Southern councils have three months to come up with their own amalgamation plans or face government-imposed changes, ministers announced Tuesday. Local Government Minister Simon Watts and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop delivered the ultimatum, abandoning their previous approach of government-led Combined Territories Boards in favour of voluntary council groupings. "

Great South is working to understand how best to support a range of new aquaculture projects across the region. General manager regional strategy Bobbi Brown shared a report to council’s Infrastructure and Growth Committee on Tuesday. “There has been quite a few developments in recent times, which is quite

Police are asking Southland residents to check their rural properties as the search continues for missing Kapuka farmer Kevin Belling. Belling disappeared from his Motu Rimu farm in Kapuka on January 9, sparking an extensive search operation involving Land Search and Rescue teams. Detective Sergeant John Kean said police have

Invercargill City Council will charge $20 for property file requests from Monday 11 May, as it moves the service online to handle growing demand. The council receives around 500 property file and Land Information Memorandum (LIM) requests monthly, with 6000 requests processed last year alone. "Last year, Council received

The 2026 Bluff Oyster & Seafood Festival on Saturday 23 May could be the last! Unless this year's event attracts a capacity crowd there may be no option but to wind up the event say's Festival Chairman, John Edminstin. Edminstin says, "a range of factors

Southern Institute of Technology will offer 10 new scholarships annually to Aurora College students starting in 2027, providing debt-free pathways to tertiary education in Invercargill. The scholarships will cover any qualification from certificates to bachelor's degrees across all SIT faculties and continue for the full duration of each

Youthline Southland has closed its Invercargill office after 50 years of serving the local community, with operations now handled through a national support model. The office shut its doors last Friday following a year-long review by the Southland board, which examined the changing landscape of remote mental health services and

Workers at the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will begin industrial action on Monday after bargaining talks with Rio Tinto broke down. Around 185 E tū union members are set to take action on May 4, 6, 8, and 10 following months of unsuccessful negotiations that began in 2024. E tū