Mike Sanford

Southlanders are making 100,000 fewer flights each year than they want to, new research shows, with limited services and poor timing blocking travel plans across the region. The survey of 2,300 travellers found 30% of potential trips never happen because of scheduling problems, high prices or lack of

Fire and Emergency New Zealand's truck crisis runs deeper than officials admit, requiring a full-scale investigation into the agency's governance failures. A parliamentary inquiry heard damning evidence Wednesday that FENZ has botched asset management so badly it may never have merged urban and rural fire services

Ambulance services will get $35 million over four years to tackle rising demand, with emergency calls expected to jump by 95,000 incidents over the next four years to 735,000 annually. The Budget 2026 funding targets immediate problems: more frontline crews, better technology, and stronger support systems. Two new

Two hunting organisations have launched a coordinated push to funnel more wild venison to Southland families struggling with food costs. The Game Animal Council and Wild Game Recovery Trust unveiled Game Changer NZ this week, combining donation coordination with a digital tracking system that follows meat from hillside to dinner

Presbyterian Support Southland has sold Resthaven Village to Phantom Eldercare, with the family-owned care home operator taking over on July 1, 2026. Phantom Eldercare runs multiple aged care facilities across Otago. The sale finalises a conditional agreement signed in March. "For 50 years, our organisation has had the privilege

Nine Southland Rotary clubs have joined forces for the first time to raise $15,000 for The Grace Street Project through their support of the PlaceMakers Southern Scooter Challenge. The donation was presented to the project on Friday, along with an offer to bring Rotary's Youth Development programme

Southland Hospital has installed a new $994,000 fluoroscopy machine that will improve diagnostic imaging services for local patients. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the upgraded technology represents a significant step forward in local healthcare quality. "This is a significant step forward in the quality of diagnostic imaging available

The 2026 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival is set to deliver a full day of seafood, entertainment, and southern hospitality as thousands of visitors prepare to descend on Bluff this weekend. Weekend Gig Guide – InvercargillWelcome to your Weekend Gig Guide! Looking for the perfect way to spend your weekend in