The cost of hiring an out-of-town expert for Invercargill City Council's water committee has nearly doubled from initial estimates. The council originally reported spending $12,268 to recruit Nelson-based Lee Babe as an independent member of its water committee, but has now revealed the final bill reached $23,

The current National-ACT-NZ First coalition government is strongly positioned to win a second term, according to the latest NZ Herald-Motu Research Poll of Polls. The research shows the coalition has an 88.3% probability of forming the next government, with combined support of 50.2% compared to the opposition'

Two new trustees of the Southland Warm Homes Trust visited local delivery partner Awarua Synergy this week as part of their induction programme. Councillor Lisa TouMcNaughton from Invercargill City Council and Councillor Donna Bruce from Gore District Council toured the Awarua Synergy office to see firsthand how warm homes programmes

Southland Police are urging users of dating apps to take steps to protect themselves when meeting up with people they’ve only spoken to online. Southland Area Prevention Manager acting Inspector Mel Robertson says Police have been made aware of two incidents in the last week where people have been

Southland teenager Cormac Buchanan's promising weekend at the French MotoGP turned sour when treacherous wet conditions caused him to crash out of Sunday's Moto3 World Championship race at Le Mans. The New Zealand grand prix racer was one of 14 riders from the 26-strong field who

A Southland farming couple has claimed top honours at New Zealand's premier dairy industry awards, taking home more than $28,000 in prizes and cementing their reputation as leaders in the sector. Scott and Stacey Mackereth from the Southland/Otago region were named 2026 New Zealand Share Farmers

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has declared the government's fees-free university scheme a complete failure, announcing it will be scrapped in this month's budget. The policy, which covered students' final year of tertiary study, will end for new cohorts from next year, though current final-year students

Vehicle inspection requirements are set to change dramatically, with most cars moving to two-yearly Warrant of Fitness checks instead of annual inspections, saving Southland motorists hundreds of dollars each year. Transport Ministers Chris Bishop and James Meager announced the reforms yesterday, saying New Zealand's current inspection system is