councils

Invercargill’s Queens Park now has a new attraction for locals and visitors, with the recent installation of a giant outdoor chess set beside the Cheeky Llama Café. Completed this week by the Invercargill City Council’s Parks and Recreation team, the life-sized board is already proving popular. On the

Great South shareholders asked the Invercargill City Council last week to prioritise its draft letter of expectation for the coming two years, so the organisation is clear on its priorities. At last Tuesday’s council meeting, group manager – community engagement and corporate services Trudie Hurst said the shareholders would like

* Structural steel installed for the museum’s double-hulled waka above the public foyer space * Western building nearly finished, eastern structure and terrace concrete pours progressing well * Behind-the-scenes work includes experience design, partnerships, and educational planning Construction at the Museum of Southland has reached another key stage, with major parts of

Eight candidates vying for Invercargill’s top job went head-to-head at a Southland Business Chamber debate last night, fielding questions on council amalgamation, water reforms, spending priorities and ratepayer affordability. The debate mixed light-hearted moments – including a “chicken of shame” given to anyone who spoke over time – with serious discussion

Invercargill City Council is looking at changes to its subsidised travel programme for residents with impairments, following significant budget overruns. The Total Mobility scheme, which has been operating nationwide since the 1980s, provides transport support for eligible users. However, usage in Invercargill has surged in recent years, placing heavy strain

Tension is building between Invercargill city councillors, with Grant Dermody and Tom Campbell accusing Ian Pottinger of being misleading and scaremongering in the build up to elections. Cr Pottinger is a mayoral candidate and spoke publicly on Friday last week about rumours the Bluff wastewater upgrade could cost ratepayers tens

Homeowners tired of wrestling with consent paperwork to erect a modest garden shed or hobby room are set to receive welcome relief. Cabinet has signed off new setback rules that scrap the mandatory distance between a boundary and single-storey buildings smaller than ten square metres, and shrink the distance to

A decision to secure Invercargill’s emergency water supply as early as mid-2027 at a cost of $18 million was lost by a narrow margin yesterday. Seven councillors were against the motion put by Infrastructure and Projects Committee chair Grant Dermody, to crack on with the Awarua business case as