Mike Sanford

* 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

Lower interest rates, stronger dairy and meat prices, and reduced regulations have lifted farmer confidence to its highest level in nearly a decade, according to Federated Farmers’ latest six-monthly Farm Confidence Survey. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said, “Farming families have been through some really tough years recently and that’

Looking for an instant complexion pick‑me‑up? I recently tried the High Performance Microdermabrasion at The Cosmetic Clinic, Invercargill Central and walked out with noticeably smoother, brighter skin. Check out the results in the video below. What makes it “high performance”? In a single 50‑minute session, skin therapists

Southland has retained its position as the strongest performing region in KiwiBank’s 2025 “Regional Divide” report, with Invercargill’s construction boom driving the local economy. KiwiBank’s annual heat-map, released on 1 July, again awarded Southland a score of 5/10 — the highest in the country, matched only by