers from consulting with a wide cross section of the community about their ideas and dreams for a fully functioning, impressive city centre during the next weeks and months.

The school had a great day on Tuesday 28 July going to the Community Centre with Waianiwa and Thornbury schools as well as our special guests from Waikiwi Kindy to watch the Elgregoes Magic show.His message was “You’ve got the Power” - about using our WITS, and being kind and helpful.We had some volunteers from our school up front helping with the magic tricks.We all had a wee giggle at some of the jokes and magic tricks on display.A favourite of most children was all the different birds that visited and were part of the magic tricks (they were very good at disappearing).                                                                                                                                                                            Matariki Celebration evening at the end of the Term 2 .The children had a great time presenting their learning with you all and it was a fantastic display of school/community coming together.A massive thank you also goes to the lovely ladies who helped out in the kitchen.Your help was much appreciated. Zone Cross Country in Dipton on Friday 19 June .They did extremely well competing against the ‘best of the best’ from Central Southland.Jesse came 10th in the 10 year old girls, Arthur 8th and Jack 16th in the 8 year old boys category. Senior Class Central Zone Winter Tournament at ILT Stadium Southland 26th June Wallacetown School is proudly supported by

The Te Anau community has forced a back down on plans to share the town’s library building with Southland District Council’s (SDC) customer service.Late last week, Deputy Mayor and Te Anau ward councillor Ebel Kremer, announced that he had made a political decision to put a halt to the plan, including the previously advertised open day, which had been designed to give the community a look at what the SDC was proposing.He said he had received a tremendous amount of feedback against the plan and that it was only right that he step in and halt the proceedings.Mr Kremer said he had consulted with SDC Mayor, Gary Tong, and other councillors, and confirmed all were behind his decision to act.The Te Anau community had stood against the plan from the very beginning, spearheaded by the Friends Of The Library Inc (FOL).FOL spokeswoman, Marlyn Hunter, said the library was not big enough and a totally inappropriate place for people to carry out council-related business when they could be overheard by any library users.“For example, imagine someone applying for a rates rebate due to their financial situation and having to discuss that while library users could overhear the conservation.”A peaceful protest had been planned to take place outside the library at the planned open day and, Mrs Hunter said, while the protest was now postponed, it was not cancelled. She said she was under no illusion that the issue of sharing the space was not yet solved and was merely halted.“If the council was genuine about this, then I would expect to see (the customer service desk) reopened up in the SDC office across the road”.Mr Kremer said this was a serious decision and action he had taken and that the community could be assured that nothing would be decided before a promised feasibility study was carried out.He couldn’t give a timeline for the study but said it would be sooner rather than later.The scope of the feasibility study would now be widened he said, to include the needs of the whole district and allow a district-wide policy to be developed regarding the delivery of services such as library and customer care.

Labour list MP Liz Craig is keen to wrestle the Invercargill electorate seat off National so she can get more resources into Southland and be a direct conduit to central Government.The next six weeks are crucial for The Catlins lifestyle block owner and public health doctor, as she makes her third tilt for Parliament.Dr Craig has one term of central Government service under her belt, after entering Parliament as a list MP in 2017.Based on current polling and her party ranking of 43, Dr Craig is likely to be returned on September 19.But as the region nervously navigates a path through a recession caused by floods, the Covid-19 lockdowns and the looming closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, Dr Craig is clear she wants Invercargill's seat.“My preference would be to become the electorate MP because of the extra resources that you get. As a list MP, you get approximately half the staffing. And so, being able to be responsive and have that resource to be able to advocate for people individually, I think there’s a lot more to be doing,” she said.Dr Craig first stood, unsuccessfully, in the former Clutha-Southland seat in 2014.She was second behind National MP Sarah Dowie in Invercargill in 2017 but halved the National Party’s majority vote from 8327 to 4329.The mother of two tertiary student sons is as comfortable in her gumboots on the land as she is in Parliament, advocating for lifting children out of poverty, better housing standards and environmental reforms. PHOTO: Supplied / Liz Craig.At home, she enjoys “the environment side of things’’, planting trees with her horticulture-trained husband Philip Melgren on their five acre block. Dr Craig was raised in New Plymouth, did her medical degree in Auckland, then spent two years as house surgeon at Taranaki Base Hospital.She completed a Diploma in Paediatrics in Canberra, taught Aboriginal health workers in Queensland, returned to New Zealand to work in public health and complete a PhD in epidemiology.She then established the Child and Youth Epidemiology Service and monitored child and youth health services for district health boards. In 2014, she moved from Dunedin to Invercargill.When The Southland App caught up with Dr Craig in Wellington last week, she was looking forward to beginning her campaign in Invercargill this week.How was her first term?“It’s been really great. Pretty much the term was divided into pre-Covid and post-Covid, because of the dynamics.”We back track a little so she can explain her motivation for standing for Parliament.When she established the Child Poverty Monitor, she identified many of the conditions that hospitalised children were underpinned by poverty and lack of timely access to doctors.“When you tracked it back, a lot of it was to do with the policy choices made in the early 90s, when they had the mother of all budgets, when they cut benefits for sole parents by virtually 20%, cut rates for state houses, [made] a whole lot of changes. What happened was child poverty rates soared... We were saying basically we’ve got to fix child poverty... and we’ve got to make sure kids can get to the doctor on time,” she said. When she voted to pass the Families Package of legislation, just before Christmas 2017, “it was really, really amazing”. “So much of what we had been advocating for was getting passed into law... like the Best Start payment, which is $60 a week for newborn babies. There was also separate legislation to extend paid parental leave. And there was extra legislation to put in place rental standards putting a framework around those so we could sort out poor quality rental housing.”Liz Craig at the New River Estuary. PHOTO: Supplied / Liz CraigDr Craig is selling herself as an community advocate. Before the Covid-19 shutdowns in March, her work focused on getting social housing built in Invercargill, public health and environmental reform, particularly for Invercargill’s environmentally degraded New River Estuary.  Post-Covid, she’s been reaching the ears of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Finance Minister Grant Robertson, and Energy Minister Megan Woods about projects that could assist Southland’s economic recovery.The post-Covid world means no international tourism and no international students for an uncertain period of time, and no Tiwai Point aluminium smelter from August next year. That’s on top of extensive flood damage in February.Dr Craig has hosted various ministers and caucus colleagues during Southland’s times of strife, including Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor and the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.She says she and her Labour colleagues will “walk beside Southland” during the recovery.After many meetings with community groups and businesses, she has “a real sense people are really thankful” for the Government’s response to Covid-19, given Southland had one the highest rates of the disease.Wage subsidies are now in people’s pockets, significant Government investments have been announced (such as Invercargill’s City Centre rebuild and in river stop banks around the region) and many businesses are trading normally again.But Dr Craig is mindful of ongoing tourism and hospitality challenges, particularly in Fiordland, which straddles both the Invercargill and Southland electorates. The next phase is to look at creating jobs out of “shovel ready” projects. But it appears the investment phase is not yet over.“There is a lot of regional development investment that needs to happen and there’s a lot of advocacy we need to have happening, and liaison with central Government on where we go as a region.”Liz Craig stands behind Finance Minister Grant Robertson as he speaks at a media conference in Invercargill. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is centre, with Energy Minister Megan Woods and Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirakatene (left). PHOTO: Lucy HenryDoes she think the electorate is finally willing to give Labour a go?“I think, certainly, when I am out in the community, whether that is talking to people on the phone, or door knocking or engaging with community groups I meet with on a regular basis. My sense is that people are incredibly appreciative of the decisive health response during Covid and they are also incredibly appreciative of the wage subsidies and the approach that the current Government, and particularly [Prime Minister] Jacinda Ardern and [Finance Minister] Grant Robertson, have taken to the economic recovery... So, my sense is that there is growing support [for Labour Government] and wanting it to continue,” she said.The Southland Mayoral Forum and other Southland leaders have asked for top level Government meetings to press the case for a longer transition period for the Tiwai Point closure.Is Dr Craig confident a five- to eight-year transition is possible?That was ultimately up to smelter owner Rio Tinto to decide, she said.“I have been part of those discussions... [and] we need to think about how to diversify, how we move forward. But 14 months' [notice] was quite sudden and ideally what we would have is five years," she said.A longer transition would give Southland time to work on its natural advantages and potential for new industries. Dr Craig says the Southern leaders' issues are "on the radar'' and she is keen to progress high level conversations about them.“What Jacinda and Grant have said is: 'We will be there beside the people of Southland, providing that support through transition'. The next few weeks and months will be critical in terms of that,” Dr Craig said. Penny Simmonds, the National Party candidate for Invercargill, last week told The Southland App she believed Labour did not truly understand the primary sector until Covid-19 happened. Dr Craig disagrees. She sits on the Environment Select Committee, has been working on zero carbon and emissions trading issues, and says there is “a real agreement’’ from the rural sector to work together.“[They are] not just clipping the ticket with stock that gets processed at the meat works... instead [they are] saying “I am on-farm and prepared to plant riparian strips wider for carbon capture” [or] “I am happy to retire some of my farm and put into wood. That should be accounted [for]”. That is where Government has been listening and saying: “This is he waka eke noa [we got this]... let’s work together”. Dr Craig says there are many other examples of good primary sector partnership, including with water issues. Thriving Southland’s farmer-led catchment groups was just one example. And there is a strong rural caucus, particularly in Labour’s backbench, she said.Dr Craig’s affinity with the rural sector stems from family experience. Her mother grew up on a farm, family holidays included visits to farming uncles and after joining the workforce, Dr Craig has enjoyed owning land and planting trees.She feels at home in Invercargill, a similar-sized city to New Plymouth, both surrounded by a rural hinterland supporting primary industries.Liz Craig does not support cuts to benefits, health services and social housing support to repay debt.Another of Ms Simmonds’s concerns was that the Labour Government did not appear to have a clear plan to repay debt incurred during the Covid-19 response. Dr Craig says the Government is saving and creating jobs, protecting family welfare and building infrastructure, such as new Dunedin Hospital and investing in the Invercargill City Centre rebuild. After the legacy of the 1990s, it would not be right to make cuts, she said.“I think the issue there is we entered this downturn with very low debt levels compared to other countries, so we have got some capacity to take on debt. “I think, looking back at the legacy of what happened [in the 1990s] versus what we are doing at the moment, what has been key is we have had that capacity to borrow... So, the first thing is making sure we are putting that money, the wage subsidy, into people’s pockets, so they can stay in connection with their employers and stay connected to the workforce," she said.Next term Dr Craig simply wants to continue advocating for her constituents.“Where do we want to go as a region, what resources do we need to get us there and then how can Government assist? I think that is the conversation we need to be having now and in the next few months as well,” she said.Dr Craig will be attending various Meet the Candidates functions and events.She meets the National Council of Women Southland branch at the Pacific Island Advisory and Cultural Trust, 135 Bowmont Street, Invercargill, at 7.30pm today (Tuesday August 11).

The first anniversary of the death of Southland cancer care advocate Blair Vining will be marked with a reprise of the charity rugby match that launched the campaign for more equitable healthcare treatment.The Southland Charity Hospital is one of Mr Vining's legacies and it is this cause that will be the beneficiary of the 'Pack the Park' event to be held at Invercargill's Rugby Park in October.Blair Vining's original 'Pack the Park' event was held at Midlands Rugby Club in January 2019 and featured the Blair Vining Invitational XV taking on the New Zealand Parliamentary rugby team.Southland Charity Hospital board member Melissa Vining, Blair Vining’s wife, said 'Pack the Park' was about saying thanks to a community that had provided plenty of support.“We are so close to realising our vision of bringing the Southland Charity Hospital to life, and there’s just no way we could have achieved all that we have if it wasn’t for the people of Southland and Otago supporting us every step of the way,” she said.“To say thank you to the people of the south, we wanted to do something extra special – and we’re privileged that so many people want to help us say thank you.”An A-list line-up is set to suit up and take to the paddock: but for now, the Southland Charity Hospital is remaining tight-lipped on who exactly the crowd can expect to see on the field and on the sidelines.“We’re planning to announce names as we get closer to the time, but at the moment, it’s completely top secret,” Mrs Vining teased. “All we can say is, stay tuned. We’ve been blown away by the support the Southland Charity Hospital has received from all corners of the community, and we’re humbled that so many top-calibre people are keen to be part of this.”Working with Rugby Southland, the 'Pack the Park' game will serve as curtain-raiser to the Southland Stags taking on Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cup. Entry to the terraces will be free while those in the stands will pay just $15 for the double-banger rugby spectacular. The Southland Charity Hospital is seeking sponsors for the game, which will also be televised live on SKY Sport.“We know this is an event that is really going to excite a lot of people in our community and we’d love to encourage our community from all over Otago and Southland to make a day of it, and get amongst an atmosphere that we probably won’t ever see again,” Mrs Vining said.'Pack the Park' will be followed by a gala dinner event at Bill Richardson Transport World. Tables of 10 will be sold to ‘The Aftermatch’ function. Tickets will go on sale later this month.

Southern Pro Wrestling’s (SPW) home grown brand of ‘Wrestling on the Edge of the World’ returned to Invercargill's Corinthian Centre at the weekend for not one, but two back to back sellout live events to celebrate five years since their debut show in Invercargill on 8th August 2015.Since 2015, SPW has gone on to put on two huge record breaking live events at the ILT Stadium Southland and appear on TVNZ DUKE and TVNZ On Demand with their action packed take on sports entertainment, taking New Zealand, and the rest of the wrestling world by storm.The weekend saw two sellout shows on Friday and Saturday night including a free event during the day on Saturday. Fans of all ages attended their Fan Experience for meet and greet and photo opportunity with the stars of SPW.The weekend ended when a brand new SPW New Zealand Champion was crowned. ‘The Big Man’ Jamie Tagataese won the 20 Man Southern Rumble match the previous evening that gave him an opportunity to challenge the ‘Shooter’ Shane Sinclair the very next night for the championship, eventually becoming victorious much to the sold out crowd’s delight.Fans who missed out will be available to watch both live events through SPW’s app, SPW On Demand, that is available through iTunes or Google Play worldwide.SPW returns to the Corinthian Centre at the Invercargill Workingmen's Club on Saturday 31st October for the flagship live event ‘Halloween Haunting’ where fans attend in their favourite fancy dress to add to the atmosphere. Tickets will be available shortly and information will be provided on the SPW website.