At 81, Bill South’s had more than a few brushes with death, but this hardy Southland farmer always seemed to escape unscathed, and in the end his spelling ability wasn’t what saved him.In 1963, aged 20, Bill applied to join the Police and was told he needed an extra six months’ training to learn to spell. Bill wasn’t having any of that, so the Police force’s loss became the NZ Army’s gain.Not only would he serve bravely in the jungles of Malaya and Borneo, but Bill served in Southland too, the volunteer Parade Marshall organising local Anzac Dawn Parades and services for 50 years, the longest serving southern marshall to do so.This Local Legend story is brought to you with the kind support of Macdonald & Weston Funeral Directors“I’d walked down the street just after the Police turned me down and I met my mate, Tom, who said, “I’m joining the Army and I’m going to Malaya,” Bill says.“I said, ‘That sounds like a darned good thing and on 3rd June, 1963, I was on my way to Burnham Camp to train until October, ready for two years in Malaya.”However, during a training camp in Rotorua Bill contracted deadly spinal meningitis.20-year-old Bill South during basic training at Burnham Camp. Photo: Supplied“They gave me 12 hours to live and flew my mother up to say goodbye. They said if I survived 12 hours I’d make it.”He reckons he had the Army to thank for that.“I lost four and a half stone, but my 14 and a half stone weight after my training saved me. I’d never been so fit in my life, but I was pretty sick.”After recovering in March 1964 Bill was off to the main British military base in Terendak, Malaya, to prepare for his battalion’s first posting on the Thai border.Bill South during camouflage training in Malaya. Photo: Supplied“The Indonesian CT’s (Communist Terrorists) had threatened to take out Malaya and Singapore before the cock crowed at midnight, but we managed to hold them back,” Bill says.“More than 250 of them landed one night amongst our seven battalions, so not many survived. They all surrendered.”It was a baptism of fire for a young country boy from Grove Bush, Southland.He’d been a night rabbit shooter as a teenager, but the stakes in the Malayan jungle were a lot higher.Private Bill South (Sixth from left - Centre row) with the 1st Battalion Royal NZ Infantry Regiment. Photo: Supplied“There were that many shooting you just knew that’s one of theirs. There was no choice,” he says.“We became the 1st Royal NZ Infantry Regiment – the Gurr Battalion.”In 1965 they moved to Sarawak in Borneo for six months, another target for the CTs, the first European battalion and second division there where they relieved the Gurkhas.“We fought under the 28th Commonwealth Brigade Unit, led by the British.”Bill South's first army parade in Malaya. Photo: SuppliedHere Bill endured his first contact with the enemy, their rounds firing back at him.Out on patrol in the jungle, they’d start ‘harbouring up’, digging shell scrapes to hide in while patrols were out checking.“Our luckiest escape was walking back to camp after three weeks in the jungle near Sarawak when my cover scout yelled, ‘Grenade!’. Everyone flew in every direction, but it had been raining three days earlier so the fuses must’ve got damp.”Head scouts were handy. Another told them a tiger had just been lying on the track where they were marching, and they had a run in with a giant 17-foot (5.1m) python coming down a stormwater drain too.Bill ran over it with the Land Rover then finished it off with a hoe.He and four others were sent to hunt down some escaping enemy ‘soldiers’ in a mangrove swamp.Bill, far left, with the Otago Southland Regimental Association winning team after the JJ Walker Trophy Shoot. Photo: Supplied“After 10 days we found them in a bus shelter by a remote road with no weapons, the youngest was 14 the other 16,” Bill says.“They told us they’d been sent with no training to ‘shoot anybody not dressed the same as them’. It was very sad.”In November 1965 Bill got his wish to be a policeman, posted to the Garrison Military Police, 17 miles (27kms) out of Melaka, overseeing law and order among 7000 troops, breaking up fights, and directing military traffic and families to church.There were tragedies – two trucks in a Malayan regiment smashed into a mosque killing 44 of their own people.Then there was the mass brawl at the beach club that lasted 23 hours after a smart-mouthed Aussie soldier swore at and punched an Irishman walking past the military camp bars.Bill finished his three-years’ service ranked as a Warrant Officer Class 1 Substantive – the highest non-commissioned rank, having earned a Chief of General Staff Service Award for Outstanding Service to the NZ Army, among multiple other service medals.Warrant Officer Class 1 Substantive Bill South being presented with his NZ Defence Medal by the Brigadier in Auckland. Photo: SuppliedBack home he continued working at the freezing works, shearing and driving trucks, then after a break he joined the local territorials in 1973, serving in a voluntary role in Southland for 27 years.“The late John Dawson, a prison officer, asked me to fill in with just a couple of days’ notice in the first year as he wasn’t well. Then it happened again the following year,” Bill grins.“They just kept me coming back.”His first parade in 1973 attracted about 2000 people and his last a few years ago attracted between 4000 and 5000, many of them children which was lovely to see.“It was challenging at times, but very rewarding.”This Local Legend story is brought to you with the kind support of Macdonald & Weston Funeral DirectorsThroughout those 50 years Bill’s always tirelessly turned up as volunteer organiser of Invercargill’s weekly Wednesday Night Territorial training and parades.The RSA presented him with a framed photo of himself as Parade Marshall in recognition of the years of service.There were still World War I vets marching in every dawn parade when Bill first started in 1973, while now there are very few World War II ones remaining and only the odd ‘tough fella’ Korean vet hanging on.While society now honours returned servicemen and women as they should be and lest we forget, Bill says those old diggers would rather they did: ‘What happened over there stays there,” he says.Wrights Bush senior rugby team 1972 - winners of the Gordon Grieve Conduct Shield. Bill South is 3rd from left in the back row. Photo: SuppliedFarming at Waianiwa and Branxholme Bill only retired to Invercargill early last year.He’s been at the forefront of Southland rugby in his day, serving as a member of the Central Southland Rugby Selection Committee on its executive and has been president, secretary and player for Wrights Bush Rugby Club.Son Brad played for Southland in the 1990s while son Nathan is a Southland Claybird Shooting Champion.Bill’s also been president of the Drummond Golf Club, his lowest ever Handicap, 11, winning the club Junior Championship in his day and enjoying regional team wins.A serviceman all round, it’s now time to kick back and enjoy his retirement.

-The year at Myross Bush is just flying by.It is hard to believe we are half way through November and there are not many weeks left for 2024.We have achieved a lot across the school with some great learning taking place.Visits to Kerr Bush have started up again (now that the weather is warming up) where we have joined with local neighbours to become one of the kaitiaki of KerrBush.This means classes visit and care for the environment to ensure it stays healthy for future generations.At the end of last term we performed our school proudcution of Peter Pan at the Civic.This consisted of everyone in our school having a role from singing and dancing, ensuring props were on and off the stage at the right time, and lead actors and actresses telling the story.A huge thankyou to the staff who supported all of this to ensure we dazzled on the stage.At the start of November we had 16 students attend the Jump Jam South Island Nationals in Christchurch.This group of dedicated girls performed a very slick performance of 24 K Magic with the support of Miss Georgia Ashworth and their parents.It was a very close competition and even though they didn’t place, I know the school and community are extremely proud of them.As we come to the end of the year, there are still many more exciting experiences to be had.We will be farewelling our Year 6 graduates and wish them well as they transition into their high schools next year.We know they will go on to do great things in the future.Meri Kirihimete from everyone at Myross Bush School.Myross Bush School proudly supported by Fiordland Escapes

University of Otago researchers have recorded earthquakes up to 40km deep in Southland, uncovering evidence of hidden faults in one of the country's least seismically active regions.Scientists from the university and GNS Science installed 19 temporary seismometers in Southland, alongside GeoNet's permanent network, and measured activity over a year.Lead researcher Dr Jack Williams said they were able to more precisely triangulate signals to determine where earthquakes were happening with the seismometres spaced closer together."Southland is a gap in our understanding of New Zealand's faults, but that doesn't mean they aren't there and can't cause damage," he said. "What was really striking was the depth of the earthquakes we recorded."Most earthquakes happened in the cold, brittle continental crust less than 15-20km deep, but Williams said the team found the seismically active crust extended up to twice the average depth in Southland."If you think of plasticine, when it's cold and you try to tear it apart, it fractures and breaks. But if you rub it and warm it up a bit, it's a lot more ductile," he said."The Earth's crust is similar. Near the surface where it's cold, earthquakes deform the crust by fracturing and rupturing it, but the deeper down you go, the warmer it is and the more ductile the crust becomes. This makes it less likely to tear apart and flow instead."With this research we essentially uncovered an extra-deep layer of the Earth where earthquakes can occur. This is possible in Southland because the lower part of the crust has an unusual composition with lots of iron rich minerals, which given the depth, make it relatively strong and brittle."As well as the "remarkably deep" earthquakes, the seismometres picked up 85 quakes throughout the year, six times more than GeoNet, Williams said."Most of these shakes were too small to feel, but they give us hints about where larger earthquakes may occur in the future."Williams said the team was also looking for evidence of earthquakes using high-resolution maps of Southland's ground surface released by Environment Southland."These maps show us evidence of surface ruptures caused by ancient earthquakes, giving us important new information about where Southland's fault lines are located."The findings could be incorporated into hazard models that predicted the likelihood and strength of future earthquakes, he said.The research was funded by the Natural Hazards Commission as part of a wider effort to better understand the earthquake risk in traditionally low seismic regions, including Otago and AucklandPublished by permission

A Southland doctor says he has had to sedate dementia patients due to a lack of care options in rural areas.Dr Daniel Allan, a psychiatrist for elderly people, this week told a health select committee of the challenges getting appropriate care for people with dementia in more isolated parts of Southland.He said he was having to use anti-psychotic medication for people with dementia and it was a regular thing among other colleagues too, even though it was a last resort option, caused by a lack of places for them to go.Dr Allan told RNZ's Checkpoint having to relocate people three to four hours' drive away from their communities and loved ones was a sign of an unhealthy aged care sector."There's lots of other things, like late diagnosis, misdiagnosis, difficulty finding rest home beds in these places, but sedation is one of the problems we also face."He said a common scenario was a patient might need a higher level of care, such as needing to go into a dementia hospital for the highest level of care."That may not be available in the locality in which I'm working, often in Southland."If the patient was from a rural area, medical professionals were faced with the problem of whether they sent the person a long way from their whānau for the last period of their life, he said."Sometimes families will ask for any medication that can be used, which is against our best practice and a very difficult thing for us doctors to do."Allan said there were serious medical side-effects from sedating people with dementia."It's the last option any doctor would want to utilise. We know there's increased rates of stroke, falls, pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, it's not good, but I guess we're weighing that up against the person being sent away to a place away from family."There must be significant risks in behaviour for doctors to consider sedation, he said."Often there is agitation and violence, but a lot of that in a good well-resourced place could be ameliorated with adequate non-pharmacological care."Often we can see that in urban centres but out in these rural places where there's less of that expertise we're left with little other choice."Asked if patients were in effect being subdued, he agreed."It's probably one of the greatest moral injuries we face as doctors in the sector, it's very difficult."Doctors felt conflicted about it, the alternative would be to do nothing and end up in a worse situation, he said.Regarding the Dunedin Hospital rebuild and the discussion on whether psycho-geriatric beds were needed, he said it was another sign of an unhealthy aged care sector."We do tend to rely more on our medical colleagues to be able to manage community issues, we're often placing people in medical wards and medical beds and using psychogeriatric wards in hospitals when we could be perhaps managing this better in the community."I think those beds are very important. We will definitely need those in the future and it's a worry to hear they may not be provided."Published by permission

A Southland woman fed up with possums attacking her roses has assumed the role of pest controller at a council reserve.Last week, Joan Scarlet of Winton caught her 109th possum — her diary helps her keep count.The 80-year-old pensioner lives at a property which backs onto Ivy Russell Reserve and has been plagued by the fury pests for 10 years.“They're eating my roses. Anybody that’s a gardener knows if you've got possums around, they'll decimate them in a night. They just like the flavour,” she said.“I'm trying to protect my garden.”Scarlet is armed with a trap she purchased from regional council Environment Southland and has noticed that numbers spike in warmer weather.Scarlet is a keen gardener with a proud collection of roses. She is expecting a visit from the International Heritage Rose Conference next month. Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDRWith 20 already netted in 2024, she has eclipsed last year’s total of 19 with more than a month to spare.It has come at a cost though, with Scarlet forced to not only purchase traps but also bait at around $50 a tube.“I’m on a pension, and I’m buying stuff to catch their (the council’s) possums.”Her concerns were raised on the back of Environment Southland announcing Predator Free Southland was on hold until further notice due to funding issues.The program targeted a range of species in the region, including possums.Still, the octogenarian remains cheerful amid a steady stream of trips over her back fence to check the trap.She is expecting a visit from the International Heritage Rose Conference in December, and there’s no time to sulk.“It's generational,” she says of her gardening habit.In response to questions, Environment Southland biosecurity and biodiversity operations manager Ali Meade said possum control was the responsibility of landowners.The council was providing support to the community, and a successful funding application had been made by a group of volunteers, students and businesses, Meade said.That project would work with pest plants and animals and include native plantings to improve the reserve.Southland District Council were approached for comment but did not respond.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Imagine the stress of having a sick child in the hospital, far from the comforts of home. For many Southland families, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) New Zealand offers a lifeline. The Family Room at Southland Hospital provides a place to stay close to their loved ones.With four homely rooms, each with an ensuite, parents can stay near the children’s and neonatal wards, ensuring they remain connected and supported.Demand for this service has grown over recent years, with an average stay of 10 nights (above the national average of 7), and the longest stay extending to 99 nights. The lounge also serves over 1,000 day visitors annually, offering a cosy, home-like respite between treatments or long consultations.Lounge area at Southland Hospital. Photo: ILTRooms are allocated based on greatest need, as determined by the medical ward staff. The Family Room Supervisor receives referrals, prioritising families facing extended treatments, high-risk pregnancies, or other serious health concerns. Many guests are from across Southland and Queenstown Lakes Districts, while others journey to Christchurch, Wellington, or Auckland for specialised care - making RMHC NZ’s nationwide network a critical support system.Keeping this service running relies on a true community effort. The charity is supported by its Founding Mission Partner, McDonald’s, alongside community funders like ILT and ILT Foundation as well as local businesses and individuals who have often had personal experience with the service.They couldn’t do it without the volunteers - 18 dedicated individuals in Invercargill who help with daily tasks like cleaning and provide general support where needed. They also assist Katelyn Herman, the Community Engagement Advisor with local fundraising efforts, like the recent Brick Show at the Velodrome.Family room at Southland Hospital. Photo: ILTRMHC NZ also runs popular national fundraisers like PJ Day and House to House, offering easy ways for businesses and individuals to contribute. If you’re looking for ways to support, visit their website for plenty of ideas: https://diy-community-fundraising.raisely.com/ILT is proud to support essential services that provide comfort, safety and improve wellbeing. RMHC NZ is one example, along with our ongoing partnership with Hato Hone St John, bringing lifesaving defibrillators to our community—soon reaching our 80th installation. We’re also committed to organisations like Hospice Southland and the Cancer Society, providing critical care and compassionate support to families during life’s most challenging moments.Small actions, whether it’s a warm meal for a family, a critical medical device, or a comforting stay near a child’s hospital bed, can have lasting impacts. Through partnerships like RMHC and other essential services, we’re reminded that when communities come together, we create meaningful change for everyone.Published by arrangement

The Hump Ridge Trail, now a renowned Great Walk, stands as a testament to the resilience of Tuatapere's community.LISTEN TO HUMP RIDGE TRACK PIONEER DON BROWNThis iconic track, originally a sheep trail, has transformed from a local venture to a sought-after destination, thanks to the determination of residents during tough economic times in the 1980s.Facing a decline after the closure of sawmills and forestry operations, the town's future was uncertain.However, a group of passionate volunteers, led by figures like Don Brown, envisioned a walking track over the Hump Ridge as a way to revitalise the town.Their perseverance, despite challenges like land access and environmental hurdles, eventually led to the track's completion.LISTEN TO HUMP RIDGE TRACK PIONEER DON BROWNWith the support of local trusts, Māori landowners, and experts like Arrow International, the trail was officially recognised as a Great Walk in 2001 and officially opened on 24th October 2024.The Hump Ridge Track was officially opened on 24th October 2024.Today, it attracts international tourists, supporting the local economy while preserving the area’s natural beauty.LISTEN TO HUMP RIDGE TRACK PIONEER DON BROWNIn a special episode of The Outlet, Don Brown shares the story of how the Hump Ridge Trail became a symbol of Tuatapere’s determination, highlighting the power of community-driven change.

Invercargill Airport Limited (IAL) has received a prestigious NZ Airports Association award for its management of Milford Sound Piopiotahi Aerodrome.Since taking over management in August 2023, IAL has transformed the Fiordland aerodrome’s operations, implementing safety upgrades to not only align with Civil Aviation Authority standards but also position Milford Aerodrome under rigorous, risk-based safety oversight for the first time.NZ Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore said IAL’s management of Milford Aerodrome marked a pivotal step in ensuring its long-term viability, alignment with modern safety standards and demonstrated IAL's capability in managing multiple aviation assets with impressive innovation.Commercial and Business Development Manager at Invercargill Airport Julie Jack said it was incredibly rewarding to be recognised for embracing the challenge of remote aerodrome management, one of the first airports nationally to do so."This award affirms our commitment to leading with innovative, smart solutions that uphold operational excellence despite the distance.”CEO Stuart Harris praised the team’s achievements, saying the award was a testament to a dedicated team, including partners QAOSH Aviation, who have embraced innovation and collaboration to bring Milford Aerodrome into a new era of safety and service."We aim to elevate the passenger experience and support New Zealand’s tourism by ensuring Milford Aerodrome remains a world-class destination.”IAL’s collaborative approach with the Ministry of Transport, Department of Conservation, and other aviation stakeholders had been vital to the project’s success, fostering partnerships that support wildlife initiatives and community engagement, Harris said.Together, these efforts ensure Milford Aerodrome remains a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible part of New Zealand’s aviation landscape.

Southland farmers have been given a further 18-months breathing space to submit their farm plans for certification, a requirement under the Southland Water and Land Plan, following a government announcement yesterday (21 Nov).Farm plans are a key tool, within the Southland Water and Land Plan, to manage environmental contamination risks associated with farming activities.Yesterday's announcement by Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard, effectively extends the Southland farm plan deadline from November 2024 to mid-2026.Agriculture Minister McClay said cabinet had agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan, by providing alternate national timelines. “Southland’s regional plan contains a requirement for farmers to prepare a farm plan by the end of this year, if the national system is not in place." “Cabinet’s decision will remove uncertainty for farmers in the region who would have been unable to meet these timeframes, giving them until mid-2026 to meet the regional requirements." “We do not want to see hard-working farmers and growers in the region impacted through no fault of their own,” McClay saidIn October the government paused the national freshwater farm plan system in an endeavor to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers.Environment Minister Simmonds said they had worked closely with Environment Southland (ES) to swiftly come up with a workable solution to support Southland farmers.ES Chairman Nicol Horrell welcomed the announcement and said it was a common-sense solution for Southland farmers and growers.“For many years we’ve worked alongside farmers to provide support because we recognise the value of risk-based farm plans for getting environmental improvements."“The really good thing about the Southland Farm Plans is the requirement in our plan to tailor them to the unique circumstances of individual properties and the catchments they are in.”Horrell said the Environment Court process for the Water and Land Plan led to a strengthened role for farm plans, which was supported in principle by all parties.“Given the long history of working with farm plans in Southland, I’m confident farmers here will comfortably move forward with the Southland Farm Plans.”Updated and simplified national regulations are expected in the first half of next year, he said, and ES is also looking at how it can make improvements to its farm plan rules. The next two years will be focused on working with the community and stakeholders at both the catchment and property scale to encourage positive action.Over the coming months, ES will be sharing catchment-specific information with opportunities for action to support farmers to develop and refine their Southland Farm Plans. “Our message to farmers continues to be – ‘start pulling together the information for your farm plan now’. We will be there to support you to share the latest information we have.” he said. Updated material including guidance for creating a farm plan is being tested with farmers currently and will form part of the rollout over the coming months. For further advice on farm plans, call Environment Southland on 0800 76 88 45.

Southland’s innovative catchment group support model appears to be turning heads internationally.About 50 people gathered at Otautau Connect on Wednesday (20 November) for the Thriving Southland AGM.Thriving Southland Chairman Jeff Grant acknowledged the challenges the “wettest spring in 43 years” had presented but praised farmers’ resilience and innovation in looking for continuous improvement.Project lead Richard Kyte said things started to happen when information and localised, relevant science was put in farmers’ hands.Some highlights from the year included the Balfour Catchment Group, which won the Environmental Action in Water Quality Award at the Environment Southland Community Awards for its Targeted Solutions to Balfour’s Environmental Challenges Project, which focuses on understanding the reasons and pathways for N-Loss on the Balfour Fan.Another highlight was catchment groups working together to tackle wider ranging challenges, such as the Edendale Aquifer Group’s Understanding our Water Quality Project, Kyte said.“We’re seeing some major work being done that’s making a difference now,” he said.The catchment group model was attracting international interest, although some European farming leaders could not believe Southland farmers were taking action voluntarily, Kyte said.Guest speaker, well-known agriculture journalist Neal Wallace, expanded on the international farming and trade situation.Wallace has recently returned from an overseas trip where he explored consumer trends, key customer expectations in dairy and meat production, and the impact of global political shifts on trade.New Zealand farmers had done the hard work and our production systems were recognised as efficient, with a low carbon footprint, Wallace said.Newly elected Thriving Southland board members (L-R) Edward Pinckney, Simon Saunders and Alexis Wadworth. Photo: SuppliedThat said, market access would be an ongoing challenge, and farmers needed to earn the right to supply premium clients, who had increasingly stringent sustainability requirements, he said.Transparency of farming practice was essential, he said.There were also new competitors to consider, with Wallace citing the example of McDonald’s taking beef out of the Amazon.Lamb export markets were very challenging, and New Zealand producers were working hard to innovate with new products. Dairy protein exports seemed to have a very secure future, he said.Dutch dairy farms presented interesting case studies in terms of sustainability payments being made and innovations around dealing with farm effluent, Wallace said.Alexis Wadworth, Edward Pinckney and Simon Saunders were elected on to the Thriving Southland board.

Otago Lakes Central Police have launched a homicide investigation into the death of 60-year-old Invercargill woman Karen Gaylene White, who died at a Lake Hawea property in March 2024.Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher said Police had a team of investigators working tirelessly to establish the circumstances that have led to White's death, and remained committed to holding to account those responsible.I want to reassure the Otago Lakes Central community that they can continue to feel safe while the Police investigation continues, Boucher said.Police are interested in speaking to anyone who saw any unusual or suspicious activity in the Lake Hawea area around late February and early March.If you have any information that could help, please update us online now or call 105.Please use the reference number 240308/6198.Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

A bold proposal to combine Southland’s four councils has moved a little slower than its instigator hoped.In August, Southland mayor Rob Scott shared his vision to amalgamate the region’s four councils into two unitary authorities: one district based and one urban based.The cost-saving proposal was met with mixed reactions from mayors and councillors, as well as a scathing appraisal by a local government expertOn August 26, district councillors gave the green light for staff to gather more information so that a proposal could be lodged with the Local Government Commission.This week, Scott said there hadn’t been any tangible results, but indicated council was working behind the scenes.“We're just working through what's involved in the process and amongst the BAU (business as usual), which has been incredibly busy, so it's kind of been a bit of a side hustle,” he said.“Obviously we dedicated some funding from that last council meeting and we'll be dedicating a resource on to working through that, we just haven't progressed that probably as quickly as I would have liked.”Scott said he didn’t want the proposal to “sit on the shelf”, but there likely wouldn't be any movement before Christmas.He believed the region was over-governed for its population of 100,000 with potential to save at least $10 million a year by joining forces.Local Democracy Reporting contacted the three other Southland councils this week to find out what progress had been made with the district council's idea.Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark said cost savings and shared services would not be fully realised unless all the councils shared accommodation — something he believed the district council was opposed to.“I would personally support a single unitary authority, but others in Invercargill City Council support a two unitary authority position that in 10 to 15 years could lead to a single unitary position,” Clark said.Any outcome was still four or five years away because of the Local Government Commission process, he said.Environment Southland chair Nicol Horrell said it was time to start with a "blank page" and approach things differently with local government.“There is a lot of duplication, and there are a lot of areas that have been done traditionally by one entity or another, where it would make sense to put people together.”Similar to Clark, Horrell felt shared accommodation was a good idea.Gore mayor Ben Bell previously said he feared amalgamation was selling ratepayers “hugs and rainbows”.He said his council had not been approached by the district council regarding its proposal.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Great news for the South, with the Government making important changes to immigration settings which will benefit the local economy and our migrant communities. From next month (Dec 2), we are bringing back open work rights for the partners of high-skilled migrants.This will help create a smarter immigration system which attracts and retains the skilled workers that Southland needs to grow our economy.Partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders who are in higher-skilled jobs, earning at least 80 percent of the median wage, will now be able to work in any job in New Zealand. The same rights will be available for partners of AEWV holders working in lower-skilled roles who are on a pathway to residence. The previous Government’s restriction of settings caused incredible hardship and distress for migrant communities in this province.We want New Zealand to be a welcoming and supportive place for workers and their families, so we’re putting things right. These changes go beyond simple immigration updates. They build a system where workers, essential to our economy, feel valued. Partners of visa holders will no longer have to deal with unnecessary red tape. They’ll have the freedom to work where and when it suits them, giving them more opportunities and making it easier for them to put down roots in the South. Local businesses will also benefit from a more flexible workforce, filling shortages in key areas like healthcare, construction, and education. The skills these families bring will help local communities thrive. Ultimately, these changes are designed to bring balance back to our immigration system. By making it easier for families to live and work here, we are strengthening our ability to rebuild Southland’s economy. Funded by Parliamentary Services

Lochiel School had a busy weekend showing off their talents and school spirit at the 2024 Winton Open Day.We had over half of our school show off their amazing line dancing skills on the centre stage, which the local crowd loved.Our line dancing skills are a flow off from our school production and pet day where we learned some great dance moves.We also had a 12 days of Christmas themed float which was definitely a winner with the crowd - best float on the day we say!Last but not least, we had a wheelbarrow raffle fundraising to help subsidise our 2025 school camps which was a winner and raised over $950 for our camps!We all held our breath in anticipation as the friendly police office drew the winner... which turned out to be one of the Lochiel school families.How amazing!Lochiel school is excited for the remaining few weeks of Term 4 as we have lots of fun activities planned for the children and community.We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday break, we look forward to showing off our awesome school in 2025.Lochiel School proudly supported by Fiordland Escapes

Continuing our Year of Action!Hedgehope School is a fabulously modern and truly up to date, future focussed environment bursting with resources and wonder.Our student whanau are curious, dazzled and hugely appreciative of our learning spaces and resources that the BOT and PTA have tirelessly supported.Student efficacy and agency gives powerful voices to students to lead their own learning.We have 3 classes of 53 students, who all love to learn! We all REACH for Greatness in everything we do!At Hedgehope School students are learning about citizenship, environment, their local area, community, collaboration, history, migration, planning, reflection, empathy, relationships with landowners, partners and interest groups, complexities involved with a sustainable compass.We are into our third year of suppression and advocacy at Sherwood Forest.Students are also developing a native plant nursery, launching businesses and have just enjoyed the premier of their documentary about the history of Hedgehope area through the lens of migration at St James Theatre, Gore.We are incredibly lucky to have received Creatives in Schools and Grants for Good funding to learn with professional film maker Samantha Robertson (REECE) and Jeromy Van Riel to create huge carvings of Matamata and his master Te Rakituaneke.We truly value the many partners that support our philosophy, projects and students so passionately.We are a proud Green Gold Enviro School.The Integrated curriculum learning areas included in this project are literacy, maths, science, technology, social studies/history, Health/PE, Visual Arts. We are proud of our integrated curriculum approach to our morning routines that are rich in literacy and numeracy skill and knowledge development.Science integration has been really engaging this term as Tui researched animal species through a biology lens and Kereru creating through a scaffold of biomimicry.The rich literacy Canva and poster presentations are truly authentic and full of student voice and interests.Green Gold Enviroschool AwardWeek 4 was a huge week, with a large amount of student preparation behind the scenes. For our Green Gold EnviroSchools Award Day, chefs created a menu, catered and cleaned, leaders dug the hangi pit, advertising, organisation of the stations to share their learning, projects and successes, speeches were written and practised and student designed signs were collected and erected on our driveway fence.The leadership and pride in our school and accomplishment of students was an absolute pleasure for all to enjoy during the day.Rain could not dampen the spirits!Once all of our visitors and community had been welcomed onto site, our new signage and Te Rakituaneke were unveiled and blessed, a very rare plant donated by Jesse Bythell was planted next to Matamata, haka and waiata were performed and then students facilitated their stations (Sherwood Forests suppression & advocacy, native nursery sewing seeds & repotting, heritage orchard maintenance, Matamata planting, vegetable garden care, Mōkohi design, movie set and kitchen for the chefs).A fabulous hangi and catering followed for lunch, which was delicious!Then came the speeches mainly from ex students now at high school and then our award from Councillor Ludlow and Josh.Wow what a day to celebrate our amazing students and community!Hedgehope School is a very proud Green Gold Enviroschool!Film PremierThat was not the end of a Hedgehope Style celebration of learning!In the evening we all headed to St James Theatre, Gore for our FILM PREMIER! The culmination of a year-long collaboration with Hōkonui Runanga and Samantha Robertson REECE.Our students wrote, created, produced, edited, animated their own film!The skills, knowledge and values they have gained this year has been exceptional!Our very own animated King K on the big screen!We may be small but we can achieve because we believe anything is possible with effort!Please get in touch if you would like to purchase any Native Seedlings!Hedgehope is full of energy!While we are adventurous and find learning everywhere in our community, we are passionate about creating literate, numerate, empathetic, critical thinking problem solvers that are proud of their community and environment.Our mornings are rich with literacy and numeracy in our 3 classes (meeting and exceeding the newly prescribed 1 hour a day reading, writing and maths) through engaging, relevant and integrated learning.Our students are coached by 4 incredibly talented and inspiring teachers and 3 learning supports.We are a happily connected whanau!We all REACH for Greatness in everything we do!Hedgehope School proudly supported by Fiordland Escapes

-Mossburn School Proudly Supported by Fiordland Escapes

A community advocate fears an old dumpsite next to a crumbling coastal road in Southland will be eaten away by the sea while she waits for council action.The area in question at Colac Bay/Ōraka — about 40 minutes from Invercargill — has been a point of contention for locals who claim it contains hazardous waste.But the council charged with monitoring the area says there is no imminent threat, despite it being potentially vulnerable to erosion.It also admitted it was “unsure” if the area in front of the dump has been measured for erosion in recent years.Deen McKay has spearheaded efforts to protect the dump from the ocean and believes the site has about two years before a major weather event washes it away.“The rate of erosion needs to be prioritised and actively calculated to assess the current level of risk.”McKay said it was important to secure the site in order to save the marine environment.“During the summer, this place swells. You've got the surfers, you've got the fishing, you've got the families just wanting to enjoy the beach.“We've got two companies that use the seawater, they use the ramp over there for their live lobster export.”The landfill in question was managed by the now-defunct Wallace County Council and is situated behind a crumbling coastal road which has been closed to traffic since 2015.Affidavits signed by past and present residents in 2021 claimed the site was home to a range of hazards including buried car bodies, batteries, plastics, oil, tyres, herbicides and paint.But Southland District Council still believes time is on its side, as evidenced by a response to a recent LGOIMA request.“We still have approximately a 80 metre buffer until the physical landfill site is at risk of erosion so not one of our most critical sites to erosion but [it] is included in routine monitoring of the site to keep an eye on,” it said.The unattributed response said the dump was potentially vulnerable to erosion in the long-term but was currently low risk.While some leachate had been recorded in the area, similar readings had also been taken outside of the landfill indicating waste was not the sole contributor.McKay has fought the council on the matter for 10 years and has been buoyed by recent interest from Southland mayor Rob Scott.On 18 September, the council held its meeting at the Colac Bay Community Centre and McKay was in attendance as a speaker on the day.Her message now is for key stakeholders to join forces and find a solution.“I just hope that the council aren't going to be the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff and rely on emergency central government funding.”The historic landfill sits on land now owned by Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka, which was contacted for comment.In 2021, the council made headlines for monitoring erosion on the crumbling coastal road with aerial photography but failing to include the area in front of the dumpsite.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Southland motorcycle racer Cormac Buchanan has made history as the first New Zealander contracted to compete in the FIM Moto3 World Championship.A successful season in Europe has earned the 18-year-old a coveted spot on the BOE Motorsports team to contest the championship, which features 22 grand prix races across 18 countries.He is the first full-time Kiwi racer in the MotoGP ranks since the legendary Simon Crafar nearly 25 years ago in 1999."It's definitely an honour and doesn't quite feel real to be honest. Coming from a small country like New Zealand, where motorcycle racing is a passion but not a major sport like it is in Europe, it feels really special to achieve this," Buchanan said.Crafar, who will next year take on the prestigious role of chairman of the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel, said it was "amazing news".'It's wonderful for Cormac to reach his personal goal of becoming a fulltime world championship rider, but it's also exciting news for us proud, sport-loving Kiwis," he said."Becoming a full time grand prix rider is a rare and special achievement. Cormac has dedicated most of his young life to achieving it and his family have sacrificed more than we will know, but this is only the beginning"Making it to the world championship is like getting selected for a national team. The hardest test starts now. The highs and lows of brutal competition over the next couple of years will forge Cormac into a new, tougher version of himself. Let's all let him know that we are behind him."Buchanan was rapt to be taking the next vital step in his racing career."My goal for this year was to earn my place in the 2025 Moto3 World Championship and to be able to step up into those elite ranks with a team the calibre of BOE Motorsports is a great privilege."It's a crucial stage in my career and one step closer to my ultimate dream, so I'm really excited to get 2025 underway. There are plenty of things I want to tick off as I learn in my rookie year but, most importantly, I want to make sure I'm constantly improving - it's a big step up with lots of challenges like new tracks, a new bike, a new team."Those are all things I'm going to have to contend with so the focus will be on fighting for points consistently and making sure I continue to progress as a racer."Buchanan's evolution in the sport has been swift since his debut race in 2019. He already has six New Zealand championships to his credit and has spent the past four years competing against the world's best young talents in Europe as part of Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the FIM JuniorGP World Championship.This year with AGR Racing he has secured two podiums, a pole position and five top-five finishes. With one round remaining in Portugal from 25-27 November, he sits eighth and was still in the hunt for second overall, just 16 points adrift.Published by permission

The government has set aside close to 9000 hectares for Ngāi Tahu and the Crown to assess for offshore aquaculture in Southland.Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced the five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas in Invercargill on Friday, saying they include areas suitable for salmon, mussel, and seaweed farming.They are offshore from Port Pegasus, Rarotoka South, Rarotoka North, Ruapuke, and Port Adventure, in the Foveaux Strait, near Rakiura and Invercargill.Iwi are promised the equivalent of 20 percent of all consented aquaculture space under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004.Jones said the government was committed to its goal of aquaculture becoming a $3 billion industry by 2035."Making space for this kind of exploration with Ngāi Tahu today will bring the certainty needed for jobs, opportunities and export dollars tomorrow," he said.A map of the Southland's proposed Aquaculture Settlement Areas. Photo: Supplied / Office for Minister Shane JonesAll current fishing within the zones could continue during the exploration phase and any space Ngāi Tahu wanted to develop into aquaculture ventures would be subject to the resource consent process, he said.Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa said they were keen to explore sustainable aquaculture for food security and to ensure a healthy environment.Six Aquaculture Settlement Areas were recently declared in Otago, including three offshore zones north of Dunedin, two onshore sites near Moeraki and another close to Karitāne."When we approach these opportunities, we are thinking of the generations to come after us," Tipa said."Oceans are warming, and the world population is growing. Aquaculture is becoming essential to providing people with healthy protein, while reducing the pressure on wild fish. The technology makes it possible for farms to thrive in the open ocean."Aquaculture - when done well and in the right places - had big potential, creating jobs and boosting the economy, Tipa said.The next steps included detailed surveying of each site.Published by permission