Mike Sanford

Homeowners tired of wrestling with consent paperwork to erect a modest garden shed or hobby room are set to receive welcome relief. Cabinet has signed off new setback rules that scrap the mandatory distance between a boundary and single-storey buildings smaller than ten square metres, and shrink the distance to

• Police discovered multiple illicit drugs and cash hidden inside a high value motorhome near Invercargill. • Accused fifty one year old allegedly supplied methamphetamine and illegally possessed ammunition alongside other narcotics. • Officers now seek forfeiture of the two hundred thousand dollar vehicle through Proceeds of Crime. Police across Southland have closed

The Southland Business Chamber has revealed 33 finalists across 12 hotly‑contested categories in the 2025 Datagrid Southland Business Excellence Awards. After a record 135 entries, judges spent six weeks poring over submissions that showcased the strength, resilience and innovation of our region’s enterprises. “This year’s entries reflect

* Planned closure of Takitimu Mine removes most freight need, prompting rail line mothballing decision * KiwiRail says repairing storm damage then upgrading bridges would cost many millions over five years * First nine kilometres stay open to serve Lorneville meat works, coal switches fully to trucks Bathurst Coal Ltd’s decision to

• Invercargill sees its first open mayoral race without an incumbent in decades. • Twenty-seven council hopefuls join the election alongside board and trust candidates. • Voting begins in early September with several opportunities to cast ballots across the city. Invercargill is set for a competitive election season with eight candidates entering the

Ready to organise your dream project? The Southland Home Show gathers 100+ specialists this weekend—from finance whiz Mandy Jordan from Mortgage & Insurance Supply Southland to JB Hi‑Fi’s tech crew and Awarua Synergy’s energy‑saving pros—plus scores of experts in kitchens, bathrooms, décor, outdoor living

* New Zealand coasts faced tsunami threats after strong earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. * Emergency officials warned of unpredictable surges and strong currents lasting several hours overnight. * Tsunami alerts also issued in Hawaii, Japan, US west coast, Philippines and Indonesia. Emergency Management in New Zealand issued a national advisory

* Sir Michael Hill built an international jewellery empire starting with a single Whangarei store. * He founded a prestigious violin competition and created The Hills golf course near Arrowtown. * Tributes praised his creativity, mentorship, philanthropy and inspiration to generations of Kiwi entrepreneurs. Sir Michael Hill, the founder of the iconic Michael