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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

* Police warned buyers and sellers about rising online marketplace scams involving fake profiles. * They urged using public meeting places and verifying payments before releasing any sold items. * Authorities reminded everyone that unbelievable deals are often scams, urging increased online caution. Police are urging people to be extra cautious when purchasing

A perusal of the seeding list for the 2025 Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally revealed a very interesting entry at twenty-five, that of Dean Sumner.  Sumner was the New Zealand Rally Champion back in 2010, the pinnacle of what was a very successful career that saw many wins throughout the

The third edition of the iAM Games is set to return to Invercargill on September 13 and 14. Organised by Inclusive Activity Murihiku, with support from Active Southland, the event promises another two days filled with sports, laughter, and community spirit. Registrations are now open for participants keen to join

The Southland Business Chamber has revealed 33 finalists across 12 hotly‑contested categories in the 2025 Datagrid Southland Business Excellence Awards. After a record 135 entries, judges spent six weeks poring over submissions that showcased the strength, resilience and innovation of our region’s enterprises. “This year’s entries reflect

* Planned closure of Takitimu Mine removes most freight need, prompting rail line mothballing decision * KiwiRail says repairing storm damage then upgrading bridges would cost many millions over five years * First nine kilometres stay open to serve Lorneville meat works, coal switches fully to trucks Bathurst Coal Ltd’s decision to

Four iconic clocks have returned to their platforms after a community-led restoration spanning two years. Local firms donated materials and specialist labour, keeping heritage skills alive for future generations. Their mechanisms are still being tuned off-site and are expected back in time for summer. Four historic railway clocks have been