Four Southland teams competing at the New Zealand Marching Championships in Christchurch last month made Southland proud with their outstanding results against 38 teams from across New Zealand that took part in the competition. Gore-based Hokonui under 16, Coached by Renee Morgan and Tracy McDonald, took home 1st Championship Technical Drill team and 1st Overall NZ Champion Team. Hokonui under 12, Coached by Levana Philip, were awarded 2nd Champion Technical drill team, 1st Champion Display team and 2nd overall under 12 Champion team.Hokonui under 12 team. Photo: SuppliedInvercargill’s Southern Stars took home awards for 1st under 12 Plate Technical Drill team and 5th Champion Display, coached by Jess King and Susan Miller-Black. The Blue Jay under 16 team, coached by Carla Johnson, were awarded 6th Champion Technical team. ” All teams put in exceptional effort and dedicated hours of training to compete with the best of the best and it paid off. Most teams and officials will be taking a well-deserved break,” says Marching Southland Publicity and Promotions officer Sheree Hall.Blue Jay marching team. Photo: SuppliedTe Ara, the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, notes that marching as a competitive sport for girls and women was invented in New Zealand.It became popular from the late 1920s and 30’s as a nation-wide move to keep the country’s young women fit and healthy.Teams of women in matching uniforms competed in military-style marching, with elaborate and highly synchronised manoeuvres.Southern Stars under 12 marching team. Photo: SuppliedIn 1945 the New Zealand Marching Association was founded to promote, encourage and control participation in the sport, and the first national marching competition took place in 1946. Marching was most popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s when 300–400 teams competed.At first marching was for young women of working age, but later younger girls could also compete, and more recently young boys started to join the marching teams. In the 2000s there was also a grade for older women.Blue Jay Introductory. Photo: SuppliedMarching Southland was established in 1946 and today it has 8 teams of 7 to 14 girls each, and Blue Jay being a boys only team. Because marching was a uniquely New Zealand sport, there was no international competition, although teams toured overseas giving displays in England, Scotland and Australia.Hokonui under 16 team will soon be fundraising and training in preparation for the Australia and New Zealand Drilldance and Marching Tattoo held the Gold Coast in July 2023. Many coaches, chaperones and committee members marched, and now their children have followed in their footsteps, even moved from marching to coaching to give back to their sport.Hall says that competitive marching involves a lot of discipline and training.“Champion teams train up to 4 hours per week, while non-champion grades train for 1 hour per week. They train a lot, but have a lot of fun too,” she says adding that anyone can join marching.For more information reach out to [email protected] or find Marching Southland on Facebook.

Emergency services are responding to a serious crash on Mokoreta Tahakopa Road, Southland.Police were notified of the single vehicle crash at about 6.35am.Initials indications suggest one person has sustained critical injuries and another person has sustained serious injuries.The road has been closed while emergency services respond. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are underway.

Things aren’t exactly going to plan on the scoreboard for the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel but head coach Reinga Bloxham wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.“I always say it’s such a privilege to be in this role and it truly is. I don’t think there is any place I would rather be right now than here. Even though things are a little bit tough and dicey, it’s still where I want to be because it’s such a challenge to try and overcome,” she said.She will chalk up her 100th game at the helm of the Steel against the Trident Homes Tactix in Christchurch on Sunday and the milestone has prompted plenty of contemplation“I have been reflecting back and, perhaps given the way things have gone so far this season, thinking about how successful the franchise has been and I’ve been part of some very successful years with two premiership titles.“And then this year has presented another challenge and another opportunity to learn so much from being part of a team which hasn’t got the results in terms of actual wins yet. So it’s been a lot of learning because it’s not a place we’ve been before having to grind our way through this.Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel head coach Reinga Bloxham: Image Michael Bradley Photography“For me, that reflection has been that this job always provides opportunities to challenge you and grow your capacity as a coach. You are always learning and there’s always a new experience to have and I think that’s the thing that drives me and keeps me in this job. No two days are the same – even though you do the same drills and skills and stuff, it never actually pans out the same so that’s the enjoyment factor of the job.”Resilience has become an important trait for the southern franchise.“You can have everything meticulously planned and then wham, something else comes along and changes it all. The experiences I’ve had over the years have taught me that sometimes you just have to roll with the punches,” Bloxham said.Successes aren’t always determined by the scoreboard.“You can’t just always hang your hat on winning. You have to decide what success looks like for you as a team and as a person. Does success look like one of your young players being able to get out there week in and week out and play to the best of her ability or does it mean someone like Saviour Tui who has just worked extremely hard to rehab herself and come back in better condition than she was last year? There are so many ways to measure success.“Last week one of our goals as a team was for Georgia Heffernan to get an intercept and she got one so we were just so stoked about that. It’s about setting those little goals during a game so regardless of the result at the end we still feel like we are walking off that court winners.”Bloxham paid tribute to the calibre of those around her within the Steel’s management ranks and other coaches who had supported her development.“I always think I’ve got the best management group in the world because we are able to both challenge and support each other in that same space. I know I wouldn’t be half the coach I am today without them,” she said.“Coaching can sometimes be a very lonely role but when you have a great management team around you it feels like you are all in it together. We all come from a place of learning and want to be the best we can be as a management group.”Sunday’s ANZ Premiership game against the Tactix was another chance to change the narrative for 2023.“We’ve for nothing to lose and everything to gain and I think we are going to get to a point where we could absolutely have an impact on the outcome of this competition. We just have to take care of ourselves and keep growing and improving with every performance and see what opportunities it brings us,” Bloxham said.“For three quarters of the game against the Mystics last week we were right in it so I just want to see them go out there and be in it for the full four quarters. I want to see them go back to what their job is and try really hard to be better than they have been even in the previous quarter.”

-As a school, we are on the Enviro School journey and last week we held a Student Meet Up (assembly) to promote the Enviro School Principles which include: Empowered Students, Learning for Sustainability, Māori Perspectives, Respect for the Diversity of People and Cultures, and Sustainable Communities. The assembly was led by Jane Tagamoa who works for Environment Southland as an "Environmental Education Facilitator".Jane has started meeting with our Enviro School group on a regular basis. There is much more coming so watch this space as we go deeper led by our Enviro School group and Mrs Polaschek.  It is swimming season again at Myross Bush School!We have 9 daily lessons over three weeks finishing with our House Swimming Sports on Thursday 6 April.For Week 9 and 10 we are swimming Tuesday to Thursday each week. This week has gone very well and we expect that our ākonga will make good gains in their swimming with the consecutive lessons, predictable routines and caring instruction given by our Kaiako (teachers) and the pool coaches.Thank you again to the ILT and our Friends of School for funding this opportunity!Congratulations to our Year 6 ākonga who came 1st in the Year 5+6 Kids Lit Quiz in Gore this week.This group really know their books!Thank you Mrs Faulkner-McKenzie for preparing them and overseeing the day for our team.Myross Bush School Proudly Supported By Fiordland Escapes

A clinic to raise awareness about managing concussion for impact sport players was held recently by Rugby Southland (RS) and The Headache Clinic (THC).The event, which coincided with Brain Injury Awareness Week, provided sports players with the opportunity to have their medical and neurological baseline tested and recorded, serving as a reference point for future concussions and significantly reducing the risk of long-term damage.THC founder Helen Tufui said as many as 35,000 concussions occur in New Zealand annually and players who are returning to sport before the brain has fully recovered from concussion injury can lead to persisting symptoms. “It takes the brain three to four weeks to recover from a concussion injury, and another injury before full recovery significantly increases the risk for persisting symptoms,” Tufui said. To address this issue, sporting bodies have mandated stand-downs following a concussion injury, which should lead to a decrease in the prevalence of neurodegenerative disease later in life for these athletes.“The neck is often implicated in a concussion injury and has been found to be a key contributor to persisting concussion symptoms,” Tufui said.A 2016 New Zealand study found almost half of concussion injuries had four or more persisting symptoms a year after their injury. As such, appropriate care was crucial for concussion recovery.Tufui commented they wanted to acknowledge the importance of appropriate care for concussion and head injury.Rugby Southland CEO Steve Michel said it was great to be working collaboratively with THC team.“Rule number one for anyone involved in sport should be care and protection of the participant, and this initiative ensures we are looking after our people with the latest developments in concussion management, treatment and prevention,” Michel said.

New state of the art technology including remote web cameras, drones and Space Time Image Velocimetry (STIV) software currently being trialed around Southland, will allow safer and more accurate monitoring of rivers in flood, according to Environment Southland (ES).ES team leader hydrological response Chris Jenkins said images captured from remote cameras and drones would provide efficiencies for monitoring staff as well as useful information for Southland communities. “For staff, it means a safer way of capturing information during flooding as there’s no need to travel to the location.""This avoid putting people at risk in flooded waterways or them being cut off by flooded roads.""The images captured by web cameras at our river monitoring sites will add to the data already available that helps farmers and others make decisions, particularly during floods.”The STIV equipment had initially been trialled in Makarewa, and following testing, was installed at two sites in early 2021; one the Waikaia River and one on the Waikaka River.The site at the Waikaia River at Piano Flat was intended to provide data on high flows when road access is cut off. “The difficulty in accessing this site at high flows has meant we have only been able to measure 11 flows above 40 cumecs (cubic metres per second) since 1956.""Since using the new equipment at Piano Flat, we already have 55 measurements above 40 cumecs, including the capture of the highest measured flow at 240 cumecs last week (20 March)."“There’s no way we would have been able to gather data like that with our traditional methods of flow measurement as the road is cut off when it gets to 180 cumecs,” Jenkins said.The STIV technology can be captured by a fixed camera or drone, and the videos are then run through computer software that estimates the water’s speed and provides real-time river flow information.Fixed camera video can be started and will record remotely at any time. In addition to the STIV technology, ES is also investing is several web camera sites.The two projects will share some of the same infrastructure at the monitoring sites.The network of web cameras will allow images to be captured from multiple viewpoints, allowing for easy access to information like weather conditions, snow cover, water clarity and river flow, as well as site risks.ES is establishing three other sites, the Waihōpai Dam in Invercargill, Mataura River at Gore and the Oreti River at Three Kings, to join their first pilot study site at the Oreti River at Lumsden.

Southland-based law firm AWS Legal has three new partners, with the promotion of Senior Associates Tim Marshall (Invercargill), Jenny Denley and Eugene Roud (both from Alexandra).Marshall, who was born and raised on a farm in Western Southland, said he was excited to move into a position where the decisions were made."With my background, I have a deep understanding of the unique challenges that rural clients face. I'm proud to be able to use my breadth of expertise to help them achieve their goals," he said.Roud, said he was proud to have the recognition of the other partners, and to have what it takes to join the ranks and contribute to the growth of the Central Otago practice.He said his promotion would come with more responsibility but also freedom to direct his own work.Denley said she looked forward to serving her community in a more visible way.“I’m honoured to be able to have a voice for my team, and advocate for my community, team, and staff. I feel the firm has strong values, and I’m delighted to be a part of it,” she said.

Invercargill City Council has appointed the architectural design team that will create the city’s new museum.Australian architects Fjcstudio, together with Auckland firms Evatt Martin Architects and design Tribe have been selected to design the new museum building as part of Project 1225.Council Programme Director Lee Butcher said the project team was impressed with Fjcstudio, Evatt Martin and design Tribe’s application and believed they had brilliant vision capability for the city’s new museum.“Fjcstudio has won an impressive amount of architectural awards in their time. Their many notable designs include the Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.“We are absolutely confident they will deliver Invercargill an architecturally impressive building. Based on the extensive work they have already done, we can expect a modern and visually appealing museum that will make a great addition to our city.”Invercargill businesses will also be supporting the design team in the construction of the museum, Butcher said.On behalf of the team at Fjcstudio, Evatt Martin and design Tribe - Evatt Martin Registered Architect Neil Martin said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been selected as the architects for the new museum.“We are looking forward to spending a lot more time in and around the region, working together with the team and community on this significant project.”Project 1225 Lead Councillor Nigel Skelt said the appointment was another significant step forward for the museum development project.“We have been ticking along really well, and bringing these architects on board is another major milestone towards a beautiful new museum that our community can feel proud of.”Skelt was looking forward to seeing designs come out over the next couple of months, with a final concept design expected in August.“Now we can focus on the fun stuff - the designing of the actual building. Once people are able to see what our new museum will look like, I think they will really get excited.”CLICK HERE for more information.

The inaugural George Begg Festival, held last weekend (30 Mar-2 Apr), has been hailed a success after more than 2000 people attended to celebrate the achievements of Central Southland racecar constructor George Begg.A competitive motorcyclist-turned-engineer, Begg built 18 racecars in his Drummond workshop in the 1960s and 1970s.The retro themed motorsport festival also saw over 100 drivers take to the raceway, including kiwi racing stars Greg Murphy, Paul Radisich, David Oxton, Jim Murdoch and Barry Keen.Spectators dressed in theme for the inaugural George Begg Festival. Photo: Transport WorldFestival owner Scott O’Donnell says the long-term vision for the George Begg Festival is to create a must-do event for New Zealanders and international visitors, which creates a positive ripple effect for Invercargill’s accommodation providers, retailers, and hospitality businesses."We’d like the George Begg Festival to become the New Zealand version of the Goodwood Revival in the United Kingdom. We want the George Begg Festival to become an event that has huge name recognition, which people really want to be part of," he says.Among the highlights on the track was the sound of Formula One, and the return of Formula 5000, Formula Two, and Formula Pacific to Teretonga Park."Our next event, in 2025, will be a celebration of all things Italian in the motoring world – including the fine food and wine the country is known for."Transport World Events & Incentives commercial events manager Marie Kolasinski says the support of everybody who got behind the event has been huge."We know this was an entirely new concept, and it has been really gratifying to see the support everybody – from Southland families who came along for the day, the local food, beverage and retail vendors who backed us and got on board, people who travelled down from the North Island to attend, all of our drivers and support crews, our sponsors, our charity partner Cure Kids, and of course the Begg family – has given the George Begg Festival," she says."It was a huge four days, with multiple components, and we’re really appreciative to everybody who helped us bring the vision for the festival to life. We couldn’t have done it without that support, so from the entire team, I want to say an enormous thank you."As well as the three-day retro motorsport event, the George Begg Festival included the George Begg Long Lunch (held at Classic Motorcycle Mecca for VIP guests), the Begg’s Barmy Rally (a mystery scavenger hunt through Southland, with all proceeds from ticket sales donated to charity Cure Kids), and the glamorous Studio GB (the retro disco held at Bill Richardson Transport World).Kolasinski says the event will be held biennially, with the next one planned for 10 - 13 April, 2025."We want to continue developing the George Begg Festival’s potential, and create an event that is bigger and better every time. Roll on 2025!" she says.

Hot on the heels of their recent centennial race meeting the Wyndham Harness Racing Club have another major race day at Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham this Thursday (6 April).The day will feature the prestigious Group 2 Macca Lodge NZ Kindergarten Stakes run for 2-year-olds over 1609 metres with a stake of $45,000.The Kindergarten Stakes has been won by some distinguished past winners with horses of the calibre of Young Quinn, Matai Dreamer, Model Hardcraft and Master Mood saluting the judge.In addition to Macca Lodge’s support of the race, the Milne Family from Edendale, who have a very long association with the Wyndham Club will again donate a trophy, to be presented to the winning connections. Also on Thursday’s programme are the Hunter Family Handicap Pace run over 2400 metres for a stake of $20,000 plus heats of the Alabar Supremacy Stakes and a Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks heat.Add in a Dunstan Horsefeeds Gold Chip Final and the Linton Contracting Eastern Southland Trotting Cup and you have a great afternoon of racing.The first race is timed to start at 11.55am and with the Easter break commencing the next day it is the ideal time to start the holiday period an afternoon early.Admission will be free.

Police are investigating following a report of a deer being killed in the deer park of Martin Street, Gore.Police believe this has occurred over the weekend of April 1-2.This is a local park used by the community and surrounded by several residential houses, and Police want to hear from anyone who might have information about the incident.If you have information, or if you have private CCTV that may have captured anything suspicious, please call 105 and quote event number P054188136.You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Mary Baigent, will miss her pupils and staff when she retires on 6 April after more than 23 years as the principal of one of New Zealand’s most isolated schools.Originally from Nelson, Baigent came to Fiordland in 1999, having previously taught in numerous schools both in New Zealand and England including Southland rural schools.She was based in Auckland when the opportunity of becoming the principal of Mararoa School came up.She may not have expected to stay in this job for over 20 years, but once she made Fiordland her home, there was no looking back.“Mararoa is an amazing community – one of the schools you don’t want to leave,” Baigent says.Asked how isolation affects the students, she said that both staff and parents work hard to make sure isolation does not have a detrimental effect on the quality of the children’s learning.Mararoa School students with their retiring principal Mary Baigent. Photo: Supplied“Our students get a lot of opportunities they wouldn’t get in larger schools.""Our classes are small, below 20 students per class.""The Mararoa School Community do a lot of fundraising to provide additional staffing and resourcing necessary to maintain small class numbers.""Our parents are incredibly supportive of all our school programmes. The school is the hub of the local community,” she says.A lot has changed in New Zealand schools since the turn of the millennium, when Baigent started at Mararoa.National Standards came and went, changes to the curriculum had been introduced, and computer technology has taken schools by storm.The principal admits that teaching has become much harder than it used to be. “When I started teaching, school was more about reading, writing, mathematics and to a lesser extent science, social studies, PE, and the arts.""Since then there have been many changes to the curriculum, the most recent one being the introduction of Aotearoa New Zealand History.""Another issue is a growing number of children with different learning needs that schools have to accommodate.""Teachers are asking for more help, unfortunately, we don’t always get the extra funding required from the government for this.”As a teaching principal Baigent has been effectively doing two jobs, but she’s not complaining.“I love being a teaching principal, because this gives me the opportunity to work and be more in touch with the children and also to relate with the daily classroom issues that the teachers are dealing with,” she says.A long-term resident of The Key, Annie Roska’s association with Mararoa School goes back several decades.She worked as a teacher aide when her children attended it.Now her grandchildren go to Mararoa School as well.Roska couldn’t talk highly enough of the retiring principal.“She is highly professional, dedicated to her job, but at the same time has the ability to command respect and affection of her students.""She’s like the head of the family, loving, but very fair and always seems to be there.""She’s like that not only with the kids, but also with the stuff, which fosters a happy environment at school,” Roska says.As for Baigent’s retirement plans – she is moving back to her home town of Nelson where a new house is being built for her.She will fill her time setting up a new garden and hopes to do more walking, travelling, and making new friends.According to Roska, one endearing characteristic of the principal is her contagious laughter. “You come to the school and the first thing you hear is that great loud laughter.”Mararoa School students and staff will miss that laughter.

On the back of a commanding second quarter performance, the MG Mystics have inflicted a second hefty ANZ Premiership defeat on the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel. The Mystics were masterful with their transition from defence onto attack early in the game, paving the way for the 64-48 win over the Steel at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin as both teams paid tribute to one of the region’s great netballing stalwarts. The match marked the start of the Premiership’s Heritage Round and with it the Georgie Salter Memorial Trophy was at stake with the Mystics lifting the spoils in style. Beating the southerners by 26-goals in the opening round, the Mystics were on target to better that at halftime after a rollicking second stanza where they were commanding in all areas. But a determined Steel side rallied late in the third and fourth periods – led by defender Kate Burley – remaining in the fight and shaving goals off the difference.  Their biggest concern however was seeing young shooter Saviour Tui limp off early in the fourth quarter. Missing injured leader Sulu Fitzpatrick, the visitors started with Phoenix Karaka at the back and Carys Stythe at goal defence.  Michaela Sokolich-Beatson picked up the captaincy role for the match while Monica Falkner got the run at goal attack, delivering with an MVP performance. Tui, who has been returning to play from injury, got another start for the hosts while Ivari Christie got the nod for the wing attack bib allowing Sam Winders to play at wing defence. The Steel grabbed the first turnover of the game but were unable to convert – a familiar theme for the evening – and it was the Mystics who showcased their ability to score with speed, firing the ball into Grace Nweke. The tussle between Mystics wing Peta Toeava and Steel’s Winders was always going to be the one to watch and the duo delivered, the former taking the edge early on as she contributed heavily to nine long feeds into Nweke. Trailing by three goals with just over a minute to go in the opening spell, Burley went searching for a turnover outside of the circle and allowed the Steel to close the gap to 14-16 at the first break. But the Mystics threatened early in the second quarter to extend their lead to six as a couple of errors from the Steel’s young attacking unit proved costly. It was a change in gear from the visitors – the Mystics ability to punish with speed – as a string of seven goals silenced the Steel supporters in the stands.  Both teams made late changes in the half with Tui making way for Eseta Autagavaia for the Steel and the Mystics shuffling their defensive end as Sokolich-Beatson picked up the goal defence bib and Katie Te Ao came on to the wing. It did little to stop the Mystics juggernaut as they raced out to a 35-23 halftime lead. Steel coach Reinga Bloxham made a positional switch after the break with Winders moving to centre and Kate Heffernan taking the wing defence role while Tui returned to the shooting circle. The Mystics also reverted to the defence line which started the match and despite a few errors starting to creep into their attacking game, the visitors maintained their buffer on the scoreboard. Burley did her best to spark something into the Steel’s performance with a timely intercept at the mid-way point of the stanza but converting again proved the host’s Achilles heel as they were unable to chip away at the deficit. Both teams made changes again late in the spell with Te Ao returning to the wing and Renee Savai’inaea making a rare appearance at wing attack for the Steel. It was a stronger finish to the quarter from the hosts, going down by just two in the spell, but they still trailed 36-51 heading into the fourth stanza.Image: Michael Bradley Photography  

Teretonga Park has roared into life this weekend, thanks to retro motorsport event the George Begg Festival.The event which kicked off on Thursday will run until Sunday. Racing started yesterday (31 Mar) with a practice and qualifying day.Kiwi motorsport greats, past and present, including Greg Murphy, Paul Radisich, David Oxton, Barry Keen and Jim Murdoch are all on hand for the three-day festival of classic racing in Invercargill.Classes include HVRA, VCC, Historic Touring Cars, Pre-1978 Saloons, Ford invitational, and Porsche invitational, amongst others; commentator Donald McDonald – known as "the Voice of Teretonga", courtesy of his 25-year stint in the box at the southernmost FIA-recognised race circuit in the world – is at the helm behind the microphone.Hosted by Transport World and TW Events & Incentives (TW), organisers hope the inaugural George Begg Festival will become the Kiwi version of the Goodwood Revival in the United Kingdom.The event celebrates the achievements of the late George Begg, the Drummond-based motorcyclist turned engineer who decided to give building race cars a crack after reading a ‘how-to’ book.In the 1960s and 1970s, Begg built a total of 18 race vehicles from his workshop in the Central Southland town, His cars competed against some of the biggest names in motorsport and cemented his place in the history books.TW commercial events manager Marie Kolasinski says the team is thrilled at the support the concept has received from both locals and out-of-towners.While the classic racing remains a huge draw, organisers hope that the off-track entertainment will appeal to a broad cross-section of the public.Attendees are encouraged to dress up in clothing from the 1960s and 1970s. Off-track offerings include a retro beauty parlour (with hair and makeup provided by the team from Halcyon, and manicures from Ted&Co), live performances from The Beatgirls and the Invercargill rock and roll dancing club, a Kids Zone, classic car displays, and a variety of local food and beverage vendors."We know motorsport events and race meets are incredibly popular here in Southland, and throughout New Zealand, and we are really excited so many people have come out to get behind the George Begg Festival concept," she says. "It is a bit different to your typical race meet in the sense that the off-track offering is as much of a draw as the racing itself, and we’re really pleased to be helping celebrate what makes motorsport so entertaining with so many people."Pre-sales of tickets to the racing numbered at about 1,915 people and gate sales for Saturday were sitting at around 300 tickets, she says."There are a lot of smiling Southland faces around. It’s brilliant."Gate sales are also available for the final day of racing.

The Southland App's winner of double tickets to the internationally acclaimed Highland Dance Company of New Zealand's stage show 'Heart in the Highlands' has been announced.Congratulations to Judy Buchanan of Mosgiel.'Heart of the Highlands' is a modern and dynamic stage show featuring New Zealand's best of the best highland dancers.This show is in Te Anau for just two night only, as part of the 2023 Te Anau Tartan Festival.Performances are at 7pm on Friday 7th April, and 8pm on Saturday 8th April in the RealNZ Fiordland Community Events Centre, Luxmore Drive, Te Anau.CLICK HERE to book your tickets online. Numbered seating.CLICK HERE to find out more about the Te Anau Tartan Festival, including our elite highland heavyweight invitational, family friendly have-a-go highland games, community market, piping and dancing competitions and much more.

Two men have been arrested following a firearms incident on Wednesday evening (29 Mar) in Tuatapere.Southland Area Investigation Manager, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird said that about 11pm on Wednesday, Police received a report that a firearm had been discharged on Half Mile Road, Tuatapere.Police, along with the Armed Offenders Squad, executed two search warrants today (31 Mar) in relation to the incident.Two people were arrested and charged with recklessly discharging a firearm, aggravated burglary and unlawful assembly.A 25-year-old man was due to appear in Invercargill District Court today, while a 20-year-old man is due to appear in Invercargill District Court tomorrow (1 Apr).Cannabis and a vehicle were among items seized, Baird said.Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information on the incident should contact Police.Information can be provided to Police on 105, quoting file number 230330/5631 or provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Monowai and Te Anau (the Guardians) will celebrate their 50th anniversary in May (2023).Meridian Energy's underground power station at Manapouri. Photo: SuppliedThe government appointed lakes protection group was established in 1973, after a planned rising of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau for hydro-electric power generation was quashed by an incoming Norman Kirk-led Labour government.The failed plan, which would have also seen vast tracts of Fiordland's native forest flooded and destroyed, fueled a major public backlash and the Save Manapouri Campaign.The Guardians, now supported by the Conservation Act 1987, are tasked with ensuring the lakes remain in their natural state, free from any negative effects of hydro-electric power generation.  Guardians representative Madeleine Peacock said the establishment of the Guardians had been an international master-class in how development and conservation could work together for mutually beneficial outcomes.She said the anniversary was a significant event not only for the Guardians but for the environment that benefits from their protection, the local community who call these lakes home and all those who have fought for the protection of New Zealand’s environment over the years."The anniversary [would be] a time of reflection on the achievements of the Guardians over the past 50 years and acknowledgement of those who have given their energy, time and passion to maintain the gains made by the establishment of the group," Peacock said."It is also an opportunity to recognise the partnerships we have with Meridian Energy, Pioneer Energy and the Department of Conservation, as well as Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu who have representation on the Guardians.""We also hope the community can learn more about our work,” Peacock said.The Guardians will celebrate their anniversary with a weekend of events for past and current Guardians, which will include a tour of the Manapouri Power Station, a tree-planting ceremony, formal dinner and opportunity for the community to learn more about their ongoing work.Peacock is the granddaughter of original Lakes Guardian, Sir Les Hutchins.  

The relationship between Gore District Council's Mayor Ben Bell and chief executive Stephen Parry has broken down to the point another councillor will act as an intermediary between them.Bell became New Zealand's youngest ever mayor at 23 when he ousted six-term incumbent Tracy Hicks by just eight votes at October's local elections.The campaign was marred by dirty politics with false rumours regarding Bell's sexuality being spread by allies of the former mayor.It was understood that since the election Bell and Parry had shared a frosty relationship.At a behind-closed-doors extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday, the council noted the pair had been engaged in mediation since December.They also noted the breakdown in their relationship and voted to appoint another elected member to act as a go-between.Bell was also removed from the committee which oversees the performance of the chief executive.In a joint statement from deputy mayor Keith Hovell and the council's general manager community lifestyle services Rex Capil, the council outlined what was discussed at the meeting."The meeting was held in committee in accordance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act Section 7(2)(a) - to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons."The meeting was publicly notified on the Council's website Public Notice page on Thursday 23 March. It was also notified retrospectively on the Council's Noticeboard, in The Ensign, on Wednesday 29 March. These notifications are in keeping with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act."The extraordinary meeting was called by Gore District Mayor Ben Bell. All councillors were present at the meeting, which deputy mayor Cr Keith Hovell chaired."Both the mayor and chief executive Stephen Parry were given the opportunity to address the meeting and answer questions from councillors separately."At no point during the meeting was there a vote of no confidence in the mayor."No councillors contacted by RNZ were willing to discuss what took place during the meeting.Hovell did clarify that Bell was removed from the council's Chief Executive Appraisal Committee and Councillor Bronwyn Reid appointed in his place.RNZ understands there was discussion at the meeting of a vote of no confidence in Bell.Capil emailed RNZ to say "No motion was tabled or discussed".When asked if such a motion had been raised or discussed, Hovell said "no comment to that one".RNZ has been unable to contact Bell or Parry.In addition to the claims of dirty politics arising during the election campaign, the council has been beset by controversies this term.Bell's initial choice as deputy mayor - Stewart MacDonell - was removed after a majority of councillors signed a letter calling for him to go.That led to the appointment of Hovell with the unanimous support of council.Bell also faced controversy over his expenses, holding a retreat for elected members in Cromwell which was boycotted by some councillors, and his desire to hire an executive assistant.

Te Anau and Manapouri's urban rabbit population appears to finally be in the firing line after the Southland District Council (SDC) publicised yesterday (29 Mar) that rabbit pest control operations were to begin.Winton based New Zealand Conservation Services will commence rabbit control after Easter, along Te Anau's foreshore, from the rugby grounds to the Upukeroa River mouth.Operations will also be undertaken along Frasers Beach in Manapouri and on SDC reserve land on Manapouri Hillside Road.The work will involve both shooting and fumigation.Fiordland Community Board chairperson Diane Holmes said she had asked SDC last year (2022) if something could be done about the rabbit population after receiving a number of complaints.Holmes said the current control was a one-off response to the complaints, however she had also asked for a longer-term strategy around the problem."I'm sure with the way that rabbits enjoy each other's company, romantically, it will probably come up again no doubt in the not too distant future," Holmes said.Holmes said while no-one was specifically rated for pest control, ratepayers were rated for community facilities which included [council] parks and reserves."It's up to each individual landowner to look after their own patch under the Environment Act," she said.However Fiordland's urban Canada geese problem appears to remain unaffected by this latest control programme.They were "tremendously more complicated than rabbits" and crossed multiple boundaries of Department of Conservation, Environment Southland and SDC land, she said.