F-bomb complaint costs southern council $33k
Invercargill city councillors have rejected the findings of a $33,000 independent investigation which found deputy mayor Grant Dermody said “you f…ing d..k” or “you’re a d…head”.
Local Democracy Reporting
Fans 'delighted' disc golf returning to town
Fans 'delighted' disc golf returning to town
A community advocate is thrilled a disc golf course is returning to Hanmer Springs.
Sports hall could be sold
Sports hall could be sold
The Ashburton Sports Hall could be put up for sale after being gifted to the district council, putting long-running community events like Bookarama at risk.
Southland tsunami warnings may not have time to trigger
Southland tsunami warnings may not have time to trigger
A new Emergency Management plan for Southland has unearthed an unnerving detail about warning systems in the event of a tsunami.
Councillor slams disability transport funding cuts
Transport scheme changes will impact Canterbury's most vulnerable people - councillor
An Environment Canterbury councillor has slammed a decision to cut funding to a transport subsidy for people with disabilities.
Trips to sister cities approved despite cost concerns
Trips to sister cities approved despite cost concerns
Overseas trips to Invercargill’s sister cities have been approved by the city council despite concerns about how they will be paid for.
Council suspends mana whenua role
Council suspends mana whenua role
The Invercargill City Council has been urged to become a place Māori want to work alongside after a rūnaka requested its mana whenua seat be disestablished.
Tension over council pest work identified
Tension over council pest work identified
A southern council has revealed "emerging tensions" on Stewart Island/Rakiura making some of its work harder to complete.
'Worst it's ever been': Call to involve public in deer control
'Worst it's ever been': Call to involve public in deer control
Concerns over an explosion of wild deer in South Westland have been raised at a West Coast Conservation Board meeting in Okarito.
Disc golf course gets green light in Rangiora
Disc golf course gets green light in Rangiora
A disc golf course could soon open at Rangiora’s Coldstream Rd sports hub.
After hours medical care on track
After hours medical care on track
After years of waiting, Rangiora’s new after-hours medical facility is on track to welcome its first patients in January.
Council to stop funding swim team
Council to stop funding swim team
The Ashburton District Council has voted to stop funding the EA Networks Centre swim squad by June 28, with an "external provider" set to step in.
ECan prioritises coastal protection
Plea to better protect wildlife, biodiversity in Canterbury
ECan says it is still reviewing the region's coastal protection rules, but conservation groups like Forest & Bird and Greenpeace claim it is not acting fast enough to protect wildlife and biodiversity.
Sir Tim statue project slammed
Sir Tim statue project slammed
Sir Tim Shadbolt’s partner of many years has criticised a crowd-funded statue project for the late mayor, urging people not to donate.
Kaikōura's iconic bird gets a boost
Kaikōura's iconic bird gets a boost
Kaikōura's tīti (Hutton's shearwater birds) are in good condition as they prepare to leave the nest after favourable summer weather.
Boost for Kaikōura's iconic bird
Boost for Kaikōura's iconic bird
Kaikōura's tīti (Hutton's shearwater birds) are in good condition as they prepare to leave the nest after favourable summer weather.
'Terrible thing to hear': Dolphin killed in set net
'Terrible thing to hear': Dolphin killed in set net
DOC found the female Hector's dolphin died in a set net off the Kaikōura coast last month. Now conservation groups are calling for action to reduce the number of dolphins being killed in Canterbury.
Invercargill mayor stands by comments over AI data centre cable
Invercargill mayor stands by comments over AI data centre cable
Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell is standing by his view that a new cable for a large AI data centre will not impact the environment at Ōreti Beach, despite a report saying otherwise.
Mayors hail proposed AI factory
Mayors hail proposed AI factory
Southern mayors have thrown their support behind a new data centre which is set to become the country’s second-highest electricity user.
Southern mayors back massive AI factory amid concern over impacts
Southern mayors back massive AI factory amid concern over impacts
Southern mayors have thrown their support behind a new data centre which is set to become the country's second-highest electricity user.