Community

It’s the biggest day of the year in Invercargill this Saturday, when 20,000 people descend on the city centre to watch the annual Santa Parade. With new manager Alice Lee (led by trustee Alice Pottinger last year), at the helm, the committee is on track for Saturday, but

Invercargill’s main swimming complex, Splash Palace, has recorded more faecal contamination incidents in 2025 than in the entire previous year — and there are still two months to go. As of 31 October, there had been 30 incidents of what staff refer to as "code browns", resulting in

Family Works Southland has launched its annual Christmas Gift Appeal again, to support families who are struggling to make ends meet. Running until December 5, the team are always blown away by the positive response from the community. Manager Irene Te Koeti said they continued to see the effects that

Invercargill came alive with vibrant colours, dance, and community spirit as Diwali 2025 lit up ILT Stadium in one of the city’s most lively cultural celebrations to date. Organised by the Indian Community Southland Inc. (Reg. Charity), the event ran from 11am to 5pm and drew record crowds from

Police officers and Special Olympics athletes will join together on Sunday, 30 November 2025, for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) in Invercargill. The event, which is part of a global movement, celebrates inclusion and raises awareness for people with intellectual disabilities. The Torch Run will start at 12 noon

Gore is gearing up for a magical day of festive fun as the much-loved Santa Parade and Christmas Carnival return on Sunday, 14 December. The celebrations kick off at 12 noon with Santa and his cheerful crew making their way down Gore’s Main Street, followed by an afternoon of

A new book set to launch this month tells the story of one of Southland’s most enduring institutions. In The Service of Others: The History of H&J Smith will be released on 25 November, offering a heartfelt tribute to the people and history behind the much-loved Invercargill

An Invercargill-based service station owner has organised for the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime to speak with retailers in the city on Tuesday. Manpreet Singh owns Challenge Lorneville and was a victim of burglary just two months ago, when offenders smashed through the front doors of his