Southland

The family of cancer campaigner Blair Vining are shocked and appalled after a precious pounamu carving went missing from his headstone.

"If I can survive this, I can probably do another three or four terms," Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt said in June, from the comfort of his large, open office.

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt's new work phone has been sitting at the council since early last year, unused, despite his claims he is soldiering on with one that is barely functional.

A governance group protecting marine species in Fiordland say current levels of fishing in the area are unsustainable, and key fish stocks now require rebuilding.

The Department of Conservation is appealing for information after a dead leopard seal was found decapitated in Southland at the weekend.

Otatara man Derek Gostelow left the money to the Invercargill City Council to help fund community projects.

The first sections of a new council-led subdivision in Gore are about to hit the market as demand for housing soars.

Two people have been taken to hospital after an ammonia leak at a freezing works in Pukeuri, north of Oamaru, last night.

An Invercargill city centre street upgrade is facing further delays after low levels of cyanide and a mix of heavy metals were discovered during earthworks.

Invercargill Hospital has just 17 percent of the midwives it needs, and is an "extreme risk," Southern District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming says.

A 19-year-old man has been arrested after a firearms incident in Winton, Southland earlier today.

A school and kindergarten in Winton, Southland, were in lockdown this afternoon after a firearms incident left one person injured, according to police.

Government officials are confident Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will not close if aluminium prices remain high.

A group of Winton residents have expressed concerns over an application for a new bottle store in their small town, highlighting existing issues in the community.

An aggravated burglary in Bluff on Friday has left one man in Southland Hospital with moderate injuries. Police are now appealing for help from the public to identify those responsible.

More Cook Islanders have arrived in New Zealand, leaving family in exchange for financial stability and a new adventure. Audio

The Invercargill City Council has voted to start phasing out independent oversight of its governance from next month following a turbulent period.

Police have now named the two men who died after a boat sank in Bluff Harbour on Friday.

Two people have died and two are in a stable condition in hospital after a boat ran into difficulty off the Southland coast.