Ella Scott-Fleming

Nicola Mitchell is bringing her child-friendly, te reo singing alter-ego back to Gore’s country music festival as well as a waiata-writing workshop, for the older children.

Competition was high during a swim for charity on Friday between Gore District Mayor Ben Bell, some of the best, local competitive swimmers and The Ensign’s own Gerrit Doppenberg.

Some heavy hitters are getting in the ring for the 20th anniversary of a Gore boxing tournament this coming weekend.

The 55-year-old Eastern Southland Softball Association celebrated their history and some lifelong members with its reunion over the weekend.

High school students are taking over the Little Theatre in Gore and breathing new life into works of Shakespeare, with a modern twist.

After an emergency call to action, a 52-year-old Riversdale art show will be going ahead with the help of some new volunteers.

After coming second last year, a Gore father-son racing duo split up for the Otago Rally last weekend, with both drivers separately continuing to show their acceleration in the sport.

A serial drink-driver, who has spent time in prison for his crimes, has been convicted of driving home drunk for the eighth time, this time on a scooter.

In the past seven years, an area larger than Stewart Island has been converted into forestry across New Zealand, and Eastern Southland has not escaped its impact.

An area larger than the size of Stewart Island has been converted into forestry in the past seven years across the country and Eastern Southland is not immune from its impact.

A Waikaia fashion show was a riotous success as local shepherds and retired models donned outfits from days of old and strutted down the runway for a charitable triple-threat.

Gore's beloved peafowl are to be re-homed after the council said it had received numerous complaints about the wellbeing of the birds.

In a full-circle moment, Southland’s very own country music export is back touring the South Island with the son of legend Charley Pride, whose music she grew up listening to in Edendale.

The group set up to oppose the declined Slopedown wind farm is not celebrating yet.

After 20 years, Gore’s guitar statue is getting a much-needed facelift and will be back just in time for the country music festival in May.