Southland

Southland leaders are calling for political parties to take a stance on how to manage the closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

Amid a fragile tourism market, a sustainable fishing operator is hoping to reel in new customers by taking them on a unique, hook to plate experience.

The Milford Track is set to sell out on its first day of bookings with more than 1000 made in about 10 minutes after sales opened. Less than an hour later, 97 percent of dates were full.

About 30 Milford workers and residents have been tested for Covid-19 after a visit from a traveller who tested positive in South Korea.

The hospital - the dream of cancer care advocate Blair Vining, who died last October - has been selling bricks for the path to its car park, and commemorative plaques.

The police have charged and arrested two people over the death of Southland man Dale Watene.

Each winter, a small team of specialist avalanche forecasters begin their vigil to keep people safe while travelling on the Milford Road. Video

This year the region has been hit by severe flooding that cut access to Milford Sound during peak season, before Covid-19 deprived it over about three quarters of its usual visitors. Audio

Police in Southland are investigating a suspicious fire which destroyed a garden shed at a residential property early yesterday.

The Southland Museum is ramping up its pest control after a rat broke into an enclosure and ate one of the museum's resident tuatara. Audio

NZ First says it was unhappy with the lack of options besides the jobs package and a lack of analysis - and wants a government buyout of the Tiwai Point smelter explored.

Parts of the south have woken up to snow, rain and wind today as a short, sharp southwest change hits the region, causing closures.

Projects proposed for funding include stopbanks and flood protection works in Otago and Southland.

The mayors have vowed to fight for more than 2500 jobs under threat when Tiwai Point aluminium smelter closes in August.

More than 2500 jobs are set to be lost or affected by the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter closing next year, and Southland industries are warning jobs are slim. Audio