Politics

The Mainlander will shift from monthly excursions to a regular timetable between Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Gore and Invercargill.

From 23 hours to nearly 60 — Invercargill's urgent doctor service now runs 11.30am–8pm weekdays and 9am–5pm weekends, easing pressure on A&E.

A 12,800-signature petition and a locomotive shortage are part of the picture — Peters says access to engines is one hurdle before more South Island trains can run.

Guy Fawkes is less than four weeks away — and NZ First says retail sales, manufacture and imports would all stop, while approved public displays carry on.

Seymour says NZ pays over $1 million an hour in interest on govt debt — ACT's plan aims to wipe $12.4b of it in four years, no new taxes.

Reliable fertiliser access underpins Southland's farming production base — and National says without a plan to secure it, that base can't hold.

The government's books are in better shape than expected, with Treasury forecasting a significantly smaller deficit and a path back to surplus that Finance Minister Nicola Willis called "within a hair's breadth" of breaking even a year ahead of schedule. The Pre-election Economic and

Media celebrity and now politician Paul Henry was in Invercargill on Wednesday part of his unlocked tour. He hosted a meeting and chat. Here is his full speech. I'm standing, the New Zealand I'm looking at is not as good, it's not as positive,