A southern tourism mecca appears poised to set a record for the number of visitors as Chinese New Year approaches.

Initial investigations into claims of hundreds of dead birds around the Lake Te Anau shoreline have so far turned up nothing out of the ordinary.

A group of Dunedin performers have swapped their sparkly chorus costumes for tramping gear ahead of an open night for women interested in learning to sing unaccompanied harmonies.

The Mataura Licensing Trust’s new chief executive is a familiar face in the community who promises to lead from the front and continue the invaluable work in the community.