Southland

Farmers and growers across parts of the lower South Island hit by last month's storm are being urged to reach out for help if they need it.

The body of a fisherman swept off the rocks in the Catlins, on the Southland coast, has been found.

For the first time, family friends talk about what they believe really happened to John Beckenridge and his stepson, Mike.

Vandals are causing senseless damage in Mataura, a community leader says, after public toilets were smashed and plastered with human faeces.

BusinessNZ says companies are coming back from historically low levels of business confidence and there's still a long way to go.

Michael Kingpotiki says a desire to read to his grandchildren inspired him to put his hand up and admit he was illiterate - at age 57.

MetService says heavy rain which caused widespread flooding and damage in Southland and Otago is now making its way up the country.

With Southland under a state of emergency, a remote town's water treatment plant has stopped working, leaving eight hours' drinking water in the reservoir.

A letter from the mayor, his deputy and the outgoing chief executive expressed concern "re-examination of the past may reignite" the problems.

Police have arrested seven people related to the unlawful possession of and supply of firearms and drugs.

Emergency services were called to a blaze in a commercial building in Dee Street just before 1am on Wednesday.

It has been a fraught term for the local government stalwart ever since Ben Bell was elected as the district's mayor

The quality of Bluff oysters in Foveaux Strait was "terrible" this season, with many oysters appearing to starve to death in the ocean, an experienced fisherman says.

Historic toxic aluminium dross waste found at a coal mine near Gore is "low risk", but a possible second site is also being investigated, Southland's regional council says.

A review has been ordered into the police investigation following the death of 3-year-old Lachlan Jones, who was found dead in a sewage pond in 2019.

Southland protesters who chained themselves to historic trees say they are disappointed they could not save them from the chopping block.

Geotechnical findings have shown a significant risk that more heavy rain could trigger landslides, sending debris towards Fiordland's Deep Cove camp and hostel.

Conservationists have set their sights on a new home for New Zealand's rarest parakeet species, to help boost its population.