An open ocean tugboat is on its way to rescue an oil and chemical tanker stuck off the coast of Stewart Island.Maritime NZ said the Golden Mind tanker got into steering difficulties west of the island on Wednesday, and the ship and crew had remained there since then."We have been informed that the owners of Golden Mind has contracted the ocean-going tug MMA Vision to provide towage assistance," Maritime NZ said."Towage arrangements are made between the commercial parties involved - in this case, Golden Mind's owners and MMA Vision."MMA Vision set off from Wellington on Thursday and was expected to reach the stuck tanker Sunday afternoon.MMA Vision (marked in blue) set off from Wellington on Thursday and was expected to reach the stuck tanker (marked in red) Sunday afternoon. Photo: Marine TrafficThe plan was to tow the vessel to Timaru.No distress calls had been issued and its Rescue Coordination Centre continued to monitor the situation, Maritime NZ said.The MMA Vision tugboat had been contracted by the government as a standby tug for the Cook Strait ferries.

Updated: the road is now open (2pm, 13 Sep).A crash at Fishing Camp Road, Te Wae Wae Bay, closed State Highway 99The road has since reopened.

MetService have issued a severe 'Orange' weather warnings for Southland, from 10am till 5pm today (13 Sept).Graphic: MetServiceThe service has forecast severe gale west to southwest winds of up to 120km/hr in exposed places.The area extends from Gore south and Stewart Island.Dunedin southeast of Middlemarch and Clutha southeast of Tapanui are also likely to be affected.MetService said that damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures was possible. They also warned motorists that driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.A strong 'Yellow" wind watch was also issued, for the same period, for North Otago, Central Otago south of Cromwell, Southern Lakes south of Arrowtown, and remaining parts of Dunedin Clutha and Southland outside the Warning area.Meanwhile the Milford Road, SH94, remains closed due to an increased avalanche hazard and overnight snow.As at 7,30am, NZTA said assessments of avalanche conditions were presently taking place at present and then snow clearing would begin.The highway is expected to reopen around midday but close again at 5pm for more snowfall.Indications are that once the road opens on Sunday morning it will remain open until Monday, they said.

Details from a private meeting about an embattled bird sanctuary in Southland will remain secret for now, despite strong community interest.Uncertainty has surrounded Te Anau Bird Sanctuary/Punanga Manu o Te Anau since earlier this year when DOC announced it was “exploring alternatives” to its management and later revealed it would rehome birds.The sanctuary, on the shores of Lake Te Anau, is home to a range of native birds including takahē.The Te Anau bird sanctuary is home to a range of native birds, but many are set to depart. Photo: SuppliedOn Tuesday, the department met with Fiordland Community Board chair Diane Holmes following receipt of an impassioned letter supporting the site.Holmes was optimistic after the meeting that the sanctuary’s next steps would be positive as key stakeholders worked together.“I will say after that meeting yesterday we are satisfied that they’re (DOC) considering all their options.”But she would not divulge what was discussed, and DOC has remained equally tight-lipped.“We had a really positive meeting with the board chair where they outlined their concerns and we spoke about the challenges we face,” DOC operations manager Te Anau John Lucas said.Lucas confirmed his organisation had made a "tough decision" early in the year to transition out of management.DOC announced in July it would begin reducing hours and rehoming birds — despite a public consultation still being in progress — because it needed to redirect resources to other work such as infrastructure on predator-free islands.Takahē will stay, but kōwhiowhio/whio had already been rehomed, DOC said. Pāteke/brown teal and Antipodes Island kākāriki would follow at a later date.Following the July announcement, Holmes wrote that the pace and approach of bird removals had caused community unease and also expressed concern about potential tourism impact.A kākā known as "Charlie girl" was shifted from the Te Anau sanctuary in 2024 after spending more than two decades there. Photo: SuppliedThe site is owned by Southland Fish & Game which has enlisted the help of Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka to help create a vision for it; the rūnaka in turn got regional development agency Great South onboard.Great South general manager regional strategy Bobbi Brown said 90 submissions were received during a three-week consultation ending 3 August and hoped the next steps could be shared soon.Rūnaka deputy chair Sue Crengle said in an earlier statement that the sanctuary was a taonga: “a treasure for our people and our region”.According to background information provided by DOC, the department became involved with the sanctuary in 1987.DOC said it was thought the site was set up by the Southern Acclimatisation Society before becoming a Department of Internal Affairs hatchery in 1945.Southland Fish & Game said it received ownership of the site from DOC in 2005.DOC's February announcement about managing the sanctuary followed a 2024 review which assessed its condition, purpose and sustainability.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Invercargill’s Queens Park has a new attraction that’s turning heads—and minds. A giant outdoor chess board has been unveiled at the park’s playground, offering visitors a chance to enjoy fresh air while sharpening their logic and problem-solving skills.The installation, completed earlier this week by the Invercargill City Council’s Parks and Recreation team, was quickly put to use by members of the Invercargill-Southland Chess Club.President Gary McLean and Treasurer Richard Christie were the first to test out the oversized set.“It’s a dream come true for us,” said McLean.Manager Parks and Recreation Caroline Rain, Invercargill-Southland Chess Club Treasurer Richard Christie and President Gary McLean set up the new chess board. Photo: Supplied.“We always wanted an outdoor chess set somewhere in the city, and we couldn’t have asked for a better location than in the middle of Queens Park.”The idea was inspired by similar setups seen around the country, according to Caroline Rain, Manager of Parks and Recreation.“As soon as we took down the construction fences and had the pieces set up on our new board, we had people walking past and wanting to play,” Rain said.“It’s a simple addition, built by our staff for very little cost, but adds a lot of value to the playground and Queens Park.”To protect the pieces from damage or being blown away, they will be stored indoors each evening.A sign explaining the rules of chess will also be placed nearby to help newcomers get started.Christie, an internationally accredited chess official and trainer, sees the board as more than just a game—it’s a teaching tool.“The large board will be a useful tool for demonstrating different techniques to groups, and it could be the focal point of an outdoor chess tournament,” he said.Chess has deep roots in Southland, with the region’s first club dating back to the 1860s.The current Invercargill-Southland Chess Club was re-established in 2017 and meets weekly on Friday nights for social games and tournaments, open to all.McLean hopes the new installation will raise awareness and encourage broader participation.“Chess is accessible to anyone, regardless of gender, age or culture,” he said.“The outdoor board is an open invitation to anyone visiting the park to give it a go.”The giant chess board is located beside the Cheeky Llama Café and is available for public use during the café’s opening hours, typically from 9am or 10am until 4.30pm daily.

A map of sites where you may experience delays on Southland state highways due to maintenance or third-party contractor work next week, can be found here, and these sites are listed below:   Highways South work with temporary speed limits this week:SH1 Bluff highway between Clifton and Motu Rimu Road, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH93 Old Coach Road between Slopedown School Road and Hurst Road, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH94 Te Anau-Mossburn highway at The Key, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway between Hedgehope and Springhills, traffic lights for drainage workSH96 Winton-Wreys Bush highway at Heddon Bush, traffic lights for flanking/drainage work for upcoming road renewalSH96 Wreys Bush-Nightcaps highway between Wreys Bush-Mossburn Road and Lynch Road, traffic lights for road renewal Mobile traffic management on the network:There will also be a mobile operation working in the following locations. Please pass with care:SH1 Main Street MatauraSH1 Edendale HillSH1 Waipahi highway GoreSH6 AtholSH6 Caroline ValleySH6 Dipton TownshipSH96 Winton Hedgehope highway – Springhills AreaSH96 Ohai Nightcaps – Tinkertown Area There will also be work happening in the Invercargill inner-city area of SH1 Tay St, SH1 Clyde St and SH6 Dee St from Monday to Wednesday evenings (6pm – 4am) mostly under a mobile operation, but there may be turning restrictions. This work is weather dependent so will be postponed in the event of poor weather. Third party work and events with traffic management in place this week:SH1 Edendale-Woodlands highway near Edendale, contra flowSH6 Athol-Five Rivers highway at Athol, alternating flowSH96 Glencoe highway near Te Tipua, alternating flowSH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway near Florence Road, alternating flowSH96 Winton-Hedgehope highway at Hedgehope, alternating flowSH99 Orepuki-Riverton highway at Colac Bay, alternating flow 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 OpenLow Avalanche HazardRoad status:CLOSING from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) 5pm Overnight snowComments:The highway is closing tonight (Friday) at 5pm. UPDATE - An increased avalanche hazard, and further snowfall, is forecast overnight tonight and into Saturday morning which will require a reopening time of around midday. This is for us to review the avalanche conditions and then clear snow. A further closure Saturday night is very likely as forecasts indicate snow to likely continue most of the afternoon/evening. This means there will be only a narrow opening window. Update at 5pm.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Snow showers above 800m Tomorrow: Snowfall above 700m, heavy at timesSunday: ShowersMonday: RainTuesday: Rain

An independent review of Southland’s community boards has provided a quirky insight in how local meetings can switch from gossip to "chilling" page turning when members get down to business.The district council commissioned its first health check of the boards since 2021, and included the results in a recent meeting agenda.It listed a range of improvements including an induction at the start of the term, an annual community board get-together, and better agendas.But it also included a humorous observation from report writer Elizabeth Hughes on changes in behaviour amongst members.Hughes said there was a contrast in how people behaved as humans and as board members, with relaxed conversation often giving way to a more serious atmosphere.“In one case, a room filled with local gossip, good conversation and laughter went entirely silent. And all you could hear was the chilling sound of pages being turned, followed by rote reading of resolutions.”Community boards did not have to follow all the rules of formal council meetings and were allowed to have a more relaxed approach outside of making decisions, she noted.The report canvassed anonymous feedback from 30 board members across the region, highlighting challenges with agendas, workshops and “rubber stamping”.One member complained too much information was provided, saying it often went unread.“It ties us into talking about a lot of council-speak and wastes time.”While “rubber stamping” had improved since 2021, there was still a sense amongst some that their decisions were irrelevant.“In staff’s opinion we are volunteers and not seen as very skilled,” a member verbalised.One member also said they probably wouldn’t stand again because the rules made it “very awkward” to speak up.Despite the criticism, respondents rated their community board’s performance as above average and believed support from council was much improved.Advice for improvement included creating a handbook, allocating buddies and improving resources in areas such as remuneration, business cards and email addresses.Southland district is home to nine community boards, ranging from Fiordland to Stewart Island/Rakiura.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

We are incredibly proud of our performance at Polyfest on the 20th of August. It was the third year we have performed on the Mihāro stage and we were grateful to have a number of Sacred Heart supporters in the audience.The students performed Ka Waiata, He Hōnore and E Minaka Ana , followed by the Tahu Poitiki haka.Students performing for the Polyfest on stage. Photo: Supplied.A special note of thanks to Matua Troy for giving his time to support and the play guitar for us and Kay Erskine who sewed a number of uniforms for our girls..Performing on the Mihāro stage. Photo: Supplied.EnviroschoolsAfter spending time researching the history of our school land and speaking to experts like Josh from Environment Southland and Senga White from Senga Consulting we have been looking at the land our school is built on.We have learnt more about what the area used to be like in the past, including the types of natural habitats and native plants that once grew here. This inspired us to take action to give back to the land in a meaningful way.As part of our learning, we would like to create a nature area on school grounds that reflects the natural environment that once existed here.Our plan is to plant native species and design a peaceful, biodiverse space where students can learn, reflect, and connect with nature.Mee & Henry Law proud sponsors of Sacred Heart SchoolWe believe this project will not only help the environment, but also benefit the school community. Environment Southland has granted us funding to allow this project to happen and we are currently purchasing plants/trees for this area.As a whole school, we are beginning a new inquiry “Plastic Free Pātaka - Reducing Soft Plastics in Our School” our goal being to reduce the amount of soft plastic entering our school by identifying sources, finding alternatives and setting up effective recycling or reuse systems.We are beginning with a rubbish audit to identify what soft plastics we are currently not recycling. Students will investigate how soft plastics are processed, where they go and what they can/can’t be turned into.First CommunionWe have had several students participate in the Sacramental programme.Congratulations to Rosaleigh, Henry, Emerson and Shepherd who were Baptised on the 27th August.First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Photo: Supplied.On Sunday 31st August the following students made their First Holy Communion and Confirmation - Rosaleigh, Henry, Emerson, Shepherd, Celestine, Xenon, Nathan, Isla and Caidence.We had a great day of celebration with them.A day of celebration for these students. Photo: Supplied.Book FairThis year our theme for our annual book fair was “Catching the reading wave”. It was a great success and a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our love of literacy.As part of this we had a colouring competition, a day where we dressed up as our favourite book character and we invited our Grandparents in to read with us.Dressing up for the Book Fair. Photo: Supplied.Grandparents invited to read with students. Photo: Supplied...

Environment Southland election hopefuls have shared their views on the big issues facing the region at a Wednesday night candidate discussion.Around 40 people attended the event at council chambers to hear from nine candidates in the Invercargill-Rakiura and Hokonui constituencies.Incumbent councillor Peter McDonald kicked the event off by telling those gathered his priorities were flood defence and local government re-organisation.McDonald warned infrastructure deficits were looming and said the current model would not meet local expectations.For David Rose, core business was the focus with a call for accountability of council spending and less resources for reports and consultants.Annette Trent was standing for her mokopuna and future generations, saying the decisions made today on water, climate and air shaped the Murihiku they would inherit.“My north star is simple: strong communities and healthy environments.”Accountability was a priority for Joshua Cumberland, who said council staff were “running” the organisation while elected members lacked the background to keep them in check.Incumbent councillor Lyndal Ludlow said she was a people person with a lot of governance experience.“Clean air and clean water are a given for me, so that’s why I’m here.”Fellow councillor Maurice Rodway was keen to see new ways of river management developed with towns and cities protected, while Nathan Surendran warned the last 100 years would not look like the next 100.He said it was a duty to protect people, land and rivers.Roger Hodson was keen to ensure a high-quality environment for future generations with climate adaptation at the fore.For Geoffrey Young, it was about bringing a strong farming voice to the table.Young said he had considerable governance experience, was keen to promote river management, and hoped to keep rates down.Current councillor Eric Roy was unable to attend because of a prior engagement, but said in a read-out statement he had gained a lot of experience and was focused on Southland’s needs.Nick Perham had pulled out of the election race and requested by statement that people did not vote for him.There are 18 candidates vying for 12 spots on the council this election.New faces are guaranteed at the table due to the departure of chair Nicol Horrell and councillors Neville Cook and Robert Guyton.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardRoad status:CLOSING from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) 5pm overnight snowComments:The highway has reopened. Further snow showers are forecast from late morning today, some delays are possible with ongoing snow ploughing as needed. The road will close again tonight at 5pm with a reopening planned mid morning Friday. A further closure Friday night for an increasing avalanche hazard is possible but is being monitored closely. Update at 5pmWeather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Snow showers above 800m Tomorrow: Snow showers above 800m Saturday: Snow showers above 800m Sunday: Snow showers above 1000m Monday: Rain

One person has died following a fatal crash at the intersection of Kew Road and the Bluff Highway this morning (11 Sept).Police said the accident occurred around 6am this morning.The road was closed while the Serious Crash unit examined the scene but has since reopened.

Southland farmers are raising concerns over hefty invoices following Environment Southland’s (ES) winter grazing compliance checks — even when no breaches are found, according to Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick.However the accusation has been strongly rejected by the regional council who say the claims are inaccurate.Herrick said the issue wasn't the inspections themselves, but the unexpected fees, which in some cases have reached up to $4000.“Farmers understand the need for good environmental practices and compliance,” he said.“But being invoiced for a visit where there are no breaches or problems is incredibly frustrating.”He cited one case where a farmer was charged for nine hours of staff time despite having no compliance issues.“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said.Environment Southland has been conducting aerial flyovers to monitor intensive winter grazing, followed by on-the-ground inspections.Herrick says some farmers have received little to no notice before these visits.“They feel blindsided, especially when the inspection confirms everything is in order,” he said.The council defends the charges as necessary to avoid passing costs onto ratepayers.“They’ll say they’re just charging where the costs are,” Herrick noted.“But from a farmer’s perspective, it feels like being penalised for doing the right thing.”However, Environment Southland (ES) has pushed back on Herrick’s claims, saying the comments are inaccurate.ES compliance manager Donna Ferguson said cost recovery invoices were only issued to farmers where there has been a confirmed breach of a rule.“We undertake cost recovery so that ratepayers do not pay for the cost of investigating and undertaking enforcement action where non-compliance occurs.”Ferguson said that of 75 incidents logged this season, 49 have been fully investigated.Of those, 28 farmers were found to be compliant and received no further action or charges.The remaining 21 cases involved confirmed non-compliance, with outcomes ranging from advisory letters to formal enforcement.Another 26 cases are still under investigation, Ferguson said.“The winter grazing period runs from 1 May to 30 September and each year, we carry out three aerial surveys between June and August.”“Our approach to assessing winter grazing compliance is education-first.”She added that most cases result in advice and education to help landowners improve practices, and that officers attempt to contact farmers in advance where possible.Herrick also raised concerns about confusion stemming from recent changes to the Water and Land Plan, particularly around buffer zones and critical source areas (CSAs). He said many farmers were caught out by a rule change requiring a 10-metre setback from waterways, despite having fenced to the previous three-metre standard.“Plenty of farmers did the right thing by the old rules,” Herrick said. “Wouldn’t it make more sense for the council to focus on educating farmers about the change and supporting them to adapt, rather than penalising them?”Ferguson responded that the rules have not come out of the blue. “The initial 3m rule was in 2016 and there have been many changes since through the Environment Court process, which Federated Farmers was involved in,” she said.Environment Southland says it has been working to educate farmers about the changes since before the winter grazing rules were adopted in May 2024.Herrick maintains that a more collaborative approach would improve outcomes.“I’ve heard from farmers in other regions like Otago, where councils are taking a more educational approach,” he said.“Environment Southland should follow suit. That would help build trust and quite possibly achieve better compliance.”

Southern Way, a regional tourism partnership spanning the lower South Island, has been named a finalist in the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards.Launched in May 2023, the campaign - One Trip to See It All, was developed in collaboration with Air New Zealand and is shortlisted for the Tourism Collaboration Award.Great South General Manager Tourism and Events, Mark Frood, said the recognition was a milestone for the region.“This nomination highlights what we can achieve when we work together with a shared vision.”“Southern Way shows the power of collaboration, from airports to tourism organisations, in creating experiences that benefit visitors and communities across the South.”Award judges praised the initiative’s coordination across a high-demand tourism region and its emphasis on sustainable travel, regional dispersal, and long-term planning.Frood also paid tribute to the late Graham Budd, former Chief Executive of Great South.“Graham’s vision and leadership helped shape the foundations of Southern Way and this recognition is a reflection of his enduring influence on tourism in our region.”Southern Way unites Tourism Waitaki, Enterprise Dunedin, Tourism Central Otago, Clutha Development, Visit Southland, Visit Fiordland, Destination Queenstown, and Lake Wānaka Tourism, alongside the Southern Airport Alliance.Its mission is to promote low-impact travel and increase regional awareness across domestic and short-haul markets.Winners of the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards will be announced later this year.

Andrew Maxwell Clark is running for mayor in Tasman and Invercargill and reckons he could do both jobs, if elected.“I would be honoured to serve both, to be honest, if I was appointed to both,” he said.When asked if he had the capacity to lead both councils, Clark said he could, suggesting the scenario was similar to Members of Parliament who split their time between their constituencies and Wellington.“Travel is relatively cheap; you can get down there in half a day. Their schedules are quite different, but there’s a lot of benefits from joint knowledge, in my view… Whether the community supports you, well, it's entirely up to them.”During a mayoral debate hosted by the Southland Chamber of Commerce in August, Clark confirmed that he was “actively looking” for a place to live in Invercargill.He also acknowledged that it was difficult to unseat sitting mayors who ran for re-election, as Tasman’s incumbent Tim King was, and clarified he wasn’t able to withdraw his nomination in Tasman.However, Clark has since said there was a “good chance” he could beat King and that Tasman needed “fresh ideas”.“People are very concerned about our debt loading and our rates increases, and there’s no sight of any turnaround, and I think it’s as good a chance as anybody.”Clark is no stranger to controversy, having previously made headlines for getting embroiled in a legal dispute around the purchase of a neighbouring estate, fundraising with motorcycle gang affiliates, and letter-dropping misleading pamphlets about the Waimea Community Dam.Clark wanted irrigators to pay more of the debt incurred as a result of building the Waimea Community Dam. Photo: Max Frethey. [via LDR single use only].Just this local election campaign season, he’s also had to defend running in the two locations under different names, public disagreements in the media with his brother – incumbent Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark – and submitting outdated photos to election authorities.Clark has previously defended himself, saying the issues were “out of perspective” compared to what normal life had been for a long time.“We’ve dealt with everything that comes up in a fair and reasonable basis, and I don’t see any issue there whatsoever.”He didn’t think his mayoralty, if he was elected, would distract from Tasman District Council’s work.“I’ve done a very intense work as an intensive care paramedic, and a registered nurse; I can control the situation… It’s a matter of being able to judge a situation very correctly.”Reducing Tasman’s “totally out of control” debt and delivering rates relief were Clark’s priority for Tasman.After enduring an “excessive” average rates increase of 8.9% this financial year, he wanted to put pressure on Waimea Irrigators Ltd (WIL) – 49% shareholders of the dam – who he said weren’t pulling their weight on dam debt repayments.“[Council] appear to be unrepentant about the debt loading on the ratepayers, and it’s totally unaffordable for a great many people,” Clark said.“It’s long overdue that [WIL] paid their share.”WIL chair Murray King said Clark’s suggestion was “misguided”.“Waimea Irrigators contributed approximately $16 million by way of equity at financial close and, through a complex set of financial arrangements with Crown Irrigation Investments, are servicing all of their share of the additional debt.”King added that the dam has benefited the whole community by averting the need for water restrictions in Richmond last summer, maintaining the health of the river, and ensuring jobs associated with a reliable water supply are retained.Clark has repeatedly rubbished assertions that the dam ensures the aquifers, from which the Waimea Plains communities get their water, remain full.Other campaign priorities for Clark include giving landowners permission to undertake flood protection work, limiting purchases of properties, opening council workshops, spending less on consultants, and fixing congestion in Richmond.Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

Plans to upgrade the ILT Football Turf at Turnbull Thomson Park are set to deliver wide-ranging benefits for Southland, extending well beyond football.Southland Football has secured $560,000 in funding—thanks to contributions from the ILT Foundation, Invercargill Licensing Trust, Community Trust Southland, Rio Tinto NZAS, Murihiku Rūnaka Community Development Fund, and its own reserves—towards the $1.08 million project. A final funding application is still pending.The new Tiger Turf Pure PT surface will be faster, softer, and more environmentally friendly, with no rubber infill. It’s designed to host multiple games daily and reduce injury risk through advanced technology.Southland Football Board Chair Nick Hamlin says the turf will be a shared asset.“The turf is really a community asset—yes, it’s integral to football and the hundreds of players that get on it some weeks. But it’s also got huge value for other sports too and we’re really positive about working collaboratively with a range of organisations to ensure this new turf is well utilised by more than just football,” he said.Interest in using the facility has already come from rugby union, rugby league, and marching groups. The upgrade will also allow Southland teams currently competing in Dunedin to host games locally, boosting regional engagement.Football participation is surging, with over 4,220 registered players this year. Southland Football operations and development manager Iain Walker says the new turf is a vital step forward.Southland Football operations and development manager Iain Walker says it is an exciting time for the sport.“There is really just so much good news coming from within football and this new turf supports all of that, and allows us to keep growing, keep advancing and keep collaborating,” he said.“We’d really like to acknowledge the generosity of our community funders in all of this… that speaks volumes and we’re very grateful.”The turf upgrade aligns with Invercargill City Council’s Long Term Plan, which includes improvements to parking and park access at Turnbull Thomson Park.

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardComments:The highway has reopened. Snow is expected to continue on and off through much of Wednesday around the tunnel. Snow ploughs are operating, and convoys may be required at times. The road will close again tonight at 5pm, with reopening likely around mid morning Thursday. Snow is now forecast every day through to Sunday, further overnight closures should be expected. Update at 5pm Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Snow showers above 500m Tomorrow: Snow showers above 800mFriday: Snow above 800mSaturday: Snow above 800mSunday: Snow above 800m

Another week of wild weather is looming for the South Island – and road users are once again being asked to be prepared and travel with caution. From tomorrow, snow is expected to fall in Southland, Otago and Canterbury, as low as 200m above sea level in places, according to MetService. It has issued snow alerts and warnings for South Island mountain highways and alpine passes. Some of the largest snowfalls are expected on the Milford Road/State Highway 94, where a closure is already planned for 5pm today in anticipation of the snow. MetService says about 15-25cm may accumulate tomorrow about the Homer Tunnel entrance, and 2-5cm at Knobs Flat from around dawn..Crown Range Road, Haast Pass (State Highway 6) and Lindis Pass (State Highway 8) are all expected to see snow to a lesser degree. Further north, Arthur’s Pass (State Highway 73) can also expect snow, while Lewis Pass (State Highway 7) may get up to 10cm on the ground about the summit. Snow may continue falling through to at least Friday in some parts.  In addition to the snow, thunderstorms may also impact the island from tomorrow, while strong wind gusts and rain are also on the cards. Ice may also be an issue on some highways later in the week after the snow and rain has moved through. New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and its contractors will be monitoring the situation and working to keep the highways clear, or closing roads when necessary for peoples’ safety. Road users should adjust their driving to the conditions: make sure you are visible, reduce your speed, adjust your travelling distance behind other motorists and avoid sudden braking or turning movements.People can plan ahead by visiting our Journey Planner site, and helpful tips about winter driving can be found here.

Road OpenLow Avalanche HazardRoad status:CLOSING from East Gate (Hollyford) to Donne River (Westgate) from 5pm.Comments:Amended Avalanche hazard. The road will close tonight (Tuesday) at 5pm for forecasted overnight snow to the road. It will likely reopen mid-morning Wednesday after clearing but we expect to have snowfall around the tunnel on and off much of the day. Please expect minor delays and snowploughs to be operating. Further details will be provided at 5pm today for the Wednesday reopening time. A further closure Wednesday night may be required.  Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Rain with possible thunderstorms. Tomorrow: Snow above 500m. Thursday: Showers with snow. Friday: Showers with snow.