A proposal to operate a floating sauna on Te Anau’s picturesque Lake Henry in Ivon Wilson Park, off the main lake, has some locals upset and feeling blindsided while others are concerned about “scaremongering” and “misinformation".Currently open to public submissions, the experience is the brainchild of established Australian floating sauna operator and Te Anau commercial property owner Nigel Reeves.The concept would see an approximately 80m2 floating platform with two small boatshed-like structures, anchored in two points at the northern end of the small lake. Nigel Reeves is proposing a floating sauna venture on Te Anau's Lake Henry. Photo: SuppliedIt is envisaged up to 12 people at a time could use the sauna, jumping in the lake’s cold spring waters to cool down, for hour-long sessions.Reeves says the planning and approval process had taken three years so far, since the idea was first presented to the town's community board and a site visit held to “work out the best site”.“We’re now in the process of getting a licence to occupy a small part of Ivon Wilson Reserve which has a management plan for commercial activities, as long as they promote recreational use.""A floating sauna and cold plunge in the lake support that so it’s entirely in line with the requirements to operate a commercial business like this in that lake reserve.”He says he built his first floating sauna just after Covid times and ever since the wellness tourism industry has been growing in popularity among visitors and tourists.“An economic study on my Tasmanian operation showed that every $AUS1 spent generates $AUS3.75 for the local town.”It will be a viable winter off-season activity in a town like Te Anau, he says.Reeves’ said with their family now getting older, he and his wife Debra were keen to spend more time back in Te Anau with her family."When people say this is being proposed by “an Australian corporation’, well, it’s just me,” he said.An artist's map of the proposed floating sauna on Lake Henry. Graphic: SDC/SuppliedUnchartered territory for our townFiordland Community Board chairperson Diane Holmes said people have the right to object and air their concerns on social media but there appears to be a lot of “fearmongering” going on when people don’t have the full facts, including the fact that the decision to approve or decline this proposal doesn’t lie with the Community Board.She says Reeves first presented his plans for a boatshed-like structure on a floating pontoon anchored in the lake, to the board several years ago.“As I understand it, Reeves has followed a huge consent process with the various entities in that time, including DOC, Environment Southland and the Southland District Council, and spent many thousands of dollars to get to this stage.”The decision went to an independent commissioner who approved the proposal and the district council is now calling for submissions before granting a permit for a licence to occupy the site, she says.Holmes says it’s not like a building.“If there are issues or breaches of the lease conditions, or it doesn't work out for any reason, then there is the potential for it to be removed,” she says.“There’s been a lot of fear among the community as this is a commercial operation in a public reserve which is unchartered territory for our town.People are concerned that it may set a precedent, but anyone else wanting to operate in the park would have to go through “the same huge resource management process” again and anything proposed must be in keeping with recreational requirements set down in the management plan for the park.“My understanding is that the reserve management plan allows this type of activity as it’s in keeping with acceptable use for the park, being swimming and recreation,” Holmes says.“I’ve seen people saying things online like, ‘What next? A convenience store and a pub?’, but those activities are highly unlikely to ever meet the requirements so that’s just fearmongering.”Public submissions are currently being called for on a proposal to locate a floating sauna at the northern end of Lake Henry. Graphic: SDC/SuppliedHolmes says she has no personal bias either way, but it’s important to “iron out some of the misinformation that’s been online”.She understands Reeves will be attempting to do this himself.Reeves already operates two successful floating sauna operations in parks in Australia – Tasmania and Canberra.“You can see the impact this type of activity has there,” she says.The lease money will help offset the maintenance of the park and offset rates with Reeves contributing to upgrade the existing toilets and their regular cleaning costs.“It should be low impact,” she says.Job opportunities exist for locals as staff will also be employed, to administrate and ensure the safety of users.Holmes says she has observed DOC being widely criticised in the past for not allowing new commercial ventures on the adjacent main lake in Te Anau and it’s interesting to see some people are now criticising the council for saying, ‘yes’, to considering allowing it on Lake Henry.Holmes say it's important to have community debate, and changing the usage of a public reserve must be considered carefully from every angle.However, the debate needs to be informed and so far the communication from the council has “not provided a clear picture of the background and pathway that has led to this proposal”, she says.Lake Henry, at Ivon Wilson Park, is a popular venue for photos and fishing. Photo: Southland AppGiving away a community facilitySome local residents and Ivon Wilson Park recreational regulars are up in arms about the sauna project, saying they were unaware until the district council called for submissions on the permit, with the previous consent process being non-notified.Te Anau pharmacist George Batchelor says he’s concerned the authorities are “giving away a community facility and privilege that’s enjoyed for its beauty and recreational values for just $2400 a year”.“If you want to run a commercial business then purchase land or pay commercial rates if the community agrees,” Batchelor says.He says he’d have liked the Community Board to make people more aware of the proposal.Batchelor has made two submissions.“If there’s sufficient community backlash then the Community Board should look at it.”He’s suggested alternative sites like the Bird Park where there’s a natural spring and a plunge pool could be built.He believes the sauna operation would devalue the reserve for “those who use it and pay for it for years”.“I’m not a nimby but I don’t think we should be paying their rent for them which is essentially what’s happening.”He concedes the park is underutilised at present but believes this use in incompatible with that location.“It will drive existing users out,” Batchelor, who’s urging others to submit, says.Neighbouring holiday park owner Clint Tauri says he’s ‘on the fence’ but suggests that the facility may be better located at the southern end of Lake Henry, more hidden away from the three wharves and higher use.“I’d probably rather see it at the old frog pond with a pipe pumping fresh water from the main lake.”He recalls his father, Colin, who managed what was then the adjacent Automobile Association’s motor camp, helping Ivon Wilson and a group called ‘Men of the Trees’ with planting there in the early 1960s.Wilson, a Southland dentist, began developing the 32-acre park around 1958.He personally collected many of the 5000-plus trees planted there often driving long distances to source different species.A photo of the Aurora Australis over Lake Henry. Photo: Chris Watson/ProFocus PhotographyStunning spot for photosRetired kindergarten teacher John Carter says he’s not for or against but he’s a bit concerned that there could be discharge and run off into the fresh spring water during cleaning.“Many locals love this spot for stunning photos of the aurora too, so I don’t want to see lights there,” he says.“People didn’t realise you could do this there. It’s our little treasured haven and people are shocked,” he says.He says other saunas in town are popular, with a mobile one by the lake often in demand.Lake Henry was always a precious spot to take the kindy children too and they’d enjoy throwing sticks into the water off that wharf area. It is also a popular location for weddings.“There is a concern that the wharf decking could be closed off to others and people love to sit there and have fish and chips,” Carter says.“I’d love some sort of sauna facility that would offer another tourist attraction and somewhere warm for those foggy days” he says.“But I’ve been asking a few questions.”SubmissionsA Southland District Council spokesperson said there had been a lot of interest in the process with a lot of people asking questions and almost 50 submissions received so far.Reeves said he was not that surprised at the reaction.“Te Anau is very protective of its environment and has a vibrant social media community, but there’s a process to follow and this is a lawful activity. I’m confident I’ve met all the requirements.”If approved Reeves hopes to have the operation open this spring.CLICK HERE for more information and to make a submission.Submissions close on 26 March

An inquest into the death of an Invercargill Prison inmate has heard guards did not take concerns about his mental health seriously.Nukuroa Strange, 30, died in August 2022.Coroner Amelia Steel was considering whether Strange received adequate mental health support while in the custody of the Department of Corrections in the four months before he died.The inquest would consider his risk assessments, management and treatment, including whether appropriate action was taken in the knowledge he had previously tried to hurt himself.Corrections staff members have told the inquest on Monday that Strange had a lot of support from them and also had family support in prison.In a statement read to the court, Strange's former partner, who RNZ has agreed not to name, said she called the prison and spoke to a Corrections officer, saying they needed keep a close eye on Strange because she was worried prison was "getting to him".They had been together for about two months and lived together before Strange was jailed.She said Strange had been smoking a lot of methamphetamine and she later realised he was committing crimes to pay for it.He was furious that he was back in prison as they had dreams they wanted to achieve together and his mental health went downhill but Corrections staff tried to help him by putting him on anti-anxiety medication, she said.They spoke over the phone multiple times a day while he was in prison.She said Strange had tried to hurt himself in prison and had promised that he would not do so again.During the call to the Corrections officer, she said she was upset that she was not contacted after he tried to hurt himself.He assaulted a guard and was move to an intensive supervision unit.The woman said they had made a mutual decision to separate a few days before he died, and while the relationship ended on good terms, there were a lot of tears.He called her twice on the day he died, the first time in anger and the second to tell her he loved her.Within a few hours she was told that Strange was dead.Fellow prisoner Peter Herrick said Strange needed help and was not given the right support at the unit.He did not believe staff were empathetic or properly trained and questioned why Strange was back in the unit so soon after attempting to harm himself and an admission to the intervention and support unit.Herrick said he thought Corrections treated prisoners like a nuisance.On the day he died, Herrick noticed Strange was visibly upset while on the phone.He told a Corrections worker that he was concerned about the man and she went to talk to him.Later that day, Herrick said an officer conducting a muster took off running when he heard something over the radio, he saw emergency services and was later told Strange had died.Strange was not given the help he needed at the support unit and he did not know why the man was back there so soon after attempting to harm himself, Herrick said.In a statement, on-duty Corrections staff member Pamela Craig said Strange was normal and well-behaved the day before his death, saying all the right things at the right time.They had talked about his children, his love for his ex-partner and how he wanted to be the person she fell in love with, Craig said.She said she did not see anything out of the ordinary while he was on the phone but kept a close eye on him because he had previously made multiple attempts to self-harm.When a prisoner told her he thought Strange was in trouble, she and another Corrections staff member ran to his cell and tried to revive him.Craig said Herrick did not tell her that Strange had been crying on the phone until after he was found in his cell.Principal Corrections officer at the time Chris Ballantyne told the inquest that Strange appeared to be struggling with being in prison, more so than in his earlier time in jail.He had known Strange for a number of years and believed they had a good working relationship.Ballantyne was involved in deciding if Strange should leave the intervention and support unit and return to his regular unit shortly before he died.Ballantyne said he interviewed Strange before the move, and he found him to be future-focused and talked about using his son as motivation to stay out of jail.He said he felt comfortable Strange could leave the unit and was recorded as no risk following the interview, which was based on the assessment and in consultation with the medical team.If he had shown signs of considering self-harm, Ballantyne said he would not have agreed to transfer him out of the support unit.Ballantyne would continue giving his evidence on Tuesday.Corrections staff member Adam Lilley said he had tried to do a risk assessment for Strange but he did not respond to any questions.He had called in a control and restraint team to take him to the intensive supervision unit and Strange had fought back, he said.Lilley said staff had tried to help him when they found him on the day he died.Coroner Steel said her role was not about finding liability, rather accountability.She would also consider possible recommendations to improve the department's risk assessment tools or well-being policies.The inquest is set down for five days in Invercargill.Published by Permission

We’re so lucky in Southland to have such fabulous rural schools, with dedicated and hard-working teachers, great boards of trustees, and of course excellent students.There are 31 small rural primary schools across Southland. They provide a special kind of education and have a community connection that is truly unique.I recently attended a Southland rural primary school sports event in Invercargill.It was a great day for everyone involved and was no doubt a highlight at the start of the educational year.Education is a key focus for this Government.We’re committed to ensuring every child is inspired and engaged with their learning. The Government is currently rolling out new English, and Science resources and initiatives, helping raise student achievement and spark discovery in primary classrooms.The resources include new science kits and a new teacher-facilitated writing tool for Year 6 to 10 students, who are one year or more behind.The new science kits are now rolling out across schools and will encourage interest in science from an early age and support teachers to deliver practical, interactive lessons.Through a $40 million Government investment, there’ll be full national coverage of the science kits by early 2027, to align with the implementation of the new science curriculum.This is a Government that has put more resources into the hands of students, including those in rural schools, to help raise achievement and close the equity gap. Country children and teachers deserve excellent resources and support to set them up for success.Our investment today is about fixing the basics and raising student achievement here in Southland and across the country.Funded by Parliamentary Services

Term 1 is always a busy term at the College and the start of 2026 has been no exception.The first big event of the year was the Academic Honours Assembly, for students who achieved to a very high standard in 2025. We had 31 students Academic Honours at the end of 2025.Ray White Te Anau, Shanelle Scott, proud sponsor of Fiordland CollegeThe criteria for gaining Fiordland College Academic Honours is:Year 11 - 18 Overall module grades at Merit/ExcellenceLevel 2 – Pre-requisite 60 Merit or Excellence NQF CreditsLevel 3 – Pre-requisite 60 Merit or Excellence NQF CreditsFirst up in a long line of events was the Athletics Champs. The students displayed incredible school spirit, fuelling a spirited yet friendly rivalry as they competed for House Points.Fiordland College Athletics. Photo: Supplied.We hosted a Careers Expo for all students, which had 17 exhibitors from a wide array of institutions and companies.Careers Expo for Students. Photo: Supplied.These exhibitors shared their knowledge and insight, which will help guide students on their path towards finding their career.Careers Expo. Photo: Supplied.Then we had the Swimming Champs which produced a record-breaking time for Grace Perry in the Senior Girls’ 25m Butterfly Event with a time of 15.88. Grace broke the record set by Naaketta Scully (16.38) in 2005.Swimming Champs. Photo: Supplied.Congratulations to Grace and also well done to Naaketta for holding a record for such a long time – 21 years!Congratulations to Grace Perry. Photo: Supplied.Coming up in the first week of March is our Autumn Co-Curricular Week. These programmes involve year levels participating in school-based activities, water skills, tramping, camping, biking, kayaking and climbing to name but a few.Co-Curricular Week is a great time for students to excel in areas they are passionate about and spend a week learning outside of the classroom.Some of the other events over the rest of Term 1 include the:Southland Tennis Champs, Northern Athletics, Team Triathlon, Year 12 History Trip, Unserious Careers Roadshow, Southland Athletics, Whanau Evenings for Years 7-10 and Years 11-13, Mountain Bike Champs, Year 12/13 Geography trip, Individual Triathlon, South Island Mountain Bike Champs, Northern Swimming, Southland/Otago Adventure Race and the Cross Country Champs.Careers Expo with a wide array of institutions. Photo: Supplied.All that while still having a full daily curriculum being taught!

More than a dozen positions remain unfilled at a southern council one year after consultation began on its major restructure.Environment Southland disestablished 51 roles and created 56 new ones last year, in a move that impacted multiple departments.This week, council general manager corporate services Patrick Ng said in response to a LGOIMA request that 13 roles remained vacant.Four people had left the organisation of their own volition after having their job disestablished, while just one person was unable to secure a new position.Ng said final payments for those five people totaled $191,809.01, in accordance with collective and individual contracts.Local Democracy Reporting asked how much was saved — or not — as a result of the restructure, but the council could not provide an answer.“The restructure was undertaken to focus our resources more effectively, not to achieve financial outcomes; as such, no financial modelling or data were collected to allow us to specifically answer that question,” Ng said.A three-week consultation for the restructure began on February 13 last year with a final decision announced on April 3.The changes came into play the following month.Inroads have been made to fill vacant positions, given there were 48 unfilled roles in June.At that time, council people and governance general manager Amy Kubrycht said some vacancies would be prioritised while others would be phased in under the long-term plan.Environment Southland has a total of 227 budgeted roles in its long-term plan, Ng said.As of Friday, the council had two jobs advertised online.LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Two lucky Lotto players, one from Invercargill and one from Thames, will be living the dream after each winning $500,000 with Lotto First Division in last tonight’s live Lotto draw (28 Feb). The winning Invercargill ticket were purchased on MyLotto.Powerball was not struck this evening and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $8 million. Meanwhile, a lucky Palmerston North Strike player will also be celebrating after winning $200,000 with Strike Four. Anyone who bought their ticket from either of the above stores or on MyLotto should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App.

They turned out in their droves in Tuatapere – New Zealand’s self-declared Sausage Capital, to taste this year’s best snarlers and while Alexandra New World’s Thomas Ramage may have taken the popular vote, long-time Tuatapere local Art Diack reckons a good Tuatapere sausage still wins hands down.Art, as always, was there on Thursday night among the crowd of up to 400 who’d come from far and wide to vote for the New World Sausage Showdown hosted in Tuatapere.He’s been tasting winning sausages in the town for some time, ever since the man who put Tuatapere on the national sausage map in the 1980s produced his national winning sausage.Then Tuatapere butcher Leo Henderson won a radio competition nationally to find the best sausage in the country, his entry voted best in NZ.Tuatapere coordinator of Thursday’s host event, Anne Horrell, also the Tuatapere Te Waewae Community Board chairperson, says while Leo’s sausages may be no more, his legend has long lived on with Tuatapere still known for its sausages.Debra Ellis, of Tui Base Camp has carried on the tradition of great Tuatapere sausages, she says.Photo: Supplied/Advento Photography“They’re absolutely delicious.”Well, Art, renowned for his role in the local dance band, still playing the saxophone at 83, agrees. The five finalists in the New World competition’s cook off on Thursday night had all done a great job, but Art reckons, give him a good old Tuatapere sausage any day.“I have false teeth and I had a job to bite the buggers, especially the one with maple in it,” he says.“I couldn’t get on them at all.”And no, while the other almost 400 voters gave the finalists top marks, Art reckons “the Tuatapere ones have got them beat”. “A lot of these fancy ones come up (repeat) on me. They’re just leather jackets,” Art says.“They’re not as good as the Tuatapere ones.”He’s lived in the same house in Tuatapere since 1962 and recalls as a kid of 15 rounding up the bullocks for Leo Henderson so he could make those famous local sausages.“They’d hold the Tuatapere sale and Leo would buy bullocks that we’d chase down the railway line and take turns at killing for him, then they’d be loaded on three frontend loaders,” he says.“You’ve got to have a ticket on your arse to do anything these days.”Leo used sheep for his sausages too.“Leo knew how to make sausages.”His local successor, Debra, has Leo’s vote too though. “We buy 10 kilos of her local sausages at a time and that does us 12 months,” Art says.“The Tuatapere ones have got them beat.”However, the rest of the locals who turned out were pretty impressed with the delicious, unique flavours produced by the finalists – Ramage’s winning cheeseburger sausage; beef jalapeno and cheese; beef brisket, jalapeno and cheddar; chicken Thai green coconut and smoky beef maple.Even those who weren’t so keen on a kick of spice were taking to the jalapeno options, locals say, and Horrell says they were all full of flavour, Ramage’s particularly so.“They were all great,” she says.“Even the little boys were loving the jalapeno ones.“Leo Henderson’s recommendation for a good sausage was always to make sure it contained plenty of meat and not too much fat,” she says.Art, who still farms 300 acres locally, would second that: “It’s the same with saveloys now. Not many fellas can make a good saveloy now. They’re all fat and grease,” he says.The finalists had flown in from as far away as North Shore, Remuera, Hawkes Bay, Christchurch, with Ramage driving from Alexandra, for what was a huge local festival, with entertainment including Lachie Hayes Band, pipers, sausies on the barbie manned by the local Rugby Club boys, craft and food stalls, a bouncy castle and even ‘Sausage On Spoon Races’.Locals tucked into rather large portions during the tasting then took their vote.Photo: Supplied/Advento PhotographyHorrell says there was a big sausage focus in the lead up to the final with local schoolkids getting right amongst it too, designing their own sausage flavours – notably sausages with ice cream and chocolate!Others had created acrostic poems about Tuatapere sausages, written sausage stories and entered a colouring in competition.“It’s been a wonderful festival atmosphere,” she says.Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

In a boost to efforts to combat Chilean flame creeper, Environment Southland has welcomed the EPA’s decision to allow the release of Blaptea elguetai, a beetle that feeds on the weed’s leaves and will assist in its control.Environment Southland Biosecurity Team Leader Plants Jolie Hazley said the decision marks a significant step forward in managing pests within the region. “Chilean flame creeper has become a significant threat to Murihiku Southland’s biodiversity. The EPA’s approval means we now have an environmentally responsible, long-term tool that will help reduce its impact across the region and beyond.” Chilean flame creeper (Tropaeolum speciosum) spreads rapidly and smothers native vegetation. It is widespread in Southland, Otago, and Canterbury, and is increasingly found in parts of the North Island, and the Chatham Islands. “Biocontrol agents give us another tool in the toolbox. They complement the more traditional control methods such as hand‑pulling and applying herbicides which can be labour‑intensive, can damage surrounding vegetation, and often fail to reach inaccessible areas.” Late last year, Environment Southland applied for approval on behalf of the National Biocontrol Collective, with Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research providing scientific support. “Biological control is a well‑established and safe method for managing invasive weeds in New Zealand. We have already released biocontrol insects in Southland for broom, ragwort and thistles to help reduce the harm these pests cause. “Biocontrol won’t eradicate the plant entirely, but it will reduce its vigour and spread to an acceptable level. This means healthier native ecosystems and less ongoing pressure on landowners and councils to control infestations,” Jolie Hazley said. Environment Southland will now work with national partners to plan the next steps. “We hope to release them in Southland soon and further releases will happen across Aotearoa New Zealand once further mass rearing has been done.”

Below is a list of programmed work on Southland state highways next week, and this is also mapped HERE.  Key renewal sites in Southland currently underway:SH90 Waikaka Valley highway between Waikaka Road and Cunningham Road – Construction work will continue until late March. Delays of 5-10 minutesSH99 Wallacetown – culvert strengthening – 2-week FULL ROAD CLOSURE from 6.30am on February 23rd to 7pm on March 9th. All vehicles (HPMV including 58tonne) to detour via Ryal Bush-Wallacetown Road/Collinson Road/SH6 Winton-Lorneville highway – detour adds approx. 10 minutes to your journey. Following the completion of the culvert strengthening, the road renewal will take place for 4 weeks. Traffic management will be one lane with temporary traffic lights – expect delays of 15-20 minutes during this time.  Please do not use Branxholme-Makarewa Road as an alternative detour route – this is not suitable for highway traffic. Upcoming renewal workSH1 Waipahi Highway east of Pukerau – road renewal – MarchSH6 North Road Waikiwi, Invercargill – road resurfacing – March/April  Highways South maintenance work:SH1 Bluff highway between Colyer Road and Stanley Township Road, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairsSH1 Pioneer highway at Ota Creek Road, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairsSH1 Pioneer highway at Brydone, stop/go for chipseal resurfacingSH1 Waipahi highway at McNab, temporary traffic lights for pavement repairsSH6 Athol-Five Rivers highway near Bixter Road, stop/go for chipseal resurfacingSH94 Mossburn-Lumsden highway at Mossburn, stop/go for chipseal resurfacingSH96 Glencoe highway at Glencoe, stop/go for chipseal resurfacingSH99 Clifden Highway at Clifden-Blackmount Road, stop/go for chipseal resurfacing Roadmarking (taking place under mobile traffic management)SH1 Bluff RoadSH1&SH6 Invercargill UrbanSH6 Winton UrbanSH93 Mataura to Clinton SH96 Mataura to Ohai **Programmed work may be delayed due to weather/other factors. More information at: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.

During a recent visit to Invercargill, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) CEO and international managers as they advance plans to rebuild SIT’s international student numbers.Mr Luxon met members of SIT management during the National Party dinner held at the Langlands Hotel on the 12th of February. SIT CEO, Bharat Guha, newly appointed International Manager, Riza Ambadar, and International Marketing Manager, Michelle Zhao, attended the networking event alongside other local business and community leaders. Mr Ambadar said it was encouraging to meet the Prime Minister, who is supportive of SIT. “[The Prime Minister] understands the economy benefits from international students and he sees the importance of SIT’s autonomy being returned; he commended Penny (Simmonds) on her ability to make that happen.” Pre-covid (2019), SIT had nearly 1700 international students across its campuses. SIT gained its autonomy from Te Pukenga (New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology) on January 1st, 2026, allowing it to return to local, autonomous decision-making for international student programmes and numbers. Their current strategy includes having a greater presence in Asia, South Asia, China, Korea and Japan, with a goal of achieving 400 more students by the end of 2026. Minister for Vocational Education and MP for Invercargill, Penny Simmonds, who hosted/also attended the meet-and-greet event, says “International students bring diversity and benefit to our vocational institutions like SIT.” “Attracting international students to SIT is critical to help prepare local students for a global workplace and to ensure that the Southland community and industries have access to sufficient skilled graduates. I commend SIT for their vision to increase their international student numbers.” Mr Ambadar added “With the Prime Minister and Minister Simmonds support of SIT’s autonomy, we have confidence in moving forward to promote SIT in the international market.”

Road OpenNo Avalanche HazardComments:Night works for tunnel & highway maintenance this week has been completed. No travel delays expected - Please drive with care.Weather forecast for the Homer Tunnel area:Today: Mainly fine. Tomorrow: Mainly fine. Sunday: Mainly fine. Monday: Mainly fine. A few morning showers south of Lake Gunn. Tuesday: Fine.

A community conservation effort is hoping to fund a new processing facility for wild deer in the deep south.Deer numbers have been exploding in Fiordland National Park following the decline of viable commercial and taxpayer-funded helicopter operations over many decades.The deer have been ravaging the bush and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation hopes its planned abattoir in Te Anau will save precious bush and provide an outlet for culled deer.General manager Roy Sloan said hunting is costly and this initiative could support it by selling meat to the market.The Fiordland Project estimates that venison sales will help fund deer control operations in the National Park at a greater scale than is currently possible."It's a charitable trust; we're getting donations from various building companies around the country" Sloan said."Our goal is to raise $3 million to build this plant."The group of hunters and conservationists is confident funding can be secured.Sloan is thrilled with the level of support shown for the project so far, with $2 million raised.A number of tradies and professionals, including electricians and architects, have pledged their time to the project.Plans of the building, seen by RNZ, show areas for skinning and boning, packaging and processing, and a chiller."We know that it's costly to do deer recovery. We we know that the government can't afford it, and we know that DOC can't afford it," Sloan said.And while he admits it's a gamble, he said the risk of a community model might just pay off."What's the worst that can happen?' That in five years we fall over. 'But what's the best that can happen?' We could be still going and solve these problems."The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation also maintains a number of back-country huts in the area, including Fiordland National Park's oldest hut.How did wapiti become pests?wapiti are similar to red deer, but more pale and much larger and heavierThe first wapiti were introduced into New Zealand in 1873, primarily for huntingBy the 20th century, wild deer had spread throughout the forests, feeding on young trees, shrubs, ferns and ground cover plantsFrom the 1920s, the government employed cullers to control deer populationsIn 1966 the first live deer were captured from the wild by helicopterBy the 21st century, populations of wapiti and red deer have created major ecological problemsDeer remain a pest species, significantly impacting native ecosystemsPublished by Permission

There are “bigger fish to fry” than coming up with a name for the iconic salmon statue in Rakaia.While Gore’s trout statue has been given an official name, the Ashburton District Council’s community and open spaces group manager Toni Durham says there are no plans to get reeled into the naming game for Rakaia’s salmon.“We’re not considering a name for the salmon.“We currently have bigger fish to fry, in the form of our annual plan and Government reforms.”Gore's brown trout statue has been named Trevor by a popular vote after Gore District Council teamed up with local radio station Hokonui FM to find a name the famous fish.They sought name suggestions, and as has become customary in such competitions, Trouty McTroutface was floated but didn’t make the final cut for public voting.Trevor was the clear winner over the other contenders of Trixie, Scout, Gordon and Finn.Gore’s 9-metre-tall Trout was built first, constructed in 1989 by the Gore Lions Club to celebrate their 25th birthday.The Rakaia Salmon followed two years later in 1991, funded by the Rakaia Lions Club, and vested to the council around 2005.The 12-metre fibreglass salmon won’t be getting a name but just completed a $300,000 refurbishment by its original sculptor Phil Price.The salmon was only just back in place after a seven-week restoration when Greenpeace activists stuck cartoon-style crosses and added a speech bubble reading 'Fonterra killed my family'.Greenpeace claimed not to have used ladders or climbed the statue, but is believed to have used extending poles.The council had to wait for the ground to dry out for a contractor to bring in a cherry picker on Saturday to remove the eyes, after the word bubble had already dropped off, and inspect for any damage on the freshly completed paint job.“The cardboard and tape was removed from the eye, and tape was removed from the fin,” Durham said.“We are currently awaiting photos, but expect them to confirm that the cardboard and tape did not cause damage to the exterior of the salmon.”No damage will be a welcome relief, but the inspection will cost the ratepayers around $1000.“The invoice is for $998, plus GST. It has been coded as vandalism, and at this stage, ratepayers will fund it."We’re waiting on the outcome of the police investigation before considering how we can recoup our costs," Durham said.Police had no further update than that they were advised the statue “had been defaced” on February 15.“Police are investigating the matter and are following lines of enquiry to locate those responsible.”LDR is local body reporting funded by RNZ and NZ on Air.

Breeding and showing Jersey dairy cows has been in the DNA of Tuatapere’s Bennett family for three generations, ever since those girls with their lush, long eyelashes wooed in their grandfather, ‘Digger’ Bennett, who began showing them almost 80 years ago.Digger literally won hundreds of show ribbons in his day and it’s now grandson Jason’s turn, who began showing cows as a small child with his father, Neville, who sadly passed away on Invercargill A & P Show Day when Jason was nine.Neville was also a champion shower and one of Jason’s lasting memories was proudly watching his dad being presented with his Southland Otago Jersey Club Life Membership on his hospital bed at Southland Hospital.Grandad Digger was also a Life Member of the Jersey Club and the Waiau A & P Show and served 20 years on the NZ Jersey Council.Next year the Bennetts celebrate 80 years of involvement in the Waiau A & P Show.It’s always been a family affair and Jason’s mum Olive, now in her mid-80s, reluctantly received her Southland Otago Jersey Club Life Membership at the Waiau Show several weeks ago (14 February), renowned for decades of devotion behind the scenes where she likes to remain.Jason with his Grandad Digger. Photo: Supplied.Known in the local community as ‘Nana’, Olive’s legendary bacon and egg pie and chocolate fudge are must haves at the show where Jason says she’s been beavering away feeding judges and marshals from the kitchen for more than 60 years.“She’s had to step back a lot, but she was always helping feed calves and get the cows in for us until she was 80,” Jason says.“Mum’s never been keen on the spotlight, or being in the ring, just being in the shed getting the animals ready and providing home baking, sandwiches and cups of tea and coffee.""She’s just that person.""She was always in the background getting the hard yards done.”Olive was overwhelmed with the special award at the recent show, which brought loud rounds of applause and cheers from the crowd, all her five kids, 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren present.“There were tears coming down,” Jason says.“If anyone deserves an award it’s Mum. She’s such a kind, hardworking person – the rock of this family, and was always solely committed to Dad,” Jason says.Neville also played in the local Tuatapere dance band with the likes of Jimmy Kirkpatrick and Art Diack.Jason’s dad. Photo: Supplied.Olive’s reaction was typical: “Aww, I don’t need that!” But the community reckons she did.“I was shocked when they read this all out over the microphone,” she says.“We really dropped her in it,” Jason grins.Olive was presented with a beautiful pink rose in a pot and a Life Membership brooch.These days she assures her baking is reserved for show days with lolly cake, chocolate chippie and sultana biscuits also big winners.“I told them this year that’s the last year you’re getting it,” she chuckles.Bennetts, past and present, have long been a force to be reckoned with in the southern show ring, and Jason’s earliest memories are dressed in his official white jacket leading calves in the ring with Dad and Grandad.There have been hundreds more championship ribbons and awards since then with Jason specialising in the herdsperson section, judged on the presentation of the person and their animal.“Our kids do that now,” he says.Jason, at rear, with his family, sisters, front left, Alison, then from left, Linsey, Gayleen, mum Olive and Maxine. Photo: Supplied.Showing has become less of a thing with large corporates taking over Southland dairy farms.Sadly, A & P Shows are slowly dying, Jason says, but he’s hopeful that those family genetics will keep coming through.“People just want cows in the shed for milking and then back in the paddock and ready to milk now.”With robotics heading to the farm, it’s even more likely to lose popularity, he says.The Southland Otago Jersey Club does much of its showing on farm now sending judges to the various properties to check the animals.The Southland A & P Show is on next weekend (7 March) but there are no longer many animal classes judged at the Invercargill A & P Show, all done on farm, Jason says.Bennetts, including Jason and his four siblings - sister Linsey and her husband, their two daughters farming just down the road from Jason and wife Kaylene, with their five children, have won near on a thousand medals over the years.“We had to throw out hundreds of ribbons that were found in Grandad’s house, dating back to 1959 – champion bulls, calves, yearlings and cows,” Jason says.Digger wasn’t bad at growing Southland spuds either - a champion grower of Red Kings and King Edwards for some 50 years, Jason’s dad getting in on that too.“They sold seed spuds all the way to Outram. They were in demand.”Shows may be losing interest, but the Bennett family will be doing their best to keep showing alive.Jason and Kaylene recently received a special medal from the Winton A & P Association for their popular ‘Adopt A Calf’ programme that they run for local schoolkids.It’s all about giving the townies and those inexperienced on farms a taste of rural life, by adopting calves and teaching the kids how to care for and show them.“We run it annually through the Waiau Area School and Hauroko Valley Primary School, “Jason says.“The kids learn to feed a calf and look after it then take it to shows.""They’re each assigned a calf to care for nine weeks.""They come up to the farm one evening a week after school to groom it, feed it and teach it to walk in the ring. It’s a real opportunity for townie kids to experience rural life.""They get to know that milk doesn’t just come from the shop.”The youngest in the programme is a three-year-old boy and the oldest is 17.“The three-year-old just loves it.""We put two leads on the calf and he just loves it.""He has a smile that wide and always wants to see the tractors. He’s just a joy,” Jason says.“Both Kaylene and I have been farming since we were in nappies and we know how important it is to have that next generation of kids to come along and have a shot, giving them the right opportunity and the right know-how.”They also run workshops for older kids on the family farms, where various rural companies are represented to encourage young people into rural careers.“It’s all I’ve ever known and I’m very passionate about it. I’d like to see younger people give it a go,” Jason says.“I just love the Jerseys and dairy farming.""It’s a hard job, on stormy nights when you wish you had an office job, but on a nice, sunny day you couldn’t think of anything better.”Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.

A Te Anau pharmacist will in early March travel to Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea, to begin a six‑to‑twelve‑month assignment with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA).Prue Fraser has been selected as a Pharmacist Logistics Mentor and will be based in the township of Buin, at the southern end of Bougainville.She will work alongside the local pharmacist, Isaiah, supporting improvements in stock management, systems, and day‑to‑day operations.Fraser says the goal is to help build a pharmacy department that is “well‑run, adequately staffed, and reliably stocked,” ultimately improving access to medicines and health knowledge for the local community.Volunteering is not new to her.Over the years she has been involved with GirlGuiding, the Kepler Challenge crew, Marakura Yacht Club, and short‑term medical NGO work in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.When Fraser saw VSA was seeking a pharmacist, she knew she had to apply.Her selection followed a detailed process including interviews, reference checks, police vetting and medical requirements.In December Fraser travelled to Wellington for a week‑long briefing, joining other volunteers preparing for Pacific placements.The health centre in Bougainville where Prue Fraser will be stationed for the next 6-12 months. Photo: SuppliedThe programme covered organisational policies, cultural considerations, and the range of vaccinations and health checks required before departure.VSA, founded more than 60 years ago, has shifted its focus over time.While earlier assignments often lasted two years and extended to Asia, Africa, and South America, the organisation now concentrates on the Pacific and Timor‑Leste, with placements ranging from several months to more than a year. Partner organisations include NGOs, government departments, and community groups.Around 150 New Zealanders head overseas with VSA each year.Funding is primarily supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, although volunteers are encouraged to contribute $1,000 towards their placement costs.Fraser said that outside of work she hoped to experience Bougainville’s wildlife — including its well‑known butterflies, birds and insects — and, as an experienced open-water swimmer, explore the region’s reputedly excellent snorkelling, "while avoiding the saltwater crocodiles.”Three other VSA volunteers would also be in the area, Fraser said, and her husband, Bruce, also planned to visit while she was there.Fraser, who also runs a popular Fiordland berry farm, said while it would continue while she was away, she expected this would probably be its last season "unless someone took it over."CLICK HERE if you would like to contribute to Prue Fraser's fundraising. Donations are tax deductible and a receipt is issued.

Police and the Ministry of Health are working together in response to growing concerns about the misuse of nitrous oxide, particularly when it is used by drivers.Nitrous oxide is also known by other names, including nangs, laughing gas, and nos.Police is increasingly concerned by the growing number of incidents involving drivers inhaling nitrous oxide and putting themselves, their passengers, and other road users at risk.Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing and District Support Tusha Penny says any substance that affects judgement, coordination, or consciousness can have deadly consequences when someone is behind the wheel.“Police is concerned with the immediate danger this is posing on the road,” says Assistant Commissioner Penny.“We are now seeing an increase in the use of nitrous oxide as a factor in a number of serious crashes, including some crashes where people have died.”While investigations into individual crashes continue, the risks are clear and grave: inhaling nitrous oxide can rapidly cause dizziness, confusion, and blackouts.“We appreciate where the public has called Police to report instances of people using nitrous oxide in vehicles.We have taken action in response to those calls, and they have helped prevent harm and likely saved lives.”Police is also engaging with retailers and reminding them that the sale of nitrous oxide is illegal for recreational use under the Psychoactive Substances Act.“We will be providing letters to retailers in areas where this is a known issue over the coming weeks to remind them of their obligations.”Police will take a graduated response to the unlawful supply of nitrous oxide, with a focus on engagement, education and encouragement, alongside enforcement where appropriate.“We will continue to work alongside our partner agencies, monitor the situation closely, and step up to enforcement if we need to,” Assistant Commissioner Penny says.The Ministry of Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Joe Bourne says that reports from Police of nitrous oxide misuse linked with driving are a particular concern.He says that nitrous oxide can cause significant harm when misused for recreational inhalation, and those harms are magnified when combined with driving. Mixing nitrous oxide with alcohol or other drugs can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of harm. “Nitrous oxide may seem relatively harmless, but it can cause real damage. When it’s inhaled, the gas pushes oxygen out of your lungs and bloodstream, which can make you dizzy, cause you to black out, or even be life threatening in some cases,” says Dr Bourne. “It should go without saying, that dizzyness or blackouts while driving are extremely dangerous.”Inhaling nitrous oxide can also have long-term effects.“Separately we know that heavy, frequent, or chronic use can cause nerve damage, leading to, weakness, numbness, and long-term problems with movement or coordination,” says Dr Bourne.Dr Bourne says unfortunately health professionals are the ones who see the harms from drug misuse, and it’s important to raise awareness about them. He advises individuals to contact their health care provider if anyone has used these products and is concerned about their health. The Ministry will work with Health New Zealand to raise awareness of the harms caused to physical and mental health by the recreational use of nitrous oxide.If you’re concerned about your own drinking or drug taking, you can reach out to the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797, or text 8681.

Ngāi Tahu Seafood has decided not to fish for tio (Bluff oysters) again this year (2026), amidst ongoing concerns about the state and resilience of the Foveaux Strait beds.The fishery is collectively managed by the Bluff Oyster Management Company, which represents 18 quota holders, including Ngāi Tahu which owns around 20%.Ngāi Tahu Seafood's decision, supported by Awarua Rūnaka, is the second consecutive year the company has decided not to harvest tio.In a statement the company said they have observed a sustained decline in both the quantity and quality of tio available during recent seasons which resulted in early finishes in 2023 and 2024, and no harvesting in 2025.Ngāi Tahu Holdings Chief Executive, Todd Moyle said that given the condition of the fishery and the clear guidance from mana whenua, the decision not to fish tio this season was the right call."Our priority is supporting the long-term sustainability of the tio fishery and protecting it for future generation.”As mana whenua, Awarua whānau have observed many changes to the tio population over time.“Historical patterns and local mātauraka tell us that the recovery of tio beds takes time."Awarua Incorporated Society Chair, Pania Coote said the Bluff fishery had previously experienced periods of decline."Restoration requires sustained protection to allow natural regeneration and the rebuilding of resilient populations.”Ngāi Tahu said the causes of the current decline were complex with infectious disease, changing sea temperatures, increasingly severe weather events, and disruption to the ecosystem all contributing factors.While ongoing research continues to build an understanding of why tio are declining, mana whenua say these cumulative pressures reinforce the need for a precautionary, protection-first approach.Awarua Rūnaka Ltd Chair, Barry Bragg said the Rūnaka believed the priority had to be the long-term recovery and protection of the core tio beds that underpinned the future of the fishery.“We are encouraging the industry and regulators to carefully consider management approaches that reduce the pressure on key beds, including leaving primary beds undisturbed and, when harvesting resumes, potentially implementing shorter or more conservative seasons to support recovery.”Awarua Rūnaka is also actively exploring options to support the long-term recovery of the taonga tio.This includes a research partnership with the Cawthron Institute that, if successful, could lead to the establishment of a hatchery producing pathogen free juvenile tio to support the reseeding and restoration of wild stock and customary fishing areas.

Ageing tennis courts in a small Southland town are set for a spruce up, but not everybody in the community is happy about it.On Wednesday, Southland District Council approved unbudgeted expenditure allowing four tennis courts in Otautau to be re-asphalted.The courts have received minimal maintenance over the past 10 - 15 years and cracks were starting to appear, a council report said.From December to January, a community survey was undertaken to test the appetite for resurfacing, noting it would add an extra $6.62 annually onto rates.About two-thirds of the 59 respondents said yes, but others expressed their dismay at the project.“Absolutely not, I struggle enough without having to fund others sports,” one person said.“Not used enough. Put back into grass,” another wrote. Others highlighted pressure on ratepayers.The project had already been included in the council’s 2024 - 2034 long-term plan, where $61,200 plus GST was budgeted by way of a loan — funded by the $6.62 rates increase.Earlier this month, the Wallace Takitimu Community Board sought additional expenditure from a general reserve of up to $30,000 plus GST so work could proceed.Councillor Brian Somerville questioned the size of the survey response and wondered if alternative funding such as Lotto grants had been explored.Council community partnership leader Kelly Tagg said the response was on par with a previous survey for a playground, and noted the asset was council owned.She also explained the tennis and netball clubs were not incorporated societies which impacted the lottery route.Councillor Matt Wilson said it was his understanding Active Southland had done a stock take of recreational facilities throughout towns, and questioned potential duplication.Tagg said there was a tennis court at the primary school, but it was not the proper size.Support for the project included that the courts were an asset to the community and were needed for younger people.One survey respondent suggested a working bee and said they had a sprayer and broom they could use.Although there are eight tennis courts located at Otautau’s Holt Park extension, only half are set for resurfacing.The remaining four courts could be made available for children to ride their bikes, Tagg said.Refreshed courts are not the only project on Otautau's radar. Recently, the district council gave an update on a long-awaited camping ground for the small town.LDR is local body reporting funded by RNZ and NZ on Air.

A report has exposed increasing nitrate contamination in Southland's groundwater, sparking a call from Greenpeace for a nitrate emergency to be declared in the region.The Southland Regional Council report said approximately 15,000 Southlanders could be drinking water polluted by nitrates.It pointed to the intensification of dairy farming as a key cause of growing nitrate levels.The report said nitrate concentrations in groundwater frequently exceeded 3.5 mg/L and in some places exceeded the New Zealand drinking water standard of 11.3 mg/L.More than half of Southland's domestic drinking water supply wells were estimated to have nitrate concentrations above 3.5 mg/L.The Ministry of Health considers the current maximum acceptable value (MAV) for nitrate appropriate, although some public health experts argue the drinking water limit is too high and potentially puts people at risk of pre-term birth and bowel cancer.Greenpeace freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe said the findings were alarming."It's made clear what many of us have known for quite some time, that nitrate contamination is a real crisis in Southland and the main cause of that contamination is the intensive dairy industry," he said."At a bare minimum it's time that Environment Southland declared a nitrate emergency. Environment Canterbury declared one last year for very good reason, it's clear that Southland has a drinking water crisis on its hands and it's a result of nitrate contamination."The report said the region's dairy boom had coincided with a decline in water quality and the region's groundwater was vulnerable to contamination.Between 1990 and 2022, Southland's dairy herd increased by 1668 percent from 38,000 to 668,000 cows.Otago University research fellow Marnie Prickett said Southland needed to reduce its dairy herd, and she was also calling for an independent inquiry into the regional council's land-use rules."Southlanders need Environment Southland to chart a really robust path out of this. It can't be tinkering around the edges it has to be driving confidently forward about what they're going to do," she said.The report said 44 percent of domestic supply wells (612) and 45 percent of registered public drinking-water supplies (18) were located within areas classified as having "high vulnerability to nitrate contamination"."here may be approximately 1,530 people on private supplies and 13,632 on public groundwater supplies at risk of exposure to high concentrations of nitrate in drinking water," the report said.Environment Southland general manager science Karen Wilson said although the report did not present new data, it brought together a range of information to give an integrated view of groundwater quality, nitrate sources, and health risks."This science formed the basis of the Southland Water and Land Plan, which was accepted by the Environment Court. The plan was the first step in responding to Southland's groundwater nitrate challenges," she said.Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick said declaring a nitrate emergency would be an overreaction and unhelpful."Nitrates aren't a new issue for Southlanders at all, and it's not just dairy, as a society and as a people we're all responsible for our challenges that we had. This is a long-standing challenge that the community have been aware of and working on for quite some time now," he said.The report said 71 percent of groundwater sites had shown increasing nitrate contamination over the past two decades.Hotspots included Balfour/Waimea Plains, Wendonside Terrace, Five Rivers/Castlerock, Edendale, Knapdale, Mabel Bush/Woodlands, Central Plains/Waimatuku, and Otahu Flat.Southland Regional Council freshwater principal scientist Ewen Rodway said the council was working to deal with the problem."We're continuing to monitor groundwater quality across the region, identifying these high-risk areas and using those to focus efforts such as focusing farm plans, and working with catchment groups to reduce nitrogen losses in those vulnerable areas," he said.Rodway said a decision about declaring a nitrate emergency sat with councillors.Published by Permission