A significant environmental cleanup is scheduled to commence in April at the historic Upper Cleddau Flats landfill, colloquially known as ‘Little Tahiti,’ located 2.5 kilometers south of Milford Sound Piopiotahi.The site, which stretches inland from the Tutoko and Cleddau Rivers, dates back to the construction of the Milford Road some 70 years ago.Department of Conservation (DOC) Operations Manager (Te Anau) John Lucas, said gravel had been extracted from Little Tahiti for the road's construction, with the site subsequently serving as a landfill until the mid-1980s.“DOC, Environment Southland, and the Ministry for the Environment have been collaborating on this site since investigations revealed contaminants like asbestos at levels posing potential risks to human health and the environment,” Lucas said.The 8,200 square meter landfill contains various waste materials, including heavy metals, building materials, hydrocarbons like petroleum, and general municipal waste.Located just 100 meters off the main SH94, Little Tahiti has restricted access and is closed to the public.Lucas emphasizes the urgency of the remedial work due to contamination and erosion risks.“We are seeing more frequent high-intensity rainfall events in Milford, like the 2020 floods, which caused significant damage across DOC’s network of tracks in the region, including the Milford Track.”A previous weather event in 2019 led to a landfill breach in South Westland, spilling buried waste into the Fox River and sending it 21 kilometers downstream through Westland Tai Poutini National Park into the Tasman Sea.This incident, known as Operation Tidy Fox, underscores the pressing need to address Little Tahiti to prevent a similar environmental disaster.Funding for the cleanup is split, with DOC covering 50% and the remainder sourced from the Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund before it closed.The Ministry has allocated $2,024,700 for the remediation works.MfE Waste Investments Manager Lara Cowen, said they were pleased to support the remediation of Little Tahiti and enable DOC to proactively address a site at risk of exposure in such a special place for New Zealanders."The Ministry continues to fund projects like Little Tahiti through the newly opened Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund.”The cleanup at Little Tahiti is expected to take up to two and a half months to complete and may impact State Highway 94 with some traffic delays and increased truck movements on the road to Milford Sound.“Public safety is paramount while work is being carried out,” Lucas said.“There will be notifications as early as possible on the visitor information networks for Milford Sound and SH94 Milford Road updates.”

A Rakiura Stewart Island hunter, missing overnight on Sunday (16 Mar) has been found after activating his personal location beacon.The man has part of a group hunting in the Bosom Hunting block at Port Adventure, Rakiura Stewart Island.Members of his hunting party became worried after the man failed to return to their hut at the intended (5pm) time.One of the hunters carried out a search, including firing a few warning shots in an attempt to locate the missing man, but he was not located so at 9:40pm the decision was made to raise the alarm. Southland Police Search and Rescue's Sergeant Ian Martin said that around 4am on Monday morning, Police engaged Southern Lakes Helicopters, who conducted a night vision goggle and thermal camera search but without success.A full-scale search was then initiated with Land Search and Rescue volunteer teams from Rakiura/Stewart Island and Southland, supported by Southland Amateur Radio Communication (AREC) volunteers, Martin said.Land Search and Rescue dog teams from Queenstown and Wanaka were also called in to assist.However at 10:34am the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) received a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) activation from the missing man, and a helicopter responded, locating and safely winching the man aboard.Martin said the man was taken back to the Port Adventure Hunters Hut and reunited with the rest of his hunting party.This was a good example of the importance of taking a personal locator beacon when going on any outdoor adventure, once it was activated it led us right to his location and he was swiftly located and recovered, Sergeant Martin said.

A male pedestrian has died following an incident involving a train this afternoon (17 Mar) on the corner of Tyne and Ness Streets, Invercargill.Emergency services responded to the incident at 5.20pm, where a person was located deceased.Police have now concluded a scene examination, and they along with KiwiRail are working on clearing the scene.Police are continuing efforts to identify the deceased, which is likely to take some time.As part of these inquiries, we are asking for any members of the public who may have seen the incident to please get in touch.Anyone with information can contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking "Update Report", or by calling 105.Please use the reference number 250318/0023.The matter has been referred to the Coroner, and Police are conducting inquiries on their behalf.

Emergency services are responding to a serious incident involving a train at Elles Road, Turnbull Thomson Park, Invercargill.The incident was reported to Police around 5:20pm today (17 Mar).Elles Road is closed between Tweed and Forth Street while emergency services work at the scene and an examination is conducted.Police said inquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.

ROAD CLOSURES:Bridge Inn Road: 10 March-1 MayClosing Bridge Inn Road from Clark Road to O’Rourke Road between 7am Monday 10 March and 5pm Thursday 1 May. The closure is to replace the bridge over the Waikiwi Stream. A detour will be available via O’Rourke Road, King Road, Caulfield Road, Rakahouka Grove Bush Road, North Makarewa Grove Bush Road, Macadam Road and Coveney Road. Residents will have access to properties on either side of the bridge.Derby Road (Limehills): 11 March-30 AprilClosing Derby Road from Pisa Road to Dipton Winton highway to through traffic from 6.30am Tuesday 11 March until 6pm Wednesday 30 April. The closure is to enable pavement rehabilitation. A detour will be available via Dipton Winton highway, Pisa Road and Ayr Street. Residents will have managed access to properties.Opio Road: 17-19 MarchClosing Opio Road from Sinclair Road to Cleghorn Road to through traffic from 7am Monday 17 March until 6pm Wednesday 19 March 2025. Alternative dates are Monday 24 March until Wednesday 26 March 2025. The closure is to replace an existing culvert. A detour will be available via Sinclair Road, Nightcaps Opio Road and Cleghorn Road or Sinclair Road, Wreys Bush Mossburn Road and Cleghorn Road. Properties within the closure will have access either side of culvert.Plantation Street (Lumsden): 18 MarchClosing Plantation Street from Pasture Street to Lumsden Riversdale highway to through traffic between 6.30am and 6pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025 with an alternative date being Wednesday 19 March. The closure is to install a new water main. A detour will be available via Pasture Street, Cover Street and Lumsden Riversdale highway.Rowley Road (Tuatapere): 24 March-4 AprilClosing Rowley Road from Te Tua Road to Block Road to through traffic between 7am on Monday 24 March and 6pm Friday 4 April 2025. Alternative dates are Monday 31 March to Friday 11 April. The closure is to replace two culverts. A detour will be available via Tuatapere Orepuki highway and Block Road.RESEALS (Downer):The Downer sealing team are programmed to be working on the following district road sites today (weather dependent): McAlister Road, Cross Road, Brydone Glencoe Road, Grove Bush Woodlands Road. STATE HIGHWAYS (Highways South):Highways South work with temporary traffic lights or stop/go and temporary speed limits this week: •            SH1 Pioneer highway at Brydone - surface renewal, chip seal•            SH6 Lumsden Dipton highway near Caroline Valley Road - surface renewal, chip seal•            SH6 Lumsden Dipton highway south of Caroline Valley Road - surface renewal, chip seal•            SH6 Flora Road Lumsden between Lydia and Albion Streets - surface renewal, chip seal•            SH6 Dipton-Winton highway at Castlerock intersection - surface renewal, chip seal•            SH6 Dipton-Winton highway between Benmore and Dipton - S surface renewal, chip seal•            SH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway at Wilderness Road - surface renewal, chip seal•            SH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway at Wilderness Road - surface renewal, chip seal•            SH96 Wreys Bush Nightcaps highway at Wreys Bush - pavement renewalOther works:•            SH94 Mossburn Lumsden Highway - Cycling Race (Saturday) – “Share the Road” please•            SH6 & 96 intersection North of Winton– Powernet line maintenanceAdditionally, road marking:•            SH6 urban areas on Invercargill and Lumsden - mobile op, nightshift •            SH6 Invercargill to Five Rivers - rural areas, mobile op•            SH1 Old Edendale Road - mobile opUpcoming work/events:•            April – SH99 at Lorneville, asphalt resurfacing Useful links:NZTA Journeys website: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-plannerFreight Impact Register:  https://www.nzta.govt.nz/commercial-driving/trucks-and-tow-trucks/potential-restrictions-affecting-freight/ - download and filter the region for ‘Southland’. This will indicate any upcoming work in the next fortnight which have closures, detours or width restrictions for freight. 

Alex Little of Lower Hutt won the Mobil Delvac 1 Trophy for the sixth time when the NAPA Auto Parts NZ Super Truck Championship visited Teretonga Park in Invercargill for the annual Southern Thunder meeting over the weekend.Little drove his Freightliner Century to two wins and a third across the three races and stood on top of the Kings House Removals event podium with 60 points.The championship leader coming into the round, Shane Gray of Wellington (Kenworth), was second overall with 47 points and Brent Collins of Pareora in South Canterbury in another Freightliner was third after copping a penalty in the second race of the round.Little first won the trophy in 2018 and has won it every time it has been up for grabs since, apart from last year.Gray accumulated results of a second and two thirds across the weekend and Collins a second, fifth and sixth. Troy Wheeler of Gisborne won the other race during the round.In the Flying Farewell race for the Super Trucks Tim Wheeler of Gisborne took the win in another Freightliner.The UDC V8 Utes were the other headline category and provided four superb races for the big crowd.Championship leader Glen Collinson of Ohaupo in Waikato took the round honours in his Falcon with two wins, a third and a ninth as well as taking a new lap record for the class of 1 minute 08.486 seconds.Current NZ Champion Brad Kroef of Hamilton (Falcon) who took a win, a second, third and fourth across the weekend was second overall.Glen Collinson of Ohaupo in Waikato in a Ford Falcon Ute leads reigning New Zealand Champion Brad Kroef of Hamilton in another Falcon during a UDC V8 Ute race at Southern Thunder at Teretonga Park this weekend; Photo: SuppliedCommodore driver, Phill Ross of Cambridge, was the other race winner.A small turnout of Mainland Muscle Cars meant they ran with NZ Six Saloons with Ross Wylde of Westport (Commodore), Paul Clarke of Dunedin (Mustang) and Peter Templeton of Cromwell in another Commodore taking the race wins.John Smolenski of Invercargill was prominent with two second placings and a third in his Falcon while Marty Russell of Dunedin in a Commodore took the NZ Six class honours.Smolenski backed up his Muscle Car form winning the first Pre 65 Saloon race on Saturday while Wayne Tuffley of Invercargill (Mustang), Garry Price of Cromwell (Chevrolet Nova) and Corey Ross of Rolleston (Mustang) were the other winners.Mike Hall of Queenstown topped the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons podium with consistent performances in his Volkswagen Golf ahead of Steve Dent of Queenstown (Ford Falcon SuperTourer) and Steve Ross of Dunedin in a Ligier JSP3 LMP3 car.Bradley Rule of Queenstown in a Holden Commodore VE SuperTourer won one Class A race with Steve Ross and Kyle Dawson of Invercargill (Jaguar XKR) taking the others.Peter Bennetts of Queenstown in his Seat Supercopa and Kevin Underwood of Invercargill in a Falcon won the Class B races.Donovan Isted of Mosgiel (Honda Civic) set a new 1601-2500cc class lap record of 1 minute 04.907 seconds breaking the mark set by Rick Michels which had stood since September 2004.Rule also won the annual One Hour race while Dent took out the Flying Farewell.

UPDATE: 5.44PM, FIRE NOW OUTA hedge fire, which is threatening a building, is currently being fought by multiple fire brigades at Waipango, on the outskirts of Riverton.Emergency services were alerted at 12.24pm today (17 Mar).Brigades from Riverton, Otautau, Thornbury, Wallacetown and units from Invercargill station are in attendance.

Highways South work with temporary traffic lights or stop/go and temporary speed limits this week:SH1 Pioneer highway at Brydone - Surface renewal - chipsealSH1 Bluff highway at Greenhills - Pavement repairsSH6 Lumsden Dipton highway near Caroline Valley Road - Surface renewal - chipsealSH6 Lumsden Dipton highway south of Caroline Valley Road - Surface renewal - chipsealSH6 Flora Road Lumsden between Lydia and Albion Streets - Surface renewal - chipsealSH6 Dipton-Winton highway at Castlerock intersection - Surface renewal - chipsealSH6 Dipton-Winton highway between Benmore and Dipton - Surface renewal - chipsealSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway at Wilderness Road - Surface renewal - chipsealSH94 Te Anau Mossburn highway at Wilderness Road - Surface renewal - chipsealSH96 Wreys Bush Nightcaps highway at Wreys Bush - Pavement renewalOther WorksSH94 Mossburn Lumsden Highway - Cycling Race (Saturday) – “Share the Road” pleaseSH6 & 96 intersection North of Winton– Powernet line maintenanceAdditionally, road marking:SH6 urban areas on Invercargill and Lumsden – mobile op – nightshift SH6 Invercargill to five rivers – rural areas – mobile opSH1 Old Edendale road – mobile opUpcoming work/events:Soon – SH1 Tay/Queen/Ellis asphalt resurfacingMarch/April – SH1 at Kekeno Place, asphalt resurfacingApril – SH99 at Lorneville, asphalt resurfacingUseful links:NZTA Journeys website - https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-plannerFreight Impact Register - https://www.nzta.govt.nz/commercial-driving/trucks-and-tow-trucks/potential-restrictions-affecting-freight/ - download and filter the region for ‘Southland’. This will indicate any upcoming work in the next fortnight which have closures, detours or width restrictions for freight.

Hokonui's Under 18 marching team have made Southland history at the weekend (13-15 Mar), becoming the first team in living memory to win three consecutive national titles.Hokonui U18 marching team are named New Zealand Champions in Invercargill on Saturday. Photo: Sheree Hall/SuppliedAnd not to be outdone, Hokonui's Under 13 marching team picked up their second consecutive national championship title, while Southland's Southern Stars Under 13 team placed 3rd in their technical drill.Held at Stadium Southland, the championships attracted thirty-seven teams, an estimated 600 competitors, coaches and supporters, from throughout New Zealand,Marching Southland publicity officer Sheree Hall attributed Hokonui U18 team's success to just pure dedication, hard work and the hunger."They wanted it. They wanted it so bad," Hall said."I think having the ability to march together for quite a number of years helps to build a team."Hall also attributed the team's success to coaches Tracy McDonald and Renee Morgan.Hokonui U13 marching team receive their second consecutive New Zealand title in Invercargill last Saturday. Photo: Sheree Hall/SuppliedHall said the popularity of marching in Southland was back on the rise."I think after hosting a national event down here, it's going to hopefully inspire us more young marchers to join."Hall said marching provided a beautiful team environment where members can strive to succeed and set goals every year.""[Also] having the ability to build relationships and friendships that last a lifetime, along with being able to travel, all play a factor into the attractive and all play a factor into the attractiveness of marching."CLICK HERE to learn more about marching in Southland.

Lake Monowai has a new jetty and ramp, ensuring better access and increased safety for anglers and boaties, thanks to Southland Fish & Game (F&G) and the goodwill of Southland businesses.Monowai anglers will, for the first time, be able to board their boats from a jetty. Photo: Ben FeberyPart of Fiordland National Park, Monowai is the provinces fourth most popular lake, behind Lakes Te Anau, Manapouri and Mavora, and clocks up an estimated 3300 angler days annually.In 1926 the lake level was raised 2.13 meters, to supply the Monowai hydroelectric power station, causing significant environmental damage that is still visible today.F&G project manager Ben Febery said plans for the new jetty and boat ramp had been drawn up in 2019, after they had fielded lots of complaints about the crumbling ramp and a general lack of infrastructure."When COVID hit we parked the project and picked it up again last year [2024]."The jetty was started on the week of 17th February and took two weeks, Febery said."The following week we ripped up the ramp and poured it - all on the same day."Demolishing and re-concreting the new Monowai boat ramp took just one day to complete. Photo: Ben Febery"We did it when the lake was really low, so we could get down as far as we could."Febery said the project, which he estimated cost $60-70,000, had only been made feasible through the support of southern businesses, including EH Ball, Anzor, Stuart Timber, McGregors and Te Anau Earthworks, who had all supplied materials at cost or below margin.He also thanked local builders Paddy Dawson (Te Anau) and Mike Soper (Manapouri).Febery said he hoped the new facilities would further increase the lake's popularity."In time we'd also like to be able to make the jetty wheelchair accessible."All completed. Lake Monowai's new boat ramp and jetty. Photo: Ben Febery.

Iwi representatives in Southland have described the killing of thousands of eels after a man discharged effluent into a local stream as "the worst thing they've ever seen", a court has heard.The remarks came during the sentencing of Gore man Bryson David Clark, who pleaded guilty to three charges of breaches of the Resource Management Act (RMA).The charges were for discharging leachate from farm tailings and sileage, and dairy effluent onto land "in circumstances where it could enter water".Clark appeared via audio-visual link in the Christchurch District Court on Friday in front of Judge Hassan.Environment Southland launched an investigation after receiving a report of dead eels near Mataura in February 2024.The judge ordered Clark to pay a fine of $130,000, comply with an enforcement order, and pay legal and court costs totalling $559.Earlier, Stevie Rae Blair, of Te Ao Mārama Incorporated, delivered a victim impact statement via audio-visual-link.The group, made up of representatives of the four local rūnanga, had helped with the recovery of the tuna."It is heartbreaking, one of the worst things I've seen or smelt in my life," she told the court."When the environment is disrespected, it disrespects our people."Judge Hassan later acknowledged the "deep spiritual, cultural and intergenerational harm" that Clark's actions had caused."The ecological harm of your actions have been profound and indiscriminate, and will take many years for any recovery to occur," he said.The court heard that Clark had turned off a Halo water monitoring alarm two months prior due to glitching.As a result it was not until a farm staffer noticed an effluent overflow of a nearby pond.Members of the public later reported concerns to authorities as the Low Burn stream was running very high,The Mataura River was also "running very black", the court heard.Large concentrations of ammoniacal nitrogen were found following water sampling.Local iwi also expressed broader concerns about the rehabilitation of the "awa and the species in there".Eels or tuna are considered both historically important and a present day taonga for Māori,The eels were found over a 10km span of the Low Burn Stream and made their way down the waterway and into the Mataura River.It was estimated that at least 4000 eels were killed.In a statement, Te Ao Mārama Incorporated were disappointed in the result."This outcome fails to reflect the severity of the harm caused to our waterways and future generations. Tuna are not just another species; they are a vital part of our identity and our responsibility as kaitiaki," said Stevie Rae Blair."Hokonui Rūnanga are disappointed in the result which highlights how little our regulatory systems takes into account Ngāi Tahu mahinga kai values and the importance of the environment for all New Zealanders.""Te Ao Mārama Inc wish to see freshwater values upheld and the river rehabilitated. TAMI encourage the council to direct the fine toward initiatives that support the rehabilitation and long-term health of the river."Published by permission

The popular Bluff Oyster and Food Festival risks losing its ability to sell alcohol after digging its toes in over glass beverages.Running almost every year since 2008, the southern food festival has attracted more than 4000 people to the small town for a day of oysters and entertainment.But next week it faces a hearing after hitting a speed bump with its alcohol application due to security concerns and a wish to sell glass beverages.An Invercargill City Council licensing inspector's report said Police previously advised they would oppose the festival’s next application if glass was included.Police delivered on that promise, saying the material posed a risk due to breakage and its potential for use as a weapon.“The applicant is not providing the safest environment possible by selling alcohol in glass containers and has shown little emphasis on their host responsibility by wanting to do so,” Southland alcohol harm prevention officer Hayden McNaught said.Police also took exception to the event being staffed with eight security personnel, saying that number was too few.A lack of supervision at entry and exit points last year was highlighted as an area of concern.The festival has agreed to increase the number of security from eight to ten, but remains resolute in its desire to sell alcohol out of glass.That was despite agreeing to a Police request that cans and plastic cups be used at last year's festival.“This is a more recent request and due to our short time frame to host the 2024 event, we did not oppose it,” the festival committee said.“We feel the recent change without any evidence of issues of violence at our event are unnecessary.”The application has not been opposed by either Health New Zealand or the Bluff Community Board.The licensing inspector also did not oppose, but noted the application did not comply with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act or Combined Local Alcohol Policy.It made a suite of recommendations including that alcohol only be sold in cans and cups, continuous monitoring of the entrance way, no alcohol to leave the venue, and sound levels to remain within council limits.Minutes from a debrief following the 2024 festival show organisers were disappointed someone had been able to bring a bottle of wine into the event through an unmanned entrance.The festival returned last year after a two-year hiatus due to Covid and issues with a nearby hotel which has since been demolished.This year’s festival will take place on May 24, with the hearing set for Wednesday.Police said the applicant's reasoning for wanting to use glass was that customers were dissatisfied drinking out of cans.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is currently reviewing what a recent High Court decision (7 Mar) will mean for permit holders, after a permit they issued under Section 53 of the Wildlife Act was judged to be unlawful.Section 53 of the Act allows the Director-General to authorise the taking or killing of wildlife for certain purposes however in the court case, the Environmental Law Initiative successfully argued that the purpose of the Wildlife Act was to keep protected species safe, not kill them.The decision temporarily halted the DOC permit holder, Waka Kotahi, from proceeding with their Taranaki roading project at Mt Messenger - an area frequented by both kiwi and long-tailed bats.It was only after the Minister of Conservation and the Minister of Transport applied Section 71 of the Wildlife Act - Saving of other Acts, that the project was able to continue.DOC Deputy Director-General Policy and Regulatory Services, Ruth Isaac said the department was considering what the court decision meant for how it manages its Wildlife Act permissions responsibilities.However she said the decision did not mean that operators currently holding Wildlife Act authorisations for projects involving the incidental killing of wildlife need to cease activities.Existing authorisation holders should continue to undertake their activities consistent with the conditions of their authorisations and take all reasonable steps to ensure wildlife is not harmed, she said.Isaac said that depending on the situation, the defence in s 68AB of the Act may be applicable.We are working quickly to give authority holders certainty about what this means for their operations, she said.It has been reported that a total of 85 DOC permits citing section 53 were issued in 2024.DOC Director of Policy Sam Thomas confirmed that the Fiordland Trails Trust was issued a DOC permit under section 53, for its 2km section of cycle track from Patience Bay to Sinclair Road.The permit included a special lizard management plan as the track traverses the possible habitat of Southland's threatened and nationally critical Green Skink.Fiordland Trails Trust Chair David Boniface said as far as they knew [the recent ruling] didn't change anything too much for them."We have a set of conditions that were put in place with the permit that we got, and we are having to comply with all of the lizard trapping requirements of that before we can construct.""The reality is that there hasn't been anything on the endangered list that has been found at this point, so it's relatively straightforward in that perspective with us."Boniface said vegetation clearing on the new section was almost completed and base course construction had already started.It was hoped the new section would be completed before winter, he said.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardPlease expect slight delays at work sites & drive with care. Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Few showers, mainly west of the tunnel Tomorrow: Showers, turning to rain for a time early Sunday: Periods of rain Monday: Rain, becoming heavy

Country music royalty and powerhouse vocalist Tami Neilson is set to perform at this year’s prestigious Country Music Honours event in Gore on 23rd May.The Country Music Honours, part of the Tussock Country Music Festival, showcase some of New Zealand's best country songwriters and recording artists. Audiences will also get to hear not only the top ten unreleased songs nominated for the MLT Songwriting Award but also performances from the finalists for the coveted APRA Best Country Song.Neilson has captivated audiences worldwide with her blend of classic country, rockabilly and soul, and have attracted the adoration of audiences around the globe - including American country music heavyweights Ashley McBryde and the one and only Willie Nelson.NZ Songwriter’s Trust chairperson Vanessa Harvey said Neilson was a force of nature and they were privileged she was bringing her musical magic to this year's Honours event.“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Tami live in Gore and we’re so excited to welcome her back to the country music capital in 2025.” Country Music Honours entries close on Monday 17th March.Songwriters can visit countrymusichonours.co.nz for more information and to apply.Past Honours winners include Mel Parsons, Holly Arrowsmith and Tami Neilson.

Southern farmers are in a flap about wild ducks, calling for the mallard breed to be officially called pests so they can be killed throughout the year.Southland's Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick said an explosion of ducks is causing big problems as they are munching through crops.Herrick said mallards are an introduced species and need to be controlled, and following a very wet spring their numbers have got out of control.Parallel to this, crops were planted later this year and their maturation has coincided with fledgling ducks looking for food."At the moment our arable crops are in full harvest mode and the videos that I am getting of the hundreds of thousands of ducks flying around most areas are pretty mind boggling. The skies are black and the paddocks are black with ducks," Herrick said.Herrick said farmers asked the local Fish and Game for permission to cull the problem ducks, but were turned down and told they could only shoot to scare them."I would love for them to be acknowledged on the pest register which would open them up to hunting all year round in the south. Not necessarily for all New Zealand but specifically for Southland. I'm getting a lot of complaints from farmers who are straight out calling them a pest because of the issues they are creating."Herrick said there could be other options such as opening up a summer or weekend shoot for Mallard ducks."Or actually dish out permits that will allow farmers to shoot them at that time of the year," he said.Currently, ducks are usually only allowed to be shot during the duck shooting season that opens on the first weekend of May, with a limit of how many ducks that can be shot each day. The season runs for up to two months and varies in different regions.At the end of next week, Herrick is meeting with the Hunting and Fishing minister, James Meager, to talk about the option of including mallard ducks on the pest register and how to better control them.However, Fish and Game doesn't believe that will work, saying the removal of Canada geese from the Game schedule hasn't worked.Classifying geese as a pest meant they can be killed at any time of the year, and their management was removed from Fish and Game and transferred to councils. Hunters still need to get a prior permit to kill the geese on conservation or council land.Fish and Game chief executive Corina Jordan said the population of Canada geese has now exploded and as they are under the control of local councils which means ratepayers have to pick up the cost of trying to keep their numbers at a manageable level - which in some areas isn't working well.Jordan said Fish and Game recognises that game birds can be a real frustration for farmers and is urging them to seek early support for mallard duck management on crops.''We are encouraging farmers experiencing challenges managing mallard ducks on crops to contact the organisation early for advice and apply for permits to disperse or cull them," Jordan said."The extremely wet spring that has made for a challenging season for farmers has also provided ideal breeding conditions for mallards."She said, in some cases, summer hunting seasons can also be considered but, under legislation, this needs to be set a year in advance."Farmers can apply for permits from Fish and Game which enable some ducks to be culled, and for ducks to be scared away from crops using non-lethal methods such as bird scarers."Jordan said calls to allow unrestricted shooting of mallard ducks all year-round would not provide an effective solution.Published by permission

Access across the Te Anau Lake Control Structure to Fiordland National Park's Kepler Track has changed due to maintenance work being carried out by Meridian.From Thursday 13th March access to the main access deck will be suspended, with those wishing to cross the structure needing to do so via the downstream stairs and alternative walkway.Meridian expects the work to be completed by Monday 24th March.

A research team conducting an underwater survey in Dusky Sound have been stunned when a great white shark made a surprise appearance in their underwater footage.DOC staff and researchers from Sea Through Science (STS) were carrying out a Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) survey in Tamatea/Dusky Sound in February to collect data on the abundance and diversity of fish species in the fiords.STS researcher Adam Smith was the first to look at the video footage. “While reviewing the videos, I saw a mature male white pointer shark turn up to the BRUV – it was quite a shock.""We had been laughing about how cool it would be to see something like that. It’s very rare to get such great footage.”  The curious white shark can be seen heading straight to the BRUV unit and mouthing the bait pot a couple of times before slowly swimming away.Great white sharks are endangered and are protected under the Wildlife Act and the Fisheries Act. “It’s great to see these majestic creatures in their natural environment and to see how curious they are around the BRUVs,” Smith said.“We’ve only seen a white shark once before during our surveys, at the Kermadec Islands, the other end of New Zealand.”The research team has collected and will be analyzing over 200 hours of video footage which includes several key species including hāpuku, blue cod, octopus and many shark species.The work was designed to get a better understanding of two of Fiordland’s ten marine reserves and the health of the recreational fishery within Tamatea/Dusky Sound.DOC Senior Ranger, Richard Kinsey said the information would be helpful for assessing whether Fiordland’s new fishing regulations benefit fish stocks in the coming years.DOC urges the public to report any sightings, captures, or strandings of great white sharks to [email protected] or phone 0800 DOC HOT.

Some Environment Southland (ES) constituency boundaries are to change, following a hearing in February by the Local Government Commission.ES chairman Nicol Horrell said the changes followed a review that started in July last year and culminated in two council appeals to the commission seeking changes.Coloured areas represent areas moving from one constituency to another. The dark line represents the original boundary. Graphic: Environment Southland.The new boundary for the Southern constituency will align with Southland District Council’s Waihōpai Toetoe Ward boundary, Horrell said.In practical terms, this means 540 voters living in the rural Makarewa area will be able to vote at this year’s local government elections for candidates in the Hokonui constituency.These changes would have impacts for some residents in the Western, Hokonui and Eastern-Dome constituencies, he said.