councils

A second section of Queens Park in Invercargill has reopened earlier than expected, giving residents a welcomed surprise ahead of the festive season. The staged reopening of the city’s iconic green space was brought forward to Friday 28 November. The newly accessible areas include parts that were initially expected

* Government reveals plan to simplify local councils and boost decision-making through new structures * Mayors could replace regional councillors under a new collaborative regional board model * Public consultation on reforms is open now, with final proposal expected by March 2026 The Government has outlined a major shake-up of local government, revealing

Members of the Bluff Community Board unanimously agreed to reappoint long-standing Chairperson Ray Fife to the role at its inaugural meeting for the 2025–2028 term. At their meeting in Bluff last night, members Jo Eruera, Frazer Murdoch, Haylee Simeon, and Justin Sutherland voted for Ray Fife to again be

A report from the Invercargill City Council has revealed the estimated cost of last month’s severe storm, with more than $2.39 million already spent or committed as of mid-November. The storm, which struck on October 23, brought widespread destruction, toppling trees, damaging homes, and cutting power to thousands.

Elected members in Southland and Invercargill are set to receive pay rises, with some receiving bigger increases than others. The Southland District Council met to decide how to divide a fixed salary pool assigned by the national Remuneration Authority. The mayor's pay is excluded from this decision, as

Invercargill City Council has officially adopted its annual report, outlining the highs and lows of the 2024–25 financial year. Chief executive Michael Day opened his commentary in the report by stating it had been a “challenging financial year”. He explained that the council had faced high local government inflation,

If you're still tidying up after the recent storm, you’ll be able to get rid of your green waste and scrap metal for free this weekend in Invercargill. To access the green waste drop-off, you must enter from the south end of Bond Street via Bluff Highway/

Southland District Council will continue to manage its own water services, following the official approval of its Water Services Delivery Plan by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). The Council’s decision was made as part of the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms. These reforms required all councils