Mike Sanford

* Police seized firearms, drugs, and ammunition in raids across Otago Lakes Central. * Operation Speargrass targeted drug suppliers and found improperly stored firearms. * Four individuals face penalties, including arrests and suspended firearms licences. Police conducted a series of targeted raids across Cromwell, Alexandra, Clyde, Hawea, Wānaka, and Queenstown this week as

Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds has congratulated Southlander Robin McNeill on being awarded the inaugural Prime Minister’s Space Prize for Professional Excellence. “This is a big moment for SpaceOps New Zealand founder and chief executive Robin McNeill MNZM, but it’s also huge for Southland and for the space industry

* Gore District Council approves directional drilling for Mataura River water project. * Two pipelines to link bores, reservoir, and treatment plant using advanced drilling. * $2.65 million project starts next year, set to finish by December. The Gore District Council has endorsed the use of directional drilling technology to install water

The Commerce Commission has released a draft decision that could dramatically reduce the fees businesses pay for accepting Visa and Mastercard payments, potentially saving New Zealanders over $260 million annually. “These fees are passed on to consumers through the cost of goods and services, and surcharges,” the Commerce Commission stated.

* Government says councils misused wellbeing rules to justify non-essential spending, raising rates. * Labour disputes claims, saying rate increases stem from central government decisions, not councils. * Benchmarking reports will compare council performance on rates, debt, and services nationwide. The government has announced plans to remove four wellbeing provisions from the Local

* ILT hosted a Christmas dinner for Invercargill residents aged over 70 years. * Guests enjoyed a three-course meal, live entertainment, and warm community connection. * Over 25,000 meals served since the event began in 1993. ILT hosted the first of two Christmas dinners for Invercargill residents aged over 70 at the

* Aparima College students won top honours at the national Young Enterprise Scheme awards. * Their business, Treet Yourself Contracting, impressed with its focus on sustainability and innovation. * The YES programme fosters entrepreneurship in secondary schools, connecting students with business leaders. Students from Aparima College in Riverton have claimed the top prize

A devastating theft has left Southland carpentry students thousands of dollars out of pocket and jeopardised their end-of-year project. The tools, essential for their training, were stolen from the workshop at Invercargill’s Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). Related: Police Seek Information Following Safe Theft The students discovered the theft