* Rakiura Oneke Southern Wilderness Experience project officially completed with upgraded tourism facilities and guided walks. * New infrastructure includes a walking track, wharf, shelter, and conservation improvements. * Project funded by a $2.18 million grant and loan from the Provincial Growth Fund. Stewart Island’s tourism offerings have received a major

* Complaints about disruptive behaviour now handled in around 13 days (down from around 60 days a year ago) * 553 Section 55A notices issued by Kāinga Ora since July 2024, up from 41 issued during the same period in the previous year. * Of that 553, first notices made up around 83

The team at Mitre 10 MEGA Invercargill are all buzzing this morning after customer Sharen Watson from Nightcaps was the lucky winner of the $20,000 prize draw at the weekend. Store general manager Tracy Key said despite the soggy weather on Saturday morning, there was plenty of excitement for

* Several Southland roads will close for maintenance between March and May 2025. * Detours will be available for all affected routes to ensure smooth travel. * Road users are advised to expect delays and plan ahead for alternative routes. Road users in Southland are advised to prepare for multiple road closures, detours,

* The adult minimum wage will rise to $23.50 an hour from April 2025. * The increase supports workers while balancing economic recovery and business stability. * Starting-out and training wage rates remain at 80 per cent of the adult rate. The adult minimum wage in New Zealand will increase by 1.

* Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s Pink Campervan will visit Bluff and Invercargill this week. * Specialist nurses will provide free advice on breast health, screening, and risk reduction. * Early detection improves survival rates, with mammograms recommended from age 40. Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s Pink Campervan will be visiting Bluff and

* Brad Fallow will represent Southland in a top national excavator competition this March. * Three women are finalists for the first time in the event’s 31-year history. * The event will include career-focused experiences for those exploring civil construction. Invercargill’s Brad Fallow is set to take on the nation’s

Editors Note: The original article was published in complete and has been updated. Retail crime continues to be an issue in the South, as it is in many other parts of the country, with Government moves to clamp down on crime an important boost. Last year I attended a public