There has been a change of venue for Sunday’s Summer Sounds Bluff Music Festival. With showers forecast on the day, albeit with temperatures still expected to reach 18 degrees, an early decision has been made to shift the event to the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival site to ensure

* Alonzo Burton returns for a fifth season, continuing as a key leader. * Sam Timmins and Keylan Boone add skill and experience to the Sharks' roster. * Johnny Helu returns, bringing energy after a year away from basketball. The Southland Sharks are building momentum for the 2025 Sal’s New Zealand

Police have announced they will not press charges following a shoplifting allegation involving former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman. The incident occurred at Pak’nSave Royal Oak on 12 October 2024 and was initially reported electronically via the Auror platform, a system used to manage retail crime reports. Seems Greens MP&

Two offenders have been sentenced for their roles in a massive wildfire that swept through the Awarua Wetlands in Southland on April 2, 2022. The fire, lit during a prohibited fire season with a total fire ban in place, destroyed 1,330 hectares of the internationally recognised wetland. Brendon Robert

UPDATE: Venue change read more here Summer Sounds Bluff is back for 2025 with three acts ready to perform at Argyle Park in Bluff this Sunday (26 January). Invercargill duo Hō & Hā consisting of Cedric Blair (Hō) and Terence O’Brien (Hā) will be first on stage at 2pm.

* Invercargill Mayor criticised the government for a "lack of transparency" in waste policy changes. * A strongly worded letter urged full consultation and review of the Waste Minimisation Act. * Councillors unanimously supported the letter, now sent to the Prime Minister and ministers. Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark has sent a

Six people have been injured in a serious crash in Southland, prompting a major emergency response. Two individuals are in critical condition, while a third is also critical but stable after being airlifted to Dunedin Hospital. Three others, suffering serious injuries, were transported to Kew Hospital by ambulance. Related: State

* NZME plans to cut 40 roles across NZ Herald, BusinessDesk, and Newstalk ZB. * The restructure aims to focus on stories that engage audiences and grow subscriptions. * The changes include fewer stories, new digital investments, and streamlined production. NZME, the owner of the NZ Herald, BusinessDesk, and Newstalk ZB, has announced