Police are appealing for information following a suspicious car fire in Bluff on Sunday 4 May. About 3.40pm, a Ford Courier ute was set alight while it was parked on Marine Parade. The vehicle suffered substantial damage. Senior Constable Pete Jenkins says a man carrying a red petrol can

* Property listings have grown in Invercargill and Southland, reflecting strong buyer interest. * Buyers are moving quickly as Southland’s rate of sale is faster than national average. * Low mortgage rates are encouraging first-home buyers and creating more movement across the market. Invercargill and Southland are seeing a noticeable lift in

* Invercargill Police are investigating a series of linked incidents at several premises overnight * A stolen red Toyota Vitz has been recovered following the aggravated robberies and burglaries * Police urge anyone with information about the vehicles or offenders to come forward Police are asking the public for help after a string

A new Local Government Commission investigation is underway into the reorganisation of the four Southland councils. A proposal from the Southland District Council to create two Unitary Councils - joining with Gore to oversee regional council functions, and keeping Invercargill as a city-based one, would see  Environment Southland cut out.

UPDATE 10:05am: Highway is now open. Police and emergency services are attending a crash involving at least four vehicles on Bluff Highway, between Awarua Siding Road and Stanley Township Road. The crash occurred at approximately 8.10am today. One of the vehicles is currently blocking both lanes, and motorists

• Work to replace Invercargill Transfer Station weighbridge is expected to take about a month • Temporary traffic measures will be in place using traffic lights to guide all vehicles • Public asked to delay non-urgent rubbish drop-offs to help minimise disruption Work to upgrade the Invercargill Transfer Station will soon begin, with

Fifteen Lotto players each won $17,357 in tonight’s live Second Division draw. One player also won Powerball Second Division, making their total prize $35,030. The winning Powerball Second Division ticket was sold at Woolworths Ashburton South in Ashburton. Winners included players from Invercargill, with Lotto NZ encouraging

* New scheme will let trusted builders and plumbers sign off their own simple work * Faster inspection targets aim to reduce costly delays for building projects across New Zealand * Changes expected to deliver thousands of homes annually without lengthy approval bottlenecks The Government has announced major changes to speed up home