Council

* 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

• Invercargill sees its first open mayoral race without an incumbent in decades. • Twenty-seven council hopefuls join the election alongside board and trust candidates. • Voting begins in early September with several opportunities to cast ballots across the city. Invercargill is set for a competitive election season with eight candidates entering the

Invercargill’s iconic town clock will now cost $1.98 million to completely restore and reclad, but it will be a sight to behold in Wachner Place. Question for Council’s chief engineer of infrastructure, Russell Pearson: Why didn’t you turn up with three quotes? Instead, you arrived with