Mike Sanford

* Toxic algae identified in Waihopai River, posing risks to people and animals. * Residents urged to avoid algae and monitor other regional waterways for contamination. * Waiau River alert remains active near Excelsior Creek despite removal in Kennington. Toxic algae have been detected in the Waihopai River upstream of Queen’s Drive,

* Police arrested a Tapanui man on multiple drug charges after a long investigation. * The 25-year-old is linked to drug offences across Southland, Otago, and Central Otago. * Further arrests are possible, and police urge the public to share information anonymously. A 25-year-old man from Tapanui has been arrested and charged with

* Yellow-eyed penguin nest numbers on mainland New Zealand have fallen by 80% since 2008. * Fewer than 100 chicks remain across Stewart Island and the mainland this season. * Conservation efforts aim to prevent the species' extinction within two decades. Yellow-eyed penguins, one of the rarest penguins in the world and

* Invercargill central streets resurfacing to begin 12th January, expected to finish by March * NZTA asks drivers to follow detours and support local businesses during works You may experience delays on Southland state highways due to maintenance, renewal or third-party contractor work can be found here, and these sites are listed

* SH1 roadworks in Milton will disrupt travel for Otago and Southland motorists. * Detours impact Invercargill travellers heading north or returning south from 6 January. * Businesses remain open during works; NZTA urges locals to show their support. People driving through Milton in South Otago should prepare for detours starting Monday, 6

* Vandals left wet toilet paper plastered across Riverton's newly built $620,000 public toilets * Southland Council’s frustrated post called vandals ‘brainless numpty’ after second incident in weeks * Staff say identifying culprits is difficult as damage often happens under cover of darkness The Southland District Council has called

* Invercargill City Mayor hails return of SIT as a win for students. * Government to reinstate standalone polytechnics from January 2026. * Vocational education system redesign aims to strengthen regional economies. The return of the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) as an autonomous institution has sparked optimism in Invercargill. Mayor Nobby Clark,

PowerNet has announced that its Chief Executive Jason Franklin will resign on 2 April 2025, after more than a decade leading the Invercargill-based energy distribution company. He will take on the Chief Executive role at Powerco later that month, overseeing New Zealand’s second-largest electricity and gas distributor, which serves