There’s been investor interest from as far away as Auckland, Timaru and Invercargill in the Fiordland Housing Project’s 30-home development with the first Genius show home in town at the weekend attracting almost 200 people.Fiordland Business Association chair Nathan Benfell says they’ve had “amazing numbers” through the show home which was open on display on Friday and Saturday.The response has been so big that they’ll be keeping it in Te Anau for longer, he says.More potentially interested parties were set to view it yesterday (Tuesday, 1 October).“We’ve had a lot of response from all over, from first home buyers and those looking toward retirement and downsizing the family home, to investors and businesspeople looking for desperately needed staff accommodation, and others just wanting to support the community,” he says.“There’s been a lot of inquiry from Auckland from potential investors responding to our Google ads which is impressive,” Benfell says.Nathan Benfell at the door of the first Genius show home in town. Photo: Supplied“Obviously people are looking astutely at investing and buying in, knowing they’ll get an instant rental income.”Real estate rental appraisals showed that investors could expect rental incomes of between $280 and $330 a week for a one bedroom or $360 to $440 for a two-bedroom.Genius Homes Managing Director Kinglsey Smith says about seven of the necessary 30 purchasers have already committed by signing a confirmation of intent.Among them are local small business owners and investors, with interest from a few homeowners too.However, Smith says they need all 30 signed up to keep the prices as low as they’ve been set to ensure the project is cost effective and viable.“Getting that commitment is important and we’d encourage everyone to get behind the project and support it,” he says.“Our team have put a lot of time and effort into this great project and we’re looking forward to delivering on it.”Smith says he’s been buoyed by the very positive response so far.The homes can be built in overlapping batches of 10, cutting the lead-in time considerably. Benfell says with such keen interest it’s possible that the prefabricated houses could be moved onto the Fiordland Museum Trust land in Alpine Drive by January at the earliest.That’s providing the necessary Southland District Council building consents can be signed off by Christmas.“Genius are pretty quick at turning these homes out,” Benfell says.“They manufacture them in lots and have a building inspector coming into their Timaru factory daily which greatly reduces the wait,” he says.“Potentially people could be in these homes on site in January.”Buyers would lease the land on the museum site, which Benfell says already has district council approval. It’s understood the Trust would use the profits as a fundraiser toward building a museum.Prices for the one and two-bedroom homes start at $178,000 ranging up to $198,000, making them a very affordable option for locals and investors, he says.The Business Association came up with the concept late last year when a survey revealed a desperate cry from the community for Fiordland’s worsening staff accommodation crisis to be addressed.The Museum Trust and Genius then got on board and a Preliminary Information Memorandum was sought from the district council which has been fully supportive of the proposal, Benfell says. Property sources say the project would definitely take the pressure off Fiordland’s rental housing situation.A key requirement is that owners or investors must ensure at least one tenant or resident in these homes is residing and working in the Fiordland area. “Otherwise, it would defeat the whole purpose of this which is to address a dire shortage of long-term rental accommodation,” Benfell says.He says he’s hearing daily about rental tenants losing their homes as landlords and homeowners opt out of the long-term rental market and into short-term options like Airbnb. “It’s very disappointing that nothing’s been done to address this Airbnb problem by either local or central government.”The association board is meeting today (Tuesday, 1 October) to strategise and work out its plan for the project moving forward, but Benfell says the current prices are obviously reliant upon getting that buy-in from 30 buyers so that the project can proceed.After the weekend’s amazing response to the showhome he was feeling pretty hopeful that that could soon be achieved.

Southland District Mayor Rob Scott has promised the south will not take Thursday's (26 Sept) decision to downgrade Dunedin Hospital sitting down, while Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds has said the health needs of the province need to be balanced with the needs of other communities around the country.CLICK HERE to let us know your opinionThe government announcement to downgrade Dunedin's planned new hospital came after costs were projected to escalate to as high as $3 billion.Dunedin Hospital is a critical medical facility for Southland, offering a wide range of specialist services that are not available elsewhere in southern New Zealand. It is also an acclaimed teaching hospital.Southland District Mayor Rob Scott. Photo: SDCSouthland District Mayor Rob Scott said Dunedin Hospital was vital for the region and Southland would not take Thursday's 'incredibly disappointing' decision sitting down."This [decision] isn't a short-term solution, a medium-term solution and is definitely not a long-term solution, putting something like this on ice.""It needs to be resolved.""[Dunedin Hospital] has a very important role in the greater scheme of things.""We've already got a postcode lottery down here."Scott said the system was broken and that had been reflected in the fact that Southland had gone and built its own hospital to address that problem faster than the government had done in Dunedin.Scott said the Dunedin Hospital project had been going for a long time, with the gap between the start of the project and when soil was actually turned over, making things get more and more expensive."We need to look at how we manage our infrastructure in New Zealand and not repeat this kind of thing."CLICK HERE to let us know your opinion"We need to take the politics out of infrastructure and get more long-term decision making that we actually stick to... more outcome focused than political leaning focused.""It needs to be addressed, and it needs to be addressed fast," he said.The Otago Southland mayors were meeting regularly and having discussions about a combined, united approach, and Scott said he would be doing whatever he needed to do.He had already written to Health minister Dr Shane Reti, prior to Thursday's announcement, highlighting Southland's position.Saturday's (28 Sept) protest in Dunedin where 35,000 people turned out in support of the new hospital was only just the start, he said."The South is pretty good at fighting for its supper.""I think the government's going to realise that the south isn't going to take this one sitting down.""They'll be standing up and they'll be fighting for what we deserve, which is not the postcode lottery."CLICK HERE to let us know your opinionInvercargill City Mayor Nobby ClarkInvercargill City Mayor Nobby Clark said he was very disappointed that there is to be a significant re-scoping of the new Dunedin Hospital build."I am able to wear many hats on this issue – that of a Mayor, the President of the Southland Kidney Society, and an inpatient through both open heart and cancer surgery.""The re-scoping does not bode well for Invercargill as we are very reliant on the specialist services and capacity of Dunedin Hospital as a regional facility.""After nearly 16 years in the design stage, how this project can go from $1.59b to now forecast at $3.0b in less than a couple of years is unacceptable. That is double the original costing.""I find that the government’s reliance on Health NZ to “come up with alternatives by Christmas this year” is a concern, as they have managed this project scoping for years.""How could they get it so wrong?""Stating that laboratory services and car parking were also not included is beyond belief," Clark said."I also noted that at the ministerial meeting with Ministers Bishop and Reti, the Dunedin Mayor asked if the current range of clinical services in Dunedin would remain – and he got no confirmation that they would.""I believe health is the number 1 focus for any government, because without adequate resourcing, people will actually die.”CLICK HERE to let us know your opinionGore District Mayor Ben Bell said he recognised the Government's concern of budgets blowing out to three billion dollars."At this stage, we are optimistic that they can deliver the services needed within the $1.8 billion packet that has already been agreed to.""While this rework is happening, it shows the importance of our rural hospital beds and the dependency our communities have on the existing network," Bell said.CLICK HERE to let us know your opinionInvercargill MP Penny SimmondsInvercargill MP Penny Simmonds said she was aware of the strength of feeling around securing a positive future for the region’s tertiary hospital in Dunedin, and promised she would continue to advocate for the best possible health services for the province.“We have had to take the difficult step of reviewing this project because the rising costs of the Dunedin build have become untenable, while an independent review has shown that the hospital, as currently designed, cannot be delivered within budget," she said.“And it’s fair to say that we have been incredibly frustrated by issues surrounding this project - many of which have been out of our control over the preceding six years."“However, I want to assure Southlanders that I understand the needs of our province and am working closely with Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and other ministers, to find the best way forward for this project and for the people of the South."“The Government is currently seeking advice on two options for delivering the Dunedin Hospital project, within its existing funding allocation of $1.88 billion.""These options are either redesigning the inpatient building on the new site to be smaller and less expensive or undertaking a staged development on the old hospital site, including a new clinical services building and refurbishment of the existing ward tower."“Meanwhile, cabinet has already authorised an extra $290 million, in March of this year, to keep this project moving."“The health needs of our region are my priority. However, those needs must be balanced with those of other communities around the country."“Unfortunately, the costs of Dunedin Hospital can’t be justified when other hospitals are also crying out for maintenance, upgrades and new facilities - including our own Southland Hospital, which needs an emergency department upgrade and more theatre space."“We are committed to ensuring that the people of the South get the modern, fit-for-purpose medical facilities that they need – while applying the financial rigour that taxpayers expect."“In the meantime, while the Dunedin Hospital options are being considered, daily services will continue and construction of the new Outpatients Building, including clinic rooms, day surgery facilities and radiology, will also advance with completion on track for 2026."Southland MP Joseph Mooney said on his social media channel that the government remained committed to building a new hospital in Dunedin.However there had been significant cost overruns and poor oversight over the past six years, he said, and no business case or sufficient funding allowed for things like carparking, a pathology lab and refurbishment of the existing facilities which could add an additional estimated $400 million.Mooney said government ministers had confirmed they were fully committed to making sure they deliver long overdue solutions to the southern region’s health infrastructure needs.He would continue to be strongly advocating for this as they worked through the current challenges, he said.

Residents of Stewart Island/Rakiura may soon be facing a big-city problem — stricter parking enforcement.The issue has arisen on the back of people parking for extended periods in popular parts of the island, sometimes for months at a time.A report prepared for a Southland District Council meeting on Wednesday noted the main reasons for extended parking was either shift work or leaving the island.It said “evolving needs and use of parking on the island” showed restrictions could be necessary in some areas.As such, council staff have made a recommendation for 30 new parking restrictions to be put in place alongside adjustments to 16 existing restrictions.The changes would apply to day parking, but did not accommodate those wanting to park for more than 12 hours at a time.“This will require those leaving the island for longer periods to consider alternative options which do not rely on leaving their vehicle in the town centre,” the report said.Oban was noted as being the main problem area, with Golden Bay — a 1km drive away — also contributing.With parking enforcement not undertaken by the council throughout the district, Police had indicated they would be willing to step in and enforce on behalf.That move would require aligning the bylaw — set to be discussed at council on Wednesday — with parking restrictions on the island.Councillors will be asked to endorse a consultation for the bylaw which would take place between 10 October and 8 November.Other adjustments put forward for that process include removing a car park on Elgin St and one-way changes to streets near Observation Rock.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Air New Zealand has announced that they will scrap their Invercargill to Wellington service from January 19th next year (2025).Air New Zealand general manager Domestic Scott Carr blamed the cut-back on tough economic times for a softening in demand due, especially across some of the airlines regional network.The Southland Business Chamber CEO Sheree Carey said while she understood the challenges that Air New Zealand faced, the news was disappointing for the community and particularly businesses and individuals that relied on the vital link to Wellington."Direct flights play a crucial role in fostering connections for business travel, tourism, and personal journeys, and losing this service could impact our local economy and accessibility,” she said.It is imperative that we continue to promote Southland as an attractive destination for events, conferences, and tourism.“Despite the challenges presented by the discontinuation of this service, we remain optimistic about the future of air travel in Southland,” Carey said.“It’s essential that we work together to enhance our regional connectivity and explore new opportunities for air services that can support our local economy.”

The new Dunedin hospital was to be the largest-ever health infrastructure investment in New Zealand.CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR SAYAbout 35,000 people protested in Dunedin on Saturday after ministers announced they would either reduce the size of the project or complete it in stages, amid fears the cost could balloon to $3 billion. More protests are planned.A government-commissioned report found current plans couldn't be delivered within the $1.88b budget.During campaigning for the last election, the National Party had promised the hospital would be built.Finance Minister Nicola Willis during an urgent debate on Thursday said the project had been "plagued by problems".CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR SAYHere is a brief recap of the its timeline to date:2015:The Ministry of Health appointed Southern Partnership Group to lead hospital redevelopment. It released business cases for two options, both estimated to cost between $1.2b and $1.4b.2017: Political buy-inLabour promised to begin building a new hospital in its first term if elected to government, and ruled out funding it through a public-private partnership.National had already promised to build a new hospital, with the party saying it would consider all funding options.2018: Site selectionThe Health Ministry announced the project would be done in two stages: the outpatient building and the inpatient building.Southern Partnership Group, chaired by Pete Hodgson, a former politician for the Labour Party and Member of Parliament for Dunedin North from 1990 to 2011, was responsible for choosing the site.On 4 May, then-Health Minister David Clark announced the new hospital would be built on the old Cadbury Chocolate Factory site and parts of surrounding blocks. The site was chosen to maintain the compact and central nature of Dunedin's health and education facilities, while giving flexibility for the final design and allowing for further development later.2019: Drilling and diggingEngineering consultancy Tonkin + Taylor used special equipment to drill to depths of 30 metres, to help provide a better understanding of the ground conditions for the foundations of the new hospital.Parts of the site had previously been registered as an archaeological site, with excavation work monitored by members of New Zealand Heritage Properties and archaeological consultants.On 23 December, Clark said architects Warren and Mahoney, the country's largest architectural firm, had been awarded the design contract.2020: Demolition work beginsStaged demolition works began in February, carried out by Ceres New Zealand LLC, who played a key role supporting the Christchurch rebuild.In September, the government agreed on the preferred design for the new hospital. The option approved by Cabinet broadly aligned with the preliminary site masterplan.The total budget for the project was expected to exceed $1.4b.2021:Contracts were negotiated for the next planning and design stages.The demolition of the former Cadbury factory continued.2022:Construction of the outpatient building started with a ceremony on 3 June, 2022.Consent for this building was granted in August.Following cost pressures, there was a redesign, cutting beds, operating theatres, imaging services and other aspects of the then-$1.5b build.2023:Outpatient centre construction continued. Piling was completed in mid-2023, with 78 piles in place at an average dept of 19m below ground. In August, the first structural steel column was in place.Meanwhile, archaeologists worked to preserve and identify findings as part of an extensive excavation process on the inpatient building site.New architectural images of the new building were released, with 410 inpatient beds, a 53-bed emergency department, an operating theatre suite, a short-stage surgical unit, intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, and a dedicated primary birthing unit. Design planning was expected to continue for another 18 months.After the election, the new government said the cost had risen. It commissioned an independent review by Robert Rush, whose report would lead to the nearly $3b figure quoted in September, 2024.In November, resource consent was granted by the Environmental Protection Authority for the inpatient building, subject to a number of conditions.2024:In March, Cabinet authorised a further $290 million in capital funding due to cost pressures, officially taking the total from $1.59b to $1.88b.In June, the main structure of the new outpatient building was in place. The following month, the exterior facade was installed.In September, came the controversial announcement that the government was seeking advice on two options for delivering the project within its existing funding appropriation.Despite the project's original 2017 cost estimates of $1.2-$1.4b, it was possible it could end up approaching $3b, making it one of the most expensive hospitals ever built in the southern hemisphere, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said."Health NZ and Infrastructure Commission advice has made it clear that this project was troubled from the moment the site was selected in 2018 and has been trapped by this poor decision making ever since," Health Minister Shane Reti said.What now?The outpatient building was expected to be finished in 2026 and the inpatient building by 2029.Ministers have told Health NZ the project is to be delivered within its current appropriated budget ($1.88b), and to provide urgent advice on two options for delivering it.CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR SAYOne option is revising the project within the existing structural envelope, such as by reducing the floors, delaying the fit-out of some areas, or looking at services that can be kept at the original site or in other Health NZ buildings.Another option is a staged development on the old hospital site - known for asbestos issues and leaks - including a new clinical services building and refurbishment of the existing ward tower.Advice was expected in "coming weeks".Dunedin mayor Jules Radich told RNZ the $3b figure was an exaggeration: "They've included in that things like carparking and pathology and other services that were never in this scope, and were taken out of the scope two years ago."The government appeared to be looking for an excuse to get out of its promise to build the new hospital, he said.Published by permission

Dunedin's mayor says a protest over the weekend was the city's biggest in decades, and has a warning for the government: people are just getting started.About 35,000 people marched through the city on Saturday, amid outrage at the Government's plans to scale back the redevelopment of its hospital.The government says it is unaffordable, and has been accused of breaking an election promise that still features on the National Party website."I was thrilled and very proud of the people of the south, because people came from all around the region to attend that protest and no one expected it to be as large as it was," Mayor Jules Radich told RNZ's Morning Report on Monday."This is the start of a programme of activity and it will be ongoing, and the thing is that it's not too late for the government to keep its promise. okay? They have announced [this] bunch of excuses as to why it's difficult - that doesn't mean it's impossible."They can do it, they can keep their promise. And they made a firm promise during the last election and all coalition partners agreed with that, and yet they're here now trying to set the ground and make excuses for not keeping it."A report commissioned by the government found current plans for the hospital could not be delivered within the $1.88 billion budget, which could balloon to $3 billion.Jules Radich. Photo: SuppliedRadich called the report a "smokescreen"."They've added in extra costs to try and cloud the issue. For a start, refurbishment. No one's ever talked about refurbishment being in the scope of this project, refurbishment of old blocks. I mean, they're talking hundreds of millions for that."They're talking about car parks - car parks have been long since taken out of the scope of this project other than you know, parking for staff, and it's very easy - all we have to do is give some private developers a suitable site, and there's plenty of sites around the hospital, and they all build the car parks, no problem at all."And pathology is the other one that they're talking about - [it] has already been taken out of scope by the previous government and agreed to by this government when they were in opposition. So it's a smokescreen."Artist's impression of the planned new Dunedin Hospital from Te Whatu Ora website. Photo: Supplied / Te Whatu OraRadich said it was not too late for the government to go back to the plan it promised."Dr Reti is saying, well, they are going now to discuss all of the options. They laid out two options last week. But those, the way they were laid out, neither of the options were unacceptable, but the least acceptable of course is keeping the old building."I mean, if they think they're going to build a modern health system by starting with a 50-year-old broken-down building and patch that up, I mean, that is no way to build a modern health system."Patients in tentsDunedin Hospital emergency doctor Joshua Smith said the current hospital was old, cramped and not meeting the region's needs."We're seeing on a daily basis patients and corridors, huge numbers of patients in the waiting room," he told Morning Report."Some days we have patients ramping, which means that they arrive in an ambulance and there's simply no room in the department for them to be handed over. And that means they have to stay in an ambulance in the car park for hours at a time, or even be cared for in a tent by ambulance staff."It's simply not acceptable. It's unsafe. Where do we want it?"Prostate cancer survivor Robert Scott, who lived near Port Chalmers, said the government needs to spend the money and build the hospital right."It made a huge difference for me being able to access the care. I could go in each day and get my treatment every day for a month, you know, it was only a 10-minute drive from my house."Carolines lives in Owaka - an hour-and-a-half away by road or 20 minutes by helicopter."I know so many people who have had major medical events and needed to be here… if Auckland can get so many roads, surely we can get a hospital."Another said the time for broken promises is over."It can hardly cope now, and they're going to make it smaller and they're not looking to the future. It's short-sighted."Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said the government remained committed to building the new hospital, but it needs to deliver for hospitals across the motu as well.Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneOver in Westport, more than 1000 people silently marched through the streets to protest the healthcare crisis on the West Coast. From Tuesday, a phone and video service will replace GP clinics for after-hours primary care.Ros Bradley from Carters Beach was worried about getting sick on the weekends because there was so little cover"I really feel for… people older than us. I mean, we're both in our 70s, but you know, there's people that can't get out, they're vulnerable, and that's terrifying."Alan Gregg said he was worried about the threat to medical services in Buller. He said they hear the rescue helicopters transferring people on a near daily basis."At the end of the day that's a cost to the medical area, and probably if we had a hospital that was well-stocked, well serviced and well-maintained, those costs could be saved in other areas."Allen Morris says he is sick of the local health services being run down. Photo: RNZ / Rachel GrahamDel Morgan, from Reefton said the government - and the last - had decimated the health system."We're stuck with the telehealth thing. We're stuck with doctors who we don't know because they change all the time. You can't can't build a rapport with them."Reti said he had been assured in-person care would remain available on the West Coast alongside more after-hours care.Published by permission

Following revelations of a cost blowout, the Government has announced it is seeking advice on two options to deliver the new Dunedin Hospital.CLICK HERE to let us know your opinionDunedin Hospital is an important advanced medical facility for not only Southland, but anyone living south of the Waitaki. It is also an established training hospital.Your local community app (Queenstown App, Southland App, Waitaki App, and Wānaka App) want to know what you think in this quick and anonymous survey.CLICK HERE to let us know your opinion.

Waianiwa School September 2024What a fantastic day we had at the Central Cup tournament in Term 2.We are so very proud of the way our Year 5-8 students participated with excellent behaviour, sportsmanship and skill.Each and every student represented our school with pride.This year we took the biggest group of students we have ever taken and entered two Year 5&6 teams and a Year 7&8 team.The teams all played 30 minute games of netball, basketball, soccer and volleyball and they did so well.For a small school we have a lot of talent.Thank you to our senior teachers Natasha and Mrs V for all the practice you did with them, it definitely showed when the teams were out on the courts.A huge congratulations to our Year 7&8 team, the Waianiwa Wipeouts, who wiped out all the other Year 7&8 teams to bring home the first place trophy!Woohoo!Once again, we were lucky enough to have the Waianiwa Women's Institute come and serve soup and cheese rolls to all of our students and staff.Robyn McCallum, Susan McPherson, Annette Sanderland, Lauren Hayes and Raewyn Stuart make a delicious soup and perfect Southland cheese roll.We really appreciate your kindness and generosity in doing this.Thank you so very much.At the end of Term 2 we held the annual EIS Technology Challenge, which is open to Southland Primary and Intermediate schools to enter.This year was the 10th year that EIS have sponsored this event and we really appreciate their generous contribution.EIS sponsorship means we can run it with a minimal entry fee for the teams, ensuring as many schools are able to enter teams and get their students involved in hands on thinking, collaborative, problem solving challenges.EIS also send a judge and we really appreciate Andrew coming each year to be involved in this event.A big thank you to Shari, Mrs V and Mrs Carey for your work on the planning and organisation of this and running the event on the day.Feedback was very positive from the judges and schools who entered and it was a successful event.Thanks also to our Friends of the School who organised and provided morning tea and lunch for the judges and to our judges from within our local community who gave up their time to be involved on the day.Well done to our Year 5/6 team of Karl, Fletcher, Lachie, Cohen and Year 7/8 team of Max, Kaeden, Angus, Alexis who worked hard to complete the challenges and a special mention to our Year 7/8 team who placed 3rd.Well done to our Student Council, Mikaella, Meriya, Hana and Athena on their organisation of our Daffodil Day mufti and activity day.What a sea of yellow, orange and white the school was, recognising that many of our families have been and/or are being impacted by cancer through loved ones and friends.Thank you to those Room 3 families who supported this by making baking to be sold at lunchtime.The school also contributed the sausage and ice pop money from Friday lunch to our donation (a big thank you to Charlotte in Room 2 for this idea).Around $300 was raised for the Cancer Society - a great effort for a small school, thanks to all our fabulous families for your support!We are so proud of our tamariki who all performed amazingly at Polyfest.What superstars ⭐.A big thank you to all our whānau and family members who came to support and watch us.Our trip to Polyfest was a highlight and it was great to see all of our students on stage, supporting one another and giving it a go.During our kapa haka practices we learnt a new song called Utaina Mai and look forward to sharing this with all of our families as part of our production.Our production, The Life of Maui, has many areas of the curriculum being incorporated into our learning.We are each creating a visual art piece to be put on display around the hall, learning and presenting our lines, acting, dancing and choreographing our class items plus learning about visual media, with the seniors creating brochures and advertisements for our production.Mrs M is also working with a group of art students to create the backdrop, we are so lucky to have her expertise.We cannot wait to perform this early in Term 4.Earlier this term, we held our Year 5-8 school speeches.We were very impressed with the high standard of speeches and the varied topics.It was clear that all our students put a huge effort into the research, writing and presentation of their speeches and they should all be very proud of their efforts.Presenting speeches is always challenging and nerve wracking, but all our students gave it 100% and did an amazing job.Ka rawe tamariki mā.We have also hosted the cluster speech competition for Waianiwa, Wallacetown, Winton and St Thomas Schools.Well done to Mikaella, Angus, Neeve and Patrick for their excellent representation of our school in this and a big congratulations to Mikaella placing 3rd in the Year 7&8 section!Thank you to Mrs Carey, Pam Fleck and Shirley Pratt from Southern Reap for giving up their time and taking on the tough job of judging the speeches.Our senior students have really shone in their leadership abilities during a new tuakana teina (older and younger students learning together) time with Room One recently.Our seniors are buddied with a Room One child and have to plan and record activities they will prepare and ‘teach’ to the younger children.There have been some really creative ideas including making cards, learning how to kick and throw, creating the Eiffel Tower using straws, playing snap, playing hopscotch, making clay using glue, playing jenga and learning how to play twister.Everybody has been really engrossed in this big/little buddy time and we look forward to continuing these sessions throughout the yearWe have had Louise here this term teaching a 2 day Year 5-8 group and a 1 day Year 1-4 group art workshop which has been facilitated and provided through the Southern Reap Gifted and Talented programme.The students selected for this are those who display passion, talent and ability in visual art.The groups worked through a process to create an animal using design, drawing, painting and then sewing.The students enjoyed their time and lessons and gained valuable skills and new learning in these sessions.We really appreciate the work that Southern Reap do for our schools and the opportunities that they provide for our students.Coming up next term we have science workshops, and a leadership course facilitated by Southern Reap.We have also welcomed Cycling Southland to our school this term to do a bike skills and safety session with our Room 1 and 2 students.We were impressed with the number of Room 1 students who embraced the challenge of riding without their training wheels with the support and encouragement of Marc and Mary from Cycling Southland and Mrs Kerr.Valuable skills were gained during this time and we appreciate Cycling Southland's support and willingness to come into our school and run these sessions each year.It is great to see the students building on their skills and knowledge year after year.We wrapped up our Olympics learning with a visit from Alena Saili.Alena is from Invercargill and plays for the Women's NZ Rugby 7s team and the Black Ferns.She is a double Olympic gold medalist with her medals from Tokyo and Paris.Alena spent time with the students answering their questions and talking about her Olympic experiences, her rugby career thus far and her road to representing NZ on the world stage.She also allowed the students and teachers to touch the medals and try them on which we all thought was pretty special.The medals are very heavy!Alena was humble, real and down to earth.She laughed with us, she answered all the students' questions, she posed for photos, she chatted and she signed numerous items for us.It was a privilege to have her in our school and to listen to her talk of her experience.At school, Alena's favourite subjects were maths and science and she talked about how important it was, while chasing sporting dreams, to also make sure you are applying yourself to your school work.Alena had a dream to play for NZ and through extremely hard work, sacrifice and determination she achieved that.She spoke of a normal day for her and I think we were all very blown away by the amount of hours of her day spent training.Before breakfast, morning sessions, afternoon sessions, and then again after dinner.She spends most of her day training and keeping herself fit and at peak health and performance.Her dedication and commitment to her sport and her job as a professional athlete is huge.What an amazing role model Alena is and an inspiration to our young people with big goals here at Waianiwa - like Alena, we know you can work hard to make them happen.Waianiwa School proudly supported by Fiordland Escapes

An interactive science outreach programme from Tūhura Otago Museum, designed to give information about smoking and vaping has been doing the rounds of Southland schools over the last few weeks.The display, called Te Mana o te Hā, is full of interesting facts and information designed to make people think about what they are putting into their body, what impact this is having to the environment and whether we are being persuaded into addiction due to the way that these products are marketed.Are we being sucked into another form of addiction that is touted as being healthier than cigarettes? Is this just another way that the tobacco companies are trying to make money out of the consumers?Jonika Edgecombe, Pasifika Engagment Co-Ordinator for Tūhura Otago Museum, is the voice of the display for the voyage around the Southland schools and she brings a youthful exuberance to the program.“Just because something is normal, it doesn’t mean it is all good” Jonika tells the students.“We are here to encourage you to have an informed decision about what you are doing”The display has four sections for investigation:● Nicotine is not our whakapapa – Trace how a wild plant from the Americas was spread throughout the world to become the leading cause of preventable death in the 20th century.● Footprint of harm – Uncover the environmental, socio-economic, and health impacts of the tobacco industry.● Pipe dreams – Discover how the slick marketing, sleek products, and subtle appeals that have underpinned the advertising tactics of tobacco are now in play to promote vaping.● Nicotine-free futures– Discuss how to prevent further harm and take a leadership role in your whānau, school, and/or community.The display is worth taking time to read and there are certainly lots of interesting facts and things to look at.The environmental impact alone is quite an eye opener.The lithium from vape batteries thrown away each year in the US alone would be enough to make 6,000 EV batteries, but we don’t tend to hear people commenting on that.Edgecombe encouraged the students to really think about the impact that vaping would have on themselves but also on the environment as that is an important part of our lives.“Vaping is too new for its long-term health impacts to be fully understood” states one poster but the statistics are clear that these products are highly addictive and our young people have been caught into this new craze.“From 2019 to 2021, teen vaping rates skyrocketed in Aotearoa. By 2022, 10% of year 10 students were vaping daily and 18% were vaping monthly”The display also has a selection of advertisements for smoking from the past, and recent ones for vapes to encourage the viewers to think about how the marketing messages might be targeting a certain audience to buy their product.Edgecombe was clear about the display’s current purpose.“We are not here to tell you what to do, but to make you see what the impacts of those choices are."And the students certainly learnt quite a lot and were encouraged to share their findings with their classes.Finlay Jones, a year 9 student from Northern Southland College said he was surprised to learn that there are over 4000 chemicals in cigarettes, and several of the students were horrified to see the effect of smoking on your lungs which was shown through a model of preserved pigs’ lungs that the students could inflate.One was pink and healthy looking and the other had been treated with chemicals to show the damage from smoking.The display has been around the North Island and has spent time in Southland thanks to funding from the Southland District Council.Students from Waiau Area School, Fiordland College and Northern Southland College have already been able to take time to explore the display, with Aparima College due to see them next week.The plan is then to have the display up in the Golden Centre Mall in Dunedin for a few more weeks.Christian Burgess, Outreach and Education Manager said that it had been great to get this display out around the countryside and get the information to students who may not get into the big centres.Over the years, Tūhura Otago Museum has taken around several interactive displays about science and space, thanks to funding received.

It could cost up to $3 billion to build the new Dunedin Hospital as currently planned, which the government says is simply unaffordable.Ministers announced on Thursday the planned redevelopment would either need to be reduced, or done in stages.A report commissioned by the government found the current plans could not be delivered within the current $1.88b budget.Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said it would cost "several hundred million dollars" more than that - possibly up to $3b.And that didn't cover costs for things that hadn't been included: a pathology lab, refurbishment of the existing site, and car parking, he said.$3b would have made it "one of the most expensive hospitals ever built in the Southern Hemisphere", Bishop said."We are concerned that much needed upgrades to other regional hospitals could be at risk."We can't justify spending up to $3b here because that comes at the cost of (other regions) ... that is the blunt truth that there are trade offs to spending."He called it a "problematic project" which "has been troubled since 2017."Bishop said $1.88b was still a "big investment"."We are now making clear the troubled nature of this project," he said."We are trying to do the right thing by the public, of Dunedin, but also the rest of the country."We're making tough decisions and being upfront and transparent."Health Minister Shane Reti said there were problems from the very beginning and he expressed his frustrations.He defended promises made on the campaign trail, saying they were based on the information they had at the time.Health New Zealand's head of infrastructure delivery Blake Lepper said the outpatient building remained on track for opening in 2026 and that was a "real focus".He couldn't say whether the scheduled dates for inpatient services would change as a result of today's announcement."No decisions have been made."Changes in the region's demographics since the initial planning, including updated demand modelling, would be taken into account when deciding how to move forward, Lepper said.Thursday's announcementThe Government has signalled plans to downgrade the Dunedin Hospital redevelopment after an independent review has found it cannot be completed as scoped within the approved budget.Reti and Bishop - who are both in Dunedin to brief stakeholders - are warning that vital upgrades to other hospitals could be at risk if the budget blowout at Dunedin was not addressed.The new Dunedin Hospital site in June 2024 Photo: RNZ/Tess BruntonThey said they had instructed Health NZ that the project was to be delivered "within its current appropriated budget of $1.88 billion".They provided urgent advice on two options for delivering it:Revision of the project's specification and scope within the existing structural envelope, such as reducing the number of floors, delaying the fit-out of some areas until they're needed, and/or identifying further services that can be retained on the existing hospital site or in other Health NZ buildings within Dunedin among other possible solutions.A staged development on the old hospital site including a new clinical services building and refurbishing the existing ward tower.The project had approved funding of $1.59 billion under the previous government.In March this year, Cabinet agreed to authorise a further $290 million in capital funding due to cost pressures.Bishop said the current appropriation was therefore $1.88 billion.Health Minister Shane Reti. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone"We now know that the New Dunedin Hospital, as currently designed, can't be delivered within that appropriation. In fact, despite the project's original 2017 cost estimates of $1.2 - $1.4 billion, it's now possible it could approach $3 billion, which would make it one of the most expensive hospitals ever built in the southern hemisphere."This cost simply cannot be justified when hospitals around New Zealand are crying out for maintenance, upgrades and new facilities. Dr Reti and I are concerned that badly needed infrastructure upgrades to Whangarei, Nelson, Hawke's Bay, Palmerston North and Tauranga hospitals may be put at risk if New Dunedin continues to go so far over budget."Earlier this year, Cabinet commissioned an independent review into the project by former chief executive of Health Infrastructure New South Wales Robert Rust.The report, just released, found "the delivery of the NDH project as currently scoped and planned is probably not achievable within the approved budget and that there remains significant uncertainty as to the cost of the Inpatients Building".Reti said the uncertainty was due to several factors, which also created doubt whether the new hospital could deliver the health outcomes promised."To make matters worse, insufficient money had been set aside for other associated costs such as a pathology lab, refurbishment of the existing facilities and car parking which are collectively estimated at an additional $400 million. No business cases have been prepared for any of these additional elements of the project."Compounding our concerns is the fact that recent project pricing came in several hundred million dollars over the hospital's appropriation, even without including the pathology lab, refurb of existing facilities or car parking," he said."Health NZ and Infrastructure Commission advice has made it clear that this project was troubled from the moment the site was selected in 2018 and has been trapped by this poor decision making ever since."The extraordinary cost premiums associated with the land purchase and demolition costs, contaminated ground, piling difficulty, flood level risk, and an extremely constrained construction site flanked on three sides by state highways made it an unattractive project for contractors and suppliers, further driving up construction costs. Since the 2017 Business Case, the cost per square metre to build the hospital has increased by 200 percent from $10,000 per sqm to $30,000 per sqm."Construction had already begun on the New Dunedin Hospital, with the Outpatients' Building scheduled to be operational in 2026 and the Inpatients' Building in 2029.Timeline:2015: The Ministry of Health appoints the Southern Partnership Group to lead the redevelopment of the hospital.June 2017: Two options put forward for detailed business case: 1. a new hospital on a new greenfield site or 2. a new hospital on the Wakari (north Dunedin) site. In both cases, the estimated cost of the project was between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion.May 2018: New Labour-led government announces new hospital to be built on the old Cadbury Chocolate Factory site and parts of surrounding blocks.May 2019: The 2019 Budget approves a total budget of $1.4b over the 10-year life of the project.August 2020: The government announces an additional $127 million to progress design, demolition, piling, project management and early contractor engagement.April 2021: The government approves in principle the Final Detailed Business Case for the New Dunedin Hospital Project at a total budget of $1.47b.December 2022: Additional funding of $110m approved to manage a cost escalation of $200m. A redesign delays work. It results in fewer beds, two fewer operating theatres, and one less MRI and PET CT.April 2023: Extra $10m toward an additional MRI machine and collaborative workspace, and $82m for digital infrastructure. Budget increased to $1.59b.November 2023: First piles driven for inpatients building.April 2024: New National-led government commissions independent review by Robert Rust.May 2024: Government approves an additional $290m to be held under contingency for the project. Budget increased to $1.88b. Budget documents note increase cost risks - "driven by construction sector inflation, scope changes, and the relative isolated location of the project coupled with a small contractor base with sufficient experience and capacity from which to draw."August 2024: Government increases oversight of the project through the Infrastructure and Investment Ministers Group.September 2024: Government releases independent review by Robert Rust. Government announces they are seeking advice from officials on options to deliver the project within the current appropriation of $1.88b.Published by permission

Three critically endangered kākāpō died in September, reducing the population of the world's heaviest parrot, and one of Aotearoa's most prized taonga, to just 244.The flightless and nocturnal kākāpō was on the verge of extinction before a remnant population of around 170 males and females were discovered in 1977 on southern Rakiura Stewart Island.From this population, and the last remaining captured bird from Fiordland - named after conservation pioneer Richard Henry - a ground-breaking recovery programme using remote predator-free islands was launched.Graphic: Dr Andrew Peter Digby/DoCThe Department of Conservation programme has successfully halted the birds decline, although numbers remain critically low.Two-year-old Madeline sustained an untreatable beak injury. Photo: Sarah Little/DOCLast week a two-year-old named Madeline, a bird carrying valuable bloodlines back to Fiordland bird Richard Henry, had to be euthanised after being found with a severe and ultimately unrecoverable beak injury.Earlier the same week Ōtepoti, a 5-year-old bird died after being found underweight and unwell.Famous for being one of the first four kākāpō to be permanently returned to a mainland home - Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari - Ōtepoti later made headlines after making two high profile escapes from his new home.Ranger died at the beginning of September on Anchor Island. Photo: Jake Osborne/DoCŌtepoti was subsequently returned to his southern island home in June.And at the beginning of September a five-year-old kākāpō named Ranger died on Fiordland's Anchor Island after being found dead following a suspected tree windfall.Anchor Island has been an island sanctuary for kākāpō since 2005.

The numbers don’t lie - junior cycling in New Zealand is on a high right now and many of this country’s best young riders are about to descend on Southland.Cycling Southland will host both the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland and the New Zealand secondary schools track cycling championships in early October, with big fields registered for both events and a high likelihood that the next Corbin Strong or Ellesse Andrews will be on show.A record field of more than 165 riders have entered the junior tour, which runs from October 4 to 6. That’s an increase of more than 25 riders from what was an impressive start list last year.The field will include 20 riders from across the Tasman, a mix of members of AusCycling Development Academy and the Australian-based Rauland Development Team.Twenty-two Southland riders will also be taking part across the grades, many of them inspired by former SBS Bank Tour of Southland winner Josh Burnett, who became the first local rider in nearly 30 years to win the senior event in 2022 and who will be involved as a guest speaker during the junior event this year.The October holidays offer a feast of youth racing, with Timaru hosting the New Zealand secondary schools road championships from September 29 to October 1. Many riders will continue on to Southland to try and add their name to an impressive list of former winners in the ‘Yunca’.Yunca Junior Tour of Southland race director Marc Prutton said it was exciting to see so many young riders looking to gain more experience.“The Yunca tour is renowned in New Zealand cycling and is a fantastic proving ground for any young rider. This race offers riders a true multi-stage experience, including a mix of open road and criterium racing that is hard to find. It’s also possible that we will find a variety of weather conditions to give them a real test as well,” he said.“As always, we are very grateful to Yunca, who have supported this race for 41 years, along with our other sponsors, funders and volunteers. Without them it just wouldn’t be possible to run a race of this scale.”Many riders will also remain in the province and swap their group sets for fixed gears to ride the national schools track championships on October 8 and 9 at the SIT Velodrome, an event Southland shares every second year with Cambridge.The intensive two-day programme will feature New Zealand’s strongest school cycling programmes, including the likes of St Peter’s Cambridge, which has three-time Olympian Rushlee Buchanan on its coaching staff, and Auckland Grammar, coached by Tim Pawson, who helped guide Dan Gardiner to the Tour of Southland’s orange jersey last year.

Dairy co-operative Fonterra's full year profit has eased back from last year's record high, but still topped the billion dollar mark as it lifted its payout to farmers.Key numbers for the 12 months ended July compared with a year ago:Net profit $1.17b vs $1.6b (from continuing operations)Net profit $1.13b vs $1.58bRevenue $23.0b vs $26.1bEarnings 67 cents per share vs 95 cpsNet debt $2.6b vs $3.2bMilk payout (2023/24) $7.83 a kilogram of milk solids vs $8.22 per kgMSForecast payout (2024.25) midpoint $9 per kgMSFinal dividend 55 cps vs 50 cpsChief executive Miles Hurrell said the tail winds which had driven the previous year's result, including business divestments and high prices, had eased but it was still delivering strong results."We've maintained the positive momentum seen in FY23 (financial year 2023) and delivered earnings at the top end of our forecast range."Hurrell said demand for other products, including foodservice and value-added ingredients, continued to be robust."Earnings were driven by higher margins and increased sales volumes in our foodservice and consumer channels. Our ingredients channel also continued to deliver strong returns, although down when compared to the record result seen in FY23."Cost cutting largely offset the impact of inflation on costs, although it spent more on its IT and digital systems.Increased farmer payoutsThe co-operative raised its forecast farmgate milk price for the current season to a midpoint of $9.00 per kilo of milk solids in a range between $8.25 to $9-75.Hurrell said the wide range reflected the early season uncertainties surrounding the global market."Our Co-op is in good shape, and I'm pleased to have delivered another year of solid returns to farmer shareholders and unit holders."The milk payout for just ended season was $7.83 per kgMS, but with dividends of 55 cents a share the cash pay out was $8.38.Fonterra has used up accumulated tax losses of past years and from this year will be paying tax.The futureHurrell said the review of Fonterra business, which might result in the sale of its consumer brands, including leading brands such as Anchor and Mainland, and sale of Sri Lankan and Australian businesses, was still under way. "We have appointed advisors to assist with assessing divestment options for our Consumer businesses and this work is ongoing ... [but] the businesses in scope for potential divestment are performing well."He said Fonterra wanted to maximise the value of these businesses for farmer shareholders.So far this year the co-operative has announced $375m of new facilities at three sites, but has moved to close parts of some Waikato factories, and looked to contract out jobs to India.Hurrell said a revised business strategy would be released next week with a "sharper focus" on its strengths and where it could best create value.Published with permission

A man has been arrested, and drugs and firearms seized, following a raid on a Winton address by Police on Manday (23 Sept).Detective Sergeant Mark McCloy said detectives from the Southland Organised Crime Group arrested a 28-year-old man and discovered an array of firearms and the Class B drug, MDMA, following the execution of a search warrant on the Winton address.McCloy said the items found were consistent with drug supply.Three firearms which were not being handled in accordance with the firearms licensing regulations, $1,860 dollars in cash, 4.8 grams of MDMA, and items consistent with drug supply were seized.The man’s firearms licence has been revoked, he said.A 28-year-old man has been remanded in custody due to reappear in the Invercargill District Court, Monday 28 October, on eight drug supply and driving related charges.This operation was designed to disrupt one of the sources of illicit drugs in our community, McCloy said.If you see any suspicious or unlawful activity please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Police, either via 111 if it’s happening now or 105 if it’s after the fact.

Southern councils have revealed their annual leave allowances, with the results showing some staff are getting more than what is standard.Under current legislation, the minimum entitlement for annual leave in New Zealand is four weeks per year.Last week, it was noted during an Invercargill City Council meeting that the chief executive had approved an increase in annual leave allowances for staff.In response to questions, chief executive Michael Day confirmed an increase had been approved for the standard four weeks to increase to five weeks.But there was a caveat — staff needed to have been continuously employed for four years.Day said the cost to council was an increased “annual leave liability” which would be a maximum of $75,000 for the 2023/24 financial year.He also noted the five-week increase had previously been available to staff once they reached their six-year anniversary.The change was made last year as part of a wellbeing initiative.At Southland District Council, annual leave entitlements were negotiated as part of individual employment agreements.A council spokesperson said a number of staff had negotiated leave which exceeded the minimum allowance.Environment Southland was still utilising a 30-year-old system which saw staff accrue an extra day of leave for the first five years they were employed.Once they reached a maximum allowance of five weeks total leave, the additional days stopped accumulating.Gore District Council had not reviewed its entitlements recently, but staff could access their leave before the 12-month entitlement period was up, a spokesperson said.At that council, staff generally received four weeks of leave except in cases where they had negotiated a different arrangement.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Invercargill residents living at a remote village inside a city reserve can remain in their homes — but there’s a catch.Once 35 years is up, those who call Coopers Creek home must pack up and leave, ending what will be more than 100 years of residence by that point.The cribs in the village, located about 15km from Invercargill, next to Whalers Bay, are "non-conforming" due to the reserve status of the land.On Tuesday, the council moved that annual licences at Coopers Creek be replaced by a 21-year licence with rights of renewal to a maximum of 35 years.In doing so, it looks to have landed on a solution to an issue which has hung over its head since 1992 when Sandy Point Domain gained reserve status.Cribs have inhabited the area since about 1950 but were allowed to stay on under an annual licence.The area is home to some unique structures, including this miniature stone house. Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDRThere are currently 17 licence holders in the area, and the council met with 15 of those in July to gauge support for proposed changes.Deputy mayor Tom Campbell said the residents he spoke to were resolute in their desire for a renewable licence in perpetuity.“In my view, having read everything and listened to people, I don’t think that is deliverable so long as there is a reserve.”Mana whenua representative Evelyn Cook spoke strongly about the fact a condition of occupancy at Coopers Creek was for short-term stays, saying leaseholders should be aware of limitations to living in the area.Cook said the council was not only being asked to close its eyes to “non-compliant permanent living arrangements”, but also issue longer leases with a right of renewal.That didn’t sit well with her because of mana whenua’s vested interest in the area and the fact that 35 years was longer than one generation.“We are committing our mokopuna’s mokopuna to something over which they have absolutely no input,” she said.Discussion on the topic lasted almost three hours and included verbal submissions from some residents.Ultimately, the council landed on the 21-year option with two seven-year rights of renewal.The recommended approach will be consulted on as part of the Sandy Point Domain Management Plan and requires final sign off by the Minister of Conservation.A baseline annual licence fee of $1,058 was also set, effective from July 2024 with an annual increase from July 2025.Should licence holders reject the proposed 21-year option, they will default to the status quo of an annual licence.Coopers Creek got its name from a cooper named Owen McShane who settled there in 1836, making whale oil barrels and cabbage tree rum.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Invercargill residents are unhappy with how its local council involves people in decision making, according to a survey.Swimming complex Splash Palace also took a dive in the council's annual residents' survey, with almost half of respondents not satisfied.But other areas have shown improvement, such as venues, events, and the quality of public transport.Invercargill City Council tracks community feelings through the annual residents’ survey.It covers a range of topics, from how frequently the library is used to the quality of the bus service.One of the lowest scoring outcomes in the most recent results was the council’s provision for getting people involved in decision making — coming in at just 22 percent.“The primary areas of concern were that the council doesn’t listen and that engagement opportunities are not advertised,” the survey explained.But, other areas scored markedly higher, with satisfaction for the library hitting 81 percent.Parks and open spaces reached 75 percent, while venues and events climbed from 31 per cent in 2021/22 to 51 percent in 2023/24.Satisfaction with swimming complex Splash Palace “declined significantly”, the report noted, dropping from 74 to 56 per cent over the past two years.Over that same time period, the cost of public transport had also seen a dip from 65 percent to 48 percent satisfaction, while the perceived quality of the service had increased eight percentage points to 46 percent.A total 78 percent of survey respondents said they never used the bus service.In response to questions, council chief executive Michael Day said the feedback received was invaluable, no matter what it was.“Although we are seeing some results that show room for improvement ... we are also seeing areas where we have taken on board feedback from previous years and satisfaction is increasing.”The survey was only one aspect of performance reporting, Day said, and he encouraged people to get involved with council activities such as consultation.“Our takeaway from this year’s results is that there is still room for us to improve to the satisfaction of our residents.”The survey is conducted online with participants able to complete it at any time during the year.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Environment Southland staff and contractors are now searching for wallaby near Te Anau and on Mount Nicholas after recent sightings of the pest were reported at both locations.South Island wallabies, introduced from Australia, are mostly found in the South Canterbury area. They are classified as an exclusion pest in Southland which means they were not currently in the region.The Te Anau search was triggered after a potential wallaby sighting (16 Sept) was reported near Te Anau's lake control gates.Environment Southland biosecurity and biodiversity operations manager Ali Meade said three staff members had searched the Te Anau target area yesterday and today (24 Sep), with a fourth expected to join the team tomorrow."The team is made up of staff members alongside one specialist pest control contractor.""Our focus has been on the area of scrub near the control gate for the Waiau River, as this is where the initial sighting, potential scat and detector dog indication were located," Meade said."If there is a wallaby it is likely one animal which has been transported into the region but until we find it, we cannot confirm anything further."Meade said both the Otago Regional Council and Ministry for Primary Industries were providing help and the Police were also aware of the operation.No further sign had yet been found, she said.Fiordland Golf Club spokesperson Dawn Dowling said golfers had been asked to keep an eye out for any wallaby following a request from Environment Southland.Dowling said Environment Southland staff had been on the course with their sniffer dog most of the day (24 Sept).They had also asked, and been given, permission to carry a gun if necessary, she said.Wallaby sightings have been recently been made near Te Anau and Mount Nicholas, sparking Environment Southland teams to search and locate the pest. Photo: DoCCLICK HERE to report a wallaby sighting.

Invercargill City Council’s temporary chambers are set for a spruce up amid issues with sound and live streaming.In May, the council shifted its chambers from the organisation’s main building — Te Hīnaki Civic Building — to the Victoria room at Civic Theatre.Decisions are still to be made on the ageing Te Hīnaki building, but the council has indicated it could take up to six years to sort permanent accommodation.A report prepared for Tuesday’s full council meeting proposed steps to make its temporary chamber “fit for purpose" while decisions are made on council's long-term home.That included renaming the room as Council Chamber and creating a reference group for upgrades.“It will be very clear to all members that the sound quality in the Victoria room is not as good as it could be,” the report said.“We have identified a number of reasons for that, including that the ceiling speakers were only designed for background music, not the robustness of a council debate.”Issues were also identified with the quality of the livestream, which the council believed could impact community engagement.A range of other changes were also put forward, including moving the refreshment area, reducing the size of the table at the front of the room, moving photos of Invercargill's mayors to the new site, and installing cabinets to display gifts from sister cities.Councillor Ian Pottinger had already put his name forward for membership to the reference group, which will also include two other councillors or mana whenua representatives.The council was in the scoping stage of the project, but hoped upgrades could be completed at the temporary venue by around March 2025.No budget had yet been established for the work.The exodus from Te Hīnaki Civic Building will see about 240 council staff relocate to other spaces over the next 12 months.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air