Councils

New Zealand has 260 separate regulatory bodies creating what Regulation Minister David Seymour calls a "twisted spaghetti" of overlapping bureaucracy that costs taxpayers millions and strangles economic activity. The first comprehensive mapping of the country's regulatory maze reveals 95 regulators in central government, 79 in local

Construction of the new Museum of Southland remains on track and within budget, with completion expected later this year as work continues to transform the long-awaited facility into a modern cultural destination for the region. While builders continue progress on the physical structure, the museum team has shifted its focus

An Invercargill parks planner has been recognised as the country's best at a national awards ceremony. Invercargill City Council Senior Open Spaces Planner Cassandra Horton was named Parks Leader of the Year at the 2026 Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards in Hamilton last Thursday. The award recognises exceptional leadership

Southland Mayor Rob Scott has defended spending more than $12,000 of ratepayer money on a six-day trip to Scandinavia, calling it a worthwhile investment. The Southland District Council revealed this week it spent $12,840 for Scott to join an Infrastructure NZ delegation that visited Sweden and Norway from

Six new elderly housing units on Miller Street have officially opened, adding to Invercargill's housing stock as demand continues to outstrip supply. Invercargill City Council celebrated completion of the $2.8 million project on Friday with an opening ceremony attended by elected members, contractors, local representatives and council

Invercargill City Council has announced the winners of its Wee Delights competition after receiving hundreds of project suggestions from locals eager to improve their community. The competition, designed to encourage early engagement with Council's Long-term Plan 2027-2037, asked Invercargill and Bluff residents to submit ideas for small projects

Environment Southland has adopted new rules requiring farmers to get approval before grazing stock on flood banks during winter months. The new Flood Control and Drainage Management Bylaw introduces stricter controls on stock grazing between June 1 and August 31, when wet conditions increase the risk of damage to flood

Invercargill City Council is looking to introduce number plate recognition technology for parking enforcement, following concerns about public behaviour towards parking wardens. The council has put out a tender for vehicle-mounted technology that would work alongside handheld devices to "improve parking accessibility and safety for our officers". The