News

Wallacetown's new BMX and pump tracks opened on Saturday — though they nearly didn't make it to the ribbon-cutting in one piece. A group of motorcyclists rode over the tracks the night before the opening, forcing Ryal Bush Transport staff into an emergency cleanup job. Ōreti Community

There was fire and light, marketeers, food trucks, music and people, lots of people. Another large crowd gathered in Bluff on Saturday evening to enjoy the annual Thieves Alley Market/Bluff Promotions Night Market and Fire & Light Show at the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival site. The market stalls

Invercargill's public transport system needs to be scrapped and rebuilt. That, at least, is the view gaining traction at the council table. Mayor Tom Campbell told councillors this week the city should abandon any tinkering with its existing setup and start over. "Clearly what we have at

Latest road work update from Invercargill City Council. Watermain renewal work has begun on Don St between Kelvin and Deveron streets. It will take around 40 days. Phase one closes the eastbound lane while westbound traffic is maintained from Deveron St. Phase two brings a partial closure of the Don

The Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland, Round 3 of the Brian Green Property Group NZ Rally Championship, has scored a major coup with the entry of top New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon into the event on Saturday 18 July. Paddon, the first kiwi to win a World Rally Championship (WRC)

No one in Southland scooped Saturday night's Lotto draw, but the jackpots rolling into Wednesday are worth knowing about. Powerball was not won and climbs to $28 million on Wednesday. Lotto First Division also went begging — it resets to $1 million. Strike Four remains unclaimed at $400,000.

Twelve fires in a year. All started by batteries. And that's just locally. Nationally, lithium-ion battery incidents have more than doubled in recent years — a trend that makes Southland's twelve fires feel less like a local quirk and more like a symptom of something bigger. Southland

The Southland Sharks beat the Nelson Giants 83–71 on Saturday night, grinding out a win that required a strong fourth quarter to seal. It wasn't clean. Nelson came out sharp, with Shane Gatling draining two threes in the first quarter off the back of a 56-point team