Southland’s food producers are once again proving they’re among the best in New Zealand! The Outstanding Food Producer Awards medals recognise products made in New Zealand that have been carefully judged for quality — and most importantly, taste outstanding. Congratulations to the Southland members recognised at the 2026 Outstanding

The 2026 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival is set to deliver a full day of seafood, entertainment, and southern hospitality as thousands of visitors prepare to descend on Bluff this weekend. Celebrating the region’s famous Bluff oysters alongside a wide range of southern food favourites. In addition to the

New Zealand has 260 separate regulatory bodies creating what Regulation Minister David Seymour calls a "twisted spaghetti" of overlapping bureaucracy that costs taxpayers millions and strangles economic activity. The first comprehensive mapping of the country's regulatory maze reveals 95 regulators in central government, 79 in local

Nine Southland Rotary clubs have joined forces for the first time to raise $15,000 for The Grace Street Project through their support of the PlaceMakers Southern Scooter Challenge. The donation was presented to the project on Friday, along with an offer to bring Rotary's Youth Development programme

Southland Hospital has installed a new $994,000 fluoroscopy machine that will improve diagnostic imaging services for local patients. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the upgraded technology represents a significant step forward in local healthcare quality. "This is a significant step forward in the quality of diagnostic imaging available

Two hunting organisations have launched a coordinated push to funnel more wild venison to Southland families struggling with food costs. The Game Animal Council and Wild Game Recovery Trust unveiled Game Changer NZ this week, combining donation coordination with a digital tracking system that follows meat from hillside to dinner

Construction of the new Museum of Southland remains on track and within budget, with completion expected later this year as work continues to transform the long-awaited facility into a modern cultural destination for the region. While builders continue progress on the physical structure, the museum team has shifted its focus

Southland farmers have been given an 18-month reprieve on freshwater farm plan deadlines as the government overhauls what it calls a flawed system. The original May 2026 deadline for submitting farm plans under regional rules has been pushed back to November 2027, giving farmers breathing room while new national standards