Mike Sanford

A Gore-district farming family has been named the Southland Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for transforming two neighbouring properties into a thriving, diversified operation. Tony and Michelle Roberts, alongside daughter Kate Roberts and her partner Mark Lieshout of Top Deck Trading, have built the combined 269ha

The cost to visit Splash Palace may increase by 10 percent in the next financial year, as Invercargill City Council seeks to recoup more service delivery costs from users. Public consultation on Council’s proposed changes to its 2026/2027 Fees and Charges schedule is now open. The proposed changes

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has today announced a refreshed ministerial lineup to continue fixing the basics and protecting New Zealand’s future, with Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds joining cabinet. “New Zealanders are facing economic challenges brought on by conflict in the Middle East and its effect on fuel supply across

Tickets, please! In a heartwarming breakthrough for accessible travel, St Vincent’s Care Toowoomba has unveiled the St Vincent’s Express — the world’s first permanent immersive virtual-reality train carriage built inside an aged care home. What was once a quiet library is now a luxurious replica fine-dining rail car,

A Southland farmer who invented edible bale netting has his eyes set on the international markets and the British royal family. Orepuki deer farmer, Grant Lightfoot is the creator of Kiwi-Econet, a non-polluting baleage netting that animals can eat, rather than traditional plastic. Baleage is a way of storing forage

The Government has released updated measures under its National Fuel Plan as global uncertainty grows due to conflict in the Middle East. Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones said the changes are designed to ensure New Zealand remains prepared for any disruption to fuel supply. Read

Roading crews will begin a major resurfacing project on State Highway 6 in Invercargill later this month, with detours in place to manage traffic while work is carried out. The project is set to start on Monday 30 March 2026 and is expected to take about a month to complete.

Strong demand for specialist dementia care in Southland has seen Enliven Southland’s expanded Iona dementia unit reach full capacity within its first year, underlining the urgent need for more psychogeriatric beds across the region. The six additional beds, introduced in March last year, were quickly taken up. Within the