Councils

The grounds around Invercargill's new regional museum are being reshaped, with landscaping works now under way as the Museum of Southland moves closer to its 2027 opening. Pathways, planting, seating and gathering spaces are all part of an exterior programme designed to pull the museum, Queens Park and

Gore District Council has dropped its support for the Government's Head Start local government reforms — not because it wants amalgamation, but because it wants residents to get a vote. The decision, made Tuesday, shifts the district's position toward the Local Government Commission process, which requires any

A Gore district councillor's use of the word "gay" to describe a staff presentation cost ratepayers $8200 plus GST to investigate. Councillor Donna Bruce made the remark to fellow councillor Robert McKenzie during a workshop in April. McKenzie lodged a code of conduct complaint. The investigation

Southland's recycling contamination rate has dropped, but 811 tonnes of recyclables still ended up in landfill last year. That's $309,639 worth of waste — at the current general waste fee — that could have been recycled. The contamination rate across kerbside recycling and public drop-off fell to

Southland District Council has about 32,000km of water pipes — and doesn't know where all of them are. Strategic manager water and waste Kevin Johnson made the admission at a council meeting on Wednesday, when he updated elected members on the district's water services network. Asked

Certain areas of Invercargill such as bus stops, carparks and on the footpaths outside education facilities could all soon be smoke and vape free. The Invercargill City Council is reviewing its Smokefree policy and although the current one includes vaping as well, the wording will change to make it clearer.

Nobody will say how many private investors put their hand up to take over a struggling Fiordland airport — not the council that owns it, and not the agency it paid to run the process. Te Anau Airport Manapouri has cost Southland District Council an extra $2.1 million just to

Gore District Council has backed both competing Southland local government reform proposals, writing to the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport ahead of the government's August 9 deadline. The council confirmed support for both the two-unitary Greater Southland proposal developed by Southland District Council and the single-unitary