Opinion

"I am more of a funeral kind of man than a wedding kind of man." These were the opening lines of my dad's speech at my wedding — true story! As we waited with bated breath for the speech to unfold, it was either going to be

Southland secondary school students will benefit from increased trades training opportunities through the expansion of school Trades Academies. Budget 2026 increased the number of Trades Academy places from 10,000 to 20,000 over the next four years, with this jump in place numbers funded by savings from cancellation of

There is a national story, and then there is a Southland story. The Budget announcements might not have everyone around the country jumping for joy. There is still plenty of conversation around caution, and businesses waiting for things to improve before making decisions. But honestly, Southland has never really operated

A self-certification scheme, allowing skilled plumbers and drainlayers to sign off their own work, will provide huge benefits for Southlanders. The Government is progressing the "Self-certification by Plumbers and Drainlayers Bill" to put responsibility into trusted tradies' hands and has recently decided to expand it to cover

Economic and employment benefits are set to flow in the South with the recent approval of two fast-track projects. The Fast Track process is about cutting through unnecessary delays to unlock the projects that will provide benefits to the people of the South, giving the certainty and momentum needed to

From biscuits to the battlezone: what childhood beliefs teach us about conflict. Conflict’s a funny old thing, isn’t it? Whether it’s the small, everyday frustrations—laundry left on the floor, a teaspoon put back the wrong way in the drawer—or something deeper, like a strained relationship,

New move-on orders are another tool for Invercargill police as they work to keep Invercargill streets safe. Announced last month, these orders will give police an extra tool to deal with disorderly behaviour in public places. This is something that has been concerning Invercargill retailers and I am hopeful police

Lately, with so many couples in my age group splitting up left, right, and centre, I keep hearing that line from Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got to Do with It in my head and wondering… Is it actually love that makes relationships last? Valentine’s Day has never