Gorge Road resident Gay Munro has been presented with a Community Service Award, for contributions over many years to both her community and conservation, by the Southland District Council and the Waihopai Toetoe Community Board.Southland District Mayor Rob Scott said it was an honour to bestow the recognition.“Gay sets the standard when it comes to community involvement.""The time and effort she’s dedicated to so many organisations and initiatives over the years is impressive, particularly in the conservation space,” he said.“The positive impact she has had not only benefits the community now, but it will also be long-lasting into the future for generations to come.“She’s looking after the past, the present and the future.”Munro was the Southland regional representative on the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust from 1997 to 2009 and traveled all over the district giving advice to landowners.She also held offices with the Waituna Landcare Group from 2001 to 2022, in period which saw stream plantings, the development of a sanctuary, replanting the gravel pit and organising informative field days on site.Munro continues to volunteer with the Southland Ecological Restoration Network (SERN), organising field trips and helping with various projects.In her local community of Gorge Road, Munro’s impact has been significant.After several terms on the former Gorge Road Community Development Area subcommittee, she served one term on the Waihopai Toetoe Community Board. Her previous governance experience included the Gorge Road School board of trustees and local swimming pool committee.As chair of the Gorge Road and Districts Heritage Society,Munro organises the annual bus trip to areas of historical interest, was involved in the bell tower project and is now leading the installation of a heritage shed and interpretation panels at the domain.Capturing the area’s tales, Munro wrote the book From Oteramika to Gorge Road and Districts. She shared her love of literature by establishing a book exchange at the Mokotua Hall.Other feathers in her cap include running table tennis and fish and chip nights at the hall, taking care of the Mokotua Recycling Centre, organising Anzac Day commemorations, and editing and distributing the bimonthly Gorge Road and Districts Gazette newsletter.

Update - Lorneville is now an eastbound closure only for those dates. Detour via Steel Road/Moore Road.Scheduled upcoming works in Southland district include:ROAD CLOSURESBridge 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.Town Centre (Te Anau): 25 AprilClosing Town Centre from The Lane to Lakefront Drive and Lakefront Drive from The Moose to Takahe Café to through traffic between the hours of 10am and 12 Noon on Friday 25 April. This is for the annual Anzac parade. A detour will be available via Bligh Street, Dusky Street and Te Anau Terrace. Felton Road (Mossburn): 28 April-2 MayClosing Felton Road from Roy Road to Dipton Mossburn Road to through traffic from 7am Monday 28 April until 6pm Friday 2 May. Alternative dates are Monday 5 May until Friday 9 May 2025. Access to the wind farm will be available from Dipton Mossburn Road. The closure is to replace a culvert near Roy Road. A detour will be available via Roy Road, Wreys Bush Mossburn Road and Dipton Mossburn Road. PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGLeamington Street, Waikaia: 14-28 AprilA new pedestrian crossing will be installed on Leamington Street, Waikaia, outside the Waikaia School. Work is scheduled to begin on 14 April with the aim of being completed two weeks. It may take longer depending on the weather. The road will not be closed during this work but will be controlled by single-lane traffic management. STATE HIGHWAYS (Highways South)Highways South work with temporary traffic lights or stop/go and temporary speed limits in the district this week (weather dependent): SH96 Wreys Bush-Nightcaps highway at Wreys Bush, for pavement renewalRoad marking:SH6 urban Lumsden – mobile operationSH99 Invercargill to Tuatapere – mobile operationSH97 – mobile operationSH98 – mobile operation Third-party work and events with traffic management in place this week:SH96 at Winton, stop/go for tree work (revised date) Useful linksNZTA 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.  To get notifications about road closures or water shutdowns in your area, download Antenno here: https://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/home/antenno/

**SH1 CLYDE ST/TWEED ST ROUNDABOUT CLOSURE**Please note that the Tweed St roundabout on SH1 Clyde St in Invercargill will be closed 24/7 from 9pm Sunday 13th until Tuesday 15th evening for resurfacing. In the case of poor weather, this may be extended.HPMV and heavy detour via Bond St bypass or via Rockdale Road/Tweed St/Conon St/Bowmont St (and reverse). Light detour, follow detour signage. Highways South work with temporary traffic lights and temporary speed limits this week:SH1 Clyde St/Tweed St roundabout full closure as above for asphalt resurfacingSH1 Bluff highway between near Stanley Township Road for pavement repairsSH1 Bluff highway between near McGorlick Street for pavement repairsSH93 Old Coach Road near Three Stones Road for pavement repairsSH93 Old Coach Road between Jeff Road and Owaka Valley Road for pavement repairsSH93 Old Coach Road near Range Road for pavement repairsSH93 Old Coach Road near Waddle Road for pavement repairsSH96 Wreys Bush-Nightcaps highway at Wreys Bush for pavement renewal Roadmarking:SH6 Urban Lumsden – mobile operationSH99 Invercargill to Tuatapere – mobile operationSH97 – mobile operationSH98 – mobile operation Third party work and events with traffic management in place this week:SH6 North Road Invercargill, lane closed for power cable replacementSH96 at Winton, stop/go for tree work (revised date) Upcoming work/events:April – SH1/SH6 Troopers roundabout, asphalt resurfacingApril – SH1 at Kekeno Place, asphalt resurfacingApril/May – 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.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardPlease drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Showers turning to rain later, heavy overnight Tomorrow: Rain clearing early, becoming fine Sunday: Cloud increasing, showers later Monday: Rain, heavy for a time, with a chance of snow flurries about the tunnel

A power company has received a formal warning for dumping equipment in a Southland waterway home to a variety of wildlife.In February, PowerNet was reported to Environment Southland by a concerned member of the public for leaving large metal structures on Motu Rimu Rd, just outside of Invercargill.Despite the company saying it did not leave any materials near a stream which could adversely impact the environment, the regional council was quick to identify a breach and began investigations.Environment Southland has now confirmed the water and land plan was breached, resulting in a formal warning and cost recovery of almost $2800.Council resource management manager Donna Ferguson said the fee was for staff time, the follow-up investigation, and review.“If there was another potential breach, it would be investigated in line with our usual investigation process and any outcome would be specific to the circumstances,” she said.PowerNet acting CEO David Stevens said his company accepted full responsibility and would pay the investigation cost.The issue had occurred as the result of “temporary storage of equipment within a natural modified watercourse”, he said.“We accept that in this case we fell short of the standards we expect - and our community should expect - and apologise unreservedly.”The matter related to a PowerNet project involving the installation of 21 metre-high power poles along Motu Rimu Rd.After the incident was first reported, the company said the structures were removed.“A metal pole liner and mesh frame were temporarily placed in the culvert alongside Motu Rimu Road to keep them off the road for safety purposes,” a spokesperson said at the time.The incident was reported by resident Jacques Nel who said the waterway was home to an array of wildlife including eel, trout, spoonbill, and heron.“At the end of the day, it’s heartbreaking to see something you’ve looked after that’s getting destroyed by muck and (what) looks like cement on top of the water,” he told LDR.Environment Southland said it was common for tidal streams to have a high level of diversity.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Work has begun to contain the contaminated contents of a historic landfill at Bluff’s Ocean Beach.The beach has been closed to the public since 2018 after contaminants, including asbestos, were discovered.An asbestos removal company has already cleared approximately 1.2 tonnes of contaminated material.DOC Operations Manager Murihiku John McCarroll said the risk of public exposure was considered extremely low, however further erosion would deteriorate the landfill, so there was a need to act.The next phase of the operation was to prevent future contamination and restore public access.“DOC and Invercargill City Council (ICC) are collaborating to install a rock seawall between the landfill and the beach,” McCarroll said.“First, waste will be excavated and sorted, reclaimable clean material will be used within the site and the rest will be removed for disposal at an authorised class A landfill.""Up to 6500 tonne of rocks will then be used to build a 90m long wall to prevent future erosion and secure this significant heritage site for the Bluff area,” he said.The coastal protection wall and landfill removal cost is around $3.5m and is being funded by DOC, ICC and Ministry for the Environment (MfE).The work is being carried out under guidance of the Ocean Beach Landfill Working Party which includes representatives from Environment Southland and Te Ao Mārama inc who represent Murihiku tangata whenua for resource management purposes.ICC Chief Engineer Russell Pearson said public safety will be paramount during the work being undertaken.“With work happening between April and June this year, there will be, at times, no access to the car park and beach areas. Restrictions will be publicly notified as early as possible,” Pearson said.Bluff Community Board Chair Ray Fife said he was glad to see progress.

Gloria Harris has been running a nohinohi little owl and ruru morepork rescue service for 30 years."I've probably cared for close to 300 birds," she told Country Life proudly.Recovering birds are homed in aviaries overlooking a flock of sheep on her 10-hectare farmlet near Invercargill.When Country Life called in she was about to catch and weigh a little owl that was found in the middle of the road after being hit by a car."I took him up to the vet as both eyes were swollen shut, and if you look at him now, you can see one pupil's really huge."Wrapped carefully in a handkerchief, the bird is weighed on the kitchen scales and checked. At 171 grams, it's a good size for a young adult, but it will be with Harris for a while yet.She said it's still adjusting to not having binocular vision, making it difficult to catch prey or land."There's a bit more green around the eye, so I'm hopeful that he may regain his sight. It's just going to be a time thing."Her passion for rescuing owls began after seeing one sitting on a power pylon. She was struck by how majestic it looked.A ruru chick Photo: RNZ / Lois WilliamsShe told a friend who looked after the aviaries at Queen's Park in Invercargill, who said chicks and injured owls are dropped off every now and then."I said I'd love to raise one, so she said I'll send the next lot round to you, so she did, and that's where it all started."The busiest time of the year is in early summer during the hatching season. This is when people often come across owl nests while cleaning up woodpiles."They're cavity dwellers, well some put nests in trees, but a lot of them would just find a cavity and that's where they have their chicks."More often than not, the chicks end up on Harris' doorstep, and once they can master a test flight down her hallway, then they go out to an aviary until they're up to weight."Then I pull down this soft release door, and when the owl's ready to go, they'll look at me, they're a bit suspicious, and then they fly away," she said showing Country Life round the aviary.Harris said there are only three species of owls in Aotearoa New Zealand."Officially there's two classes of native owls. You've got the morepork (ruru) and the little owl (ruru nohinohi), we've also got barn owls and apparently there's a bit of a flock of them up in Auckland now."The majority of the owls that she cares for are little owls."I get the occasional morepork, they're absolutely magnificent, but they're quite feisty and these are quieter to work with."Harris said it's a labour of lovem and when they're well enough to leave it can be a bit emotional."I always give them a little blessing before they fly away."Published by permission

Government agencies have been directed to use wool in the construction and refurbishment of their buildings "where practical and appropriate".Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson made the announcement at Parliament on Wednesday, alongside New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.The change in procurement rules - beginning 1 July - delivers on an NZ First-National Party coalition agreement to make wool the preferred option in government buildings.Patterson said the new requirements would demonstrate the government's support for the wool industry and farmers."We're walking the talk. This move will hopefully inspire private businesses to follow suit."Willis added that the move would help increase jobs and employment by providing more opportunities for local wool producers."The new requirement will encourage innovation in the building materials industry which will lead to more investment and new markets opening up."The new procurement requirements will apply to about 130 agencies, covering the construction of government-owned buildings that cost $9 million or more, and refurbishments of more than $100,000.Both ministers used the announcement to sing the praises of woollen fibres, whether in carpet, upholstery, insulation or acoustic panels.Willis noted sustainability and health benefits."Wool's natural qualities allow it to dampen sound and absorb pollutants, and woollen fibres contribute to healthier indoor environments by naturally regulating humidity and improving air quality."Patterson said the sector contributed $549m to the economy in the financial year ending 2024 from exporting processed and unprocessed wool products."Wool has been synonymous with New Zealand since the early settlers bought sheep here 200 years ago, and New Zealand remains the world's third largest wool producer after China and Australia, and accounts for about 9 percent of total world wool production."Patterson said the industry had been through a tough time of late due to competition from synthetic fibres in global markets and a decline in sheep numbers."The sector is turning the tide with wool prices now covering the shearing costs, but we know there is more to be done."The government procurement rules are also undergoing a wider review to "remove red tape".'Make wool great again'NZ First leader Winston Peters called the policy a "no-brainer"."Uptake of woollen fiber products by government agencies can help drive employment and regional development and world products, production locations, as well as encouraging sustainability and innovation in the building materials industry."Peters said New Zealand wool was the highest quality in the world and "highly sought after.""We are putting New Zealand wool first again," he said.Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the government is "all over the show" when it comes to its procurement guidelines."It was only a few months ago they were saying that schools and house builds needed to be done as cheaply as possible and they should use the cheapest materials possible, now they're saying they should be using wool."Hipkins said the government's decision-making is based around "which minor party is more dominant on the day."He said New Zealand First was "getting their way on wool", a position Hipkins agreed with."But clearly, if they took that same position on things like school lunches, they'd still be having quality locally produced fresh school lunches."They're not doing that, and I think that's a tragedy."Hipkins said using New Zealand based products is going to be better for the New Zealand economy.Willis responded to Peters, saying "let's make wool great again".She said the announcement was part of the government's "broader growth agenda"."It's another action in our plan to strengthen the New Zealand economy and make this a more prosperous country in a world that is daily becoming more complex."She said the directive will apply to new construction projects worth more than $9 million and to refurbishments worth more than $100,000, from 1 July."The factors agencies should consider when determining how to interpret this directive and whether the use of woolen products is practical and appropriate include cost, including whole of life, cost, compliance with New Zealand standards, technical and functional requirements, where wool performs particularly well, availability, sustainability and wellbeing."Agencies that choose not to use woollen products will have to explain why, she said, report annually to MBIE and have "clear records and articulation for their reasons for not doing so"."It's our hope there won't be very many reports like that."It will apply to public sector spending across 130 agencies.Published by permission

Visits to wildlife sanctuary Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara may soon come at an extra cost due to a proposed fee.A report on the island’s wharf has revealed a new fee of $4 per person, per visit, could come into play in a bid to ease pressure on local ratepayers.Ulva Island, off Stewart Island/Rakiura, is a pest-free sanctuary open to the public.“This proposed fee is focused on tourists and visitors that use the Ulva Island wharf, to generate funding for the ongoing repair and maintenance of Stewart Island wharves,” the report said.The cost would only apply if the wharf was upgraded, which was the main topic of the two-page document prepared for the Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Board’s Thursday meeting.Located at Post Office Cove, the embattled wharf is the only one on Ulva Island.The wharf at Post Office Cove is the only one on the island. It has fallen into disrepair and requires serious work (File photo). SuppliedRestrictions were placed on the wharf in September 2023 by Southland District Council which deemed it to be at the end of its functional life.In March 2024, council staff were directed to engage with the Hunter Family Trust about a potential transfer of ownership, but the organisation is still considering its options.But the significant repairs needed to prolong its life are yet to begin.The report showed council staff were still to receive engineering advice and plans so that a design could be finalised ahead of next steps.An engineer had been engaged to provide guidance on rebuilding the wharf, but their workload meant design advice was not available in time for the meeting.Stewart Island/Rakiura ward councillor Jon Spraggon would not be pushed for comment on the proposed $4 fee ahead of the meeting, but said last year the wharf had been a topic of discussion for the 17 years he’d been on the community board.The project has funding of around $900,000 earmarked from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund and Stewart Island Visitor Levy, which is set to increase from $10 to $15 per person in October.Despite being a predator free reserve, Ulva Island has battled rats in recent years.Since the beginning of 2024, there have been two instances where lone rats were discovered in traps on the island, prompting incursion responses.The rodents are capable of swimming to the island from nearby Stewart Island.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Investigators have concluded the pilot of cruise vessel Fiordland Navigator was asleep at the wheel when it grounded last year.The boat ran aground in Doubtful Sound on the 24 January, 2024.It was moderately damaged, including a small hole below the waterline, and several of the 57 passengers on board suffered minor injuries.Following a comprehensive investigation, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission released a report on Thursday noting it was "virtually certain the fatigued master fell asleep at the helm".Chief investigator of accidents Naveen Kozhuppakalam said operator RealNZ's policies didn't oversee exhaustion properly."RealNZ's safety system didn't monitor actual rest hours or effectively manage fatigue risks for sole-charge masters. And while the master held a valid medical certificate, there was no process to ensure ongoing medical fitness during the two-year certification period," he said in a written statement."Also the staff member responsible for safety oversight had an excessive workload, limiting their ability to manage fatigue risks."The report noted the master was on the sixth day of a seven-day swing."The master was very likely suffering from workload-induced fatigue that had not been recognised or mitigated by the operator's safety management system," the report said."This may have been compounded by a potential drowsiness side effect of a prescribed medication they were taking, but the Commission was unable to make a determination on this."Since the accident, Kozhuppakalam said RealNZ had improved its standards."They have strengthened fatigue policies, training, and work-hour monitoring. They have added a second person to the wheelhouse during navigation and reinstated the master's assistant role. And they have introduced a maritime resource planner role and adjusted responsibilities to improve safety oversight," he noted.Published by permission

A struggle to find new members and volunteers has forced organisers of one of Fiordland's major events, the Te Anau Tartan Festival, to call it a day.The popular Easter festival, run annually - and latterly biennially - since 2013, has been credited with attracting thousands each year to the Southland tourist town, as its traditional high-season comes to an end.Festival coordinator Kirsty Pickett said the event had grown to the point where the small organising committee had struggling to maintain the time, energy and finances required to keep going.A young competitor gets a helping hand in the 2023 'Toss the Caber' have-a-go field event that the Tartan Festival had become famous for. Photo: Supplied“Most of our committee have been there from the outset and were feeling – quite rightly – like they’d done their bit, but unfortunately we’ve really struggled to entice any new people prepared to commit for any length of time,” she said.The first Tartan Festival was staged at Easter 2013 and ran over three days.The programme included a whisky tasting competition, highland piping and dancing events and the introduction of a have-a-go-style highland games that encouraged attendees to try their hand at modified versions of the caber toss, sheaf tossing, rock carry and a farmer’s walk.Te Anau locals compete in the very first Tartan Festival Tug 'o' War on the grounds of Te Anau Lodge in 2013. Photo: Kara MathiesonThe main events were held outdoors on the grounds of Te Anau Lodge.As the festival grew, the location was moved, first to Te Anau Primary School and later to the Fiordland Events Centre, also utilising the Memorial Park to the rear of the event centre.Festivities were also condensed back to one day.Highland dancers perform in the Tartan Festival's massed fling at Te Anau School in 2013. Photo: Cameron Campbell“We formed great alliances over the years, with the Te Anau Community Market, Southland Highland Dancing teachers and Judges Association, the Fiordland Athletic Club, Fiordland Vintage Machinery Club to name just a few.""Without the support of various other groups in the area, we would have really struggled.”The festival called a hiatus in 2018 when it became clear that the appeal of pop star Ed Sheeran’s Dunedin concerts that Easter weekend was going to strip the Tartan Festival of both helpers and attendees."Massed Pipers and drummers at the 2013 Tartan Festival put on a performance. Photo: Chris Watson/Profocus"It was back in 2019 then derailed again in 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic."Shortly after the 2021 festival, the committee successfully applied for a Fiordland Regional Event Fund grant – a government initiative designed to create new events, and expand and grow existing events, to entice visitors back to the regions post-Covid.Big plans were made, including inviting the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand to perform its Heart of the Highlands stage show.The internationally acclaimed Highland Dance Company of New Zealand performed two sell-out shows at the 2023 Tartan Festival. Photo: SuppliedHowever, these had to be shelved with the reintroduction of limits on the size of public gatherings.Fortunately, the funding was able to be carried over to the following year and the committee also had time to think of more new ways to expand.So, in 2023, the festival again spanned three days with two performances by the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand, its biggest ever piping and dancing competitions, an invitational event featuring eight of the country’s best Highland Games athletes and a series of piping and dancing workshops with leading tutors and attended by youngsters from throughout the country.The Tartan Festival's popular Whisky Tasting event in 2014. Photo: Southland App“That was an extremely hard year to beat,” Pickett said.“We set the bar really high. It excited us because we could see the huge potential in what we had created but the workload was enormous and the cost of maintaining that level was daunting.”Given that the festival had, in effect, only been staged biennially since 2017, the first option was to continue that pattern.Celtic fusion rock band Highland Storm performs at the 2024 Tartan Festival. Photo: Chris Watson/Profocus“Instead of running a full festival in 2024, we opted instead to host a concert by Highland Storm, with the idea of doing something smaller like that in the years opposite the festival. It was a sellout but still didn’t generate the income that we needed going forward.""That coupled with members of the committee having indicated their intention to retire and no new blood coming through to take their place meant that we just didn’t have the wherewithal to continue.”Pickett said that while it was sad to say goodbye, they were also happy to have ended on a high.Staff from the Olive Tree 'tartan-up' for the annual Te Anau Tartan Festival in 2015. Photo: Southland App“Our aim for the festival was always to host an affordable, family-friendly event that championed Scottish arts and culture in the south of New Zealand, and we feel very proud that we achieved that.”The Te Anau Tartan Festival also earned accolades from external organisations.In 2014 it was regional runner-up in the Arts and Culture section of the Trustpower Community Awards then in 2024 it was presented with an innovation award by the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand.

A move towards repurposing land at a large Invercargill reserve has cleared another hurdle.On Tuesday, Invercargill councillors voted to adopt the Donovan Park Reserve Management Plan — a statutory document for the 79 hectare park on the northern outskirts of the city.In doing so, councillors paved the way for next steps to be taken in seeking the removal of reserve status for the area, of which 37 hectares has already been earmarked for potential alternative use.Mayor Nobby Clark has been a vocal advocate of freeing up the land, previously saying he had received contact from aged care and retirement developers who were interested.Just 26 submissions were received during the second round of consultation for the management plan, with four supporting the sale of some land and 12 not supporting revocation.Clark questioned how much weight should be put on those given the low numbers.Chair Darren Ludlow believed there had been some consultation fatigue due to the reserve also requiring a master plan — consulted on in late 2023 — plus confusion regarding discussions of “carving up” the park, which was separate.Councillor Ian Pottinger was the sole person to vote against adoption, taking exception with a diagram included in the plan showing revocation which he felt was another step.“I believe it contaminates this document,” he said.Ludlow accepted Pottinger’s point, but felt the council couldn’t get to where it was by ignoring what it had heard.The decision to start the process to revoke reserve status was approved in November, but required the management plan to be adopted before it could proceed to the next step.Points raised in submissions included active transport, food resilience, wetlands and ponds, and options for a sports hub.The decision to revoke reserve status was approved in November, but required the management plan to be adopted before it could proceed to the next step.There are still a number of hoops to jump through for the council including consultation with key stakeholders, the creation of a proposal, and ministerial sign-off.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

If an oil spill polluted the pristine waters of Jackson Bay in South Westland, clean-up crews from the West Coast and Southland would be on the job in a matter of hours.And they would know what they were doing.That was the aim of the first joint oil spill exercise on the Coast last week using teams from both the West Coast Regional Council and its southern equivalent – Environment Southland.DOC staff also took part.Maritime New Zealand which set up the exercise, says it was designed to test the councils’ ability to deal with a spill in waters far from their bases.“One of the risks in that very remote part of the country is that it’s quite a logistical nightmare to get there,” MNZ’s training manager Mick Courtnell said.“So we decided bring the two councils together, get them to share their equipment and capability and find out what they can or can’t do.”The twenty or so staff were confronted with an urgent (imaginary) scenario to test their skills.A tanker fuelling a fishing-boat by hose on the Jackson Bay wharf, had somehow fallen into the sea and begun to leak diesel, they were told.MNZ’s training manager, Mick Courtnell says ideally there are fail-safe processes to make sure that could not happen.“But there’s always the chance of human error or equipment failure and the goal of the exercise was to get people doing stuff as a blended team, and work with people they hadn’t worked with before.”The Southland and West Coast teams worked well together on their response strategy, Courtnell said.Every Regional Council has a stash of oil spill response gear provided by MNZ, but they would have no way of lifting a truck and trailer unit off the seabed.“We work on a spiller-pays basis so there’d have to be a contract with the tanker owner to organise a crane and divers to lift it out…while we contained the spill with booms.”Drones could also now be used to detect the spread of an oil spill and its density.The two council teams had built up a good safety plan on the spot; revalidated their skills and tested all the equipment, Courtnell said.“There were a couple of minor issues with kit to sort out like flat batteries... and we’ll be recommending that assessing safety risk is a high priority for the future."Under the Maritime Transport Act, MNZ is responsible for seeing that the country’s 16 Regional Councils can respond competently to minor oil spills in their areas.“We run 32 checks a year in each region in turn; give them scenarios like the Jacksons Bay one, provide the equipment and train them up.”The regional responders were people with day jobs with the councils or DOC, Courtnell said.“So you’ve got people who 20 minutes ago were in the office doing data entry or out in the bush doing pest control.“And suddenly they’re called out and they have to turn to with their response gear, and in that short space of time you have to get them into team dynamics very quickly.”The regular oil spill exercises ensured the responders and their gear were safe and still fit for purpose, Courtnell said.The exercises were funded by the Oil Pollution Fund, from levies on commercial shipping, and came at no cost to the ratepayer or the taxpayer.“Pretty much all ships visiting our ports pay this levy; it’s also used for navigation, wharf maintenance and stevedores but big chunk is for pollution.”That also paid for the councils’ oil spill gear and small national team which deals with major spills.For eight months, Mick Courtnell was MNZ’s on-site commander in Tauranga after the container ship Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef in 2011 causing environmental mayhem.The West Coast was unlikely to see that sort of heavy oil pollution since oil tankers and container ships used east coast routes, he said.“The most likely scenario for the Coast would be a fishing boat or coastal trader in distress, with diesel and lighter oil spills or possibly a cruise ship in trouble in Fiordland - they use diesel as well.”For that reason MNZ kept a stash of oil spill equipment at Te Anau, close to Milford Sound, Courtnell said.It also stored gear in Westport and Invercargill.Every regional council had a plan to deal with an oil spill in the more likely locations – including everything from accommodation to vehicle hire and food providers, he said."Otherwise it could take days to get people and gear into the area. But the exercises mean people can ease into a reasonably familiar environment because they’ve been there before."Maritime NZ would be filing a report to its Director and the councils on the Port Jackson exercise.“If there’s an opportunity to have the two councils work together again, we’ll do it,"Courtnell said.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Road is now clear.Due to a crash, the northbound lane is closed between Bond Street and Tweed Street.Please note southbound is unaffected.Alternative Route:Northbound traffic turn left on to Bond Street, then right on to Tweed Street, then left back on to SH1.

Southland District Council (SDC) has confirmed an average rates increase of 7.23% ($5.2 million) for the 2025/2026 year.An average residential property will see rates increase by around $345, or $7 per week, while average farms will be around $190 (3%), with dairy farms $900 (7%), forestry property $600 (15%), lifestyle blocks $245 (10%), commercial properties $700 (7%), industrial properties $460 (8%), mining $160 (7%) and other properties $790 (6%).SDC has opted not to hold any formal consultations on this year's Annual Plan as the rates rise was less than its 7.9% projection and still aligns closely with its 2024-2034 Long Term Plan.The biggest portion of this year's rates increase is an allocation of $2.7 million for a planned larger roading programme.However SDC failed to receive all the expected funding from NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) for its full programme which has meant not all the planned work can be started.Councils rely on just over 50% funding from NZTA to carry out their roading projects.The shortfall in NZTA funding means $7 million of SDC's allocated roading funds will show as a surplus over the three-year funding period, unless other government funding is found.Should any funds remain left over, then SDC will use them to either pay off roading debt or to be held in the roading rate reserves.This year's rates have also been influenced by $1.66 million which is due for stormwater, wastewater and drinking water costs, from increased depreciation funding, loan and principal repayments, maintenance increases, insurance and electricityProperty owners can view their estimated rates on the Council’s website: southlanddc.govt.nz/annualplan2025.

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardExpect normal travel times & please drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Showers, with brief snow flurries about the tunnel, clearing from afternoon Tomorrow: Partly cloudy, chance of showers on west Thursday: Showers developing Friday: Showers turning to rain later

Invercargill bus fares are set to increase after a central Government directive moving public transport funding from a rates subsidy system to user-pays.The change will be included in the Invercargill City Council's (ICC) 2025/2026 Draft Annual Plan, which is currently open to public submissions.ICC Councillor Grant Dermody said that while the Council sets fares, it must adhere to national policies aimed at making public transport financially self-sustainable.“The Government wants to see public transport systems throughout the country operate in a more financially self-sustainable manner.""At the moment, each bus trip in Invercargill costs $20 to deliver, but fares range between $1.10 and $3, representing a significant shortfall. ""Meanwhile, about 65 percent of our passengers either pay a discounted rate, or travel for free,” Dermody said.The proposed fare increase is expected to generate $266,000 annually, covering 8% of the $3.19 million annual cost to run the service, still below the Government’s 17% target for 2025/2026.Residents are encouraged to share their views on the proposed changes by submitting feedback before the consultation closes on April 13.Hearings will take place throughout April, with the final plan set for adoption in June.For more information or to make a submission, visit www.letstalk.icc.govt.nz or pick up forms at local civic buildings and libraries.

British comedian Jimmy Carr is, due to demand, set to perform a second 9.30pm performance of his 'Laughs Funny' show in Invercargill's Civic Theatre on 7th January 2026.Carr is well known to New Zealand audiences, for his quick wit, dark humour and distinctive laugh, and of course his appearances on television shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats and 8 Out of 10 Cats does Countdown.His 'Laughs Funny' show promises to include all the fast-paced and edgy one-liners Carr has become famous for.Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny opens his 5-month Antipodean tour in Invercargill on Wednesday 7th January before finishing the New Zealand leg in Auckland on Wednesday 20th January.The show then moves to Australia, starting on the Gold Coast on 28th February before finally concluding in Melbourne on 6th May 2026.Tickets are on sale now with southern prices from $147-$170 in Invercargill (7 Jan), $136-$170 in Dunedin (8 Jan) and $158-$226 in Queenstown (9 Jan).Shows are at 7pm, with possible extra shows being scheduled for 9.30pm.CLICK HERE for tickets or to find out more.

28-year-old self-employed Awarua dairy farmer Cameron Smith, will represent the Otago Southland region at this year's FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Finals, to be held in Invercargill on 3rd-5th July.Smith, a Thornbury club member, emerged victorious after winning the south's regional finals at the Winton Racecourse on Saturday (5 Apr).Smith has had a busy few weeks after also being named last week, along with Nicole Hanning-Smith, the 2024 Otago Southland Share Farmer of the Year in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.Smith said he definitely hadn't expected the win but was really stoked to be heading to the Grand Final.“I’d never really pictured myself winning the whole thing, so it’s pretty cool to be representing Otago Southland, especially with the Grand Final on home turf.”This was Smith’s second time competing in the Regional Final.“It felt like a fresher format this time around, and I really enjoyed it – especially the farmlet section which tested our practical skills,” he said.“The way the day was run definitely made it more challenging.”“It was a strong line-up, anyone could’ve taken it out.""Having someone like Zac Thomas there, who’s already been to a Grand Final, really pushed us and kept us on our toes,” Smith said.The competition also includes sections for both primary (AgriKidsNZ) and secondary (FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year) school students.Over 100 primary school children participated in the AgriKidsNZ competition with Sam Hartshorne, Cailyn Joyce, and Hannah Stewart from Blue Mountain College emerged as the region’s victors.Harry Moore, Connor Dickson, and Dane Tauti from St Peter’s College placed second, while Dusty Pont, Angus Dobson, and Jake Gray from Hauroko Primary School secured the final ticket to the Grand Final.In the FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year competition, Angus McFadzien and Tori Vande Sandt took the title, ahead of Ben Hartshorn and Manaia Tiller from Blue Mountain College.Smith, along with the top AgriKidsNZ and FMG Junior teams, will represent the Otago Southland region in July’s Grand Final in Invercargill.The FMG Young Farmer of the Year is New Zealand’s most prestigious agricultural competition, celebrating the skill, knowledge, and leadership of the next generation in the food and fibre sector.Now in its 57th year, the competition continues to grow, with a prize pool exceeding $90,000.