Career firefighters in the south are pleased the Government is listening to its ongoing concerns about inadequate and aging fleet. The Parliamentary inquiry released this week criticised Fire and Emergency New Zealand about the poor state and management of its appliances, and has called for a rapid reset of leadership

A student's watercolour painting is now flying above Telford's Balclutha campus as the institution's official new flag. Olivene de Jong, who is studying the New Zealand Certificate in Rural Animal Healthcare Assistance (Level 4) at Telford, won a student design competition to create the

Bill Donaldson has been collecting records of Southland cricket matches since before most people were born. On Thursday he collected something else — a King's Service Medal, presented at the Civic Theatre by Invercargill Mayor Tom Campbell on behalf of King Charles. Donaldson, known formally as William Alexander Donaldson

Peter Moynihan has stepped down from the board of The Power Company Ltd after nine years, with long-standing director James Carmichael taking over as chairman. Moynihan, who served several years as chair, left the board last week alongside director Wayne Mackey, who also clocked up nine years before stepping down.

Saturday's the marquee — the Otago Southland Axemen Indoor Woodchopping Comp FINALS hit Waikiwi from 4pm. Axes, sawdust, roaring crowd — genuine Southland winter theatre, and a proper spectacle. Sunday brings Stags v Taranaki live on the big screen at Waikiwi from 5:05pm. Friday runs the usual weekend kick-off

Mika Muliaina will earn his Southland Stags blazer on Sunday when the side travels to New Plymouth to face Taranaki at Stadium Taranaki. Kick-off is at 5.05pm. The blazer game marks a significant personal milestone for the first-five, who wears the No.10 jersey. Sean Withy leads the side

Scott O'Donnell has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business — recognition that spans trucking, hydrogen fuel, a $180 million city centre overhaul, and a dementia care village on the edge of Invercargill. O'Donnell has spent his career expanding

Despite all of the new employment opportunities coming to Southland, Infometrics predicts a slowing down of population growth in the south. Infometrics principal economist Nick Brunsdon delivered a presentation to the Risk and Assurance Committee on Long Term Plan assumptions. But Invercargill Mayor Tom Campbell didn't want to