Southland

The Southland-based SBS Bank has lifted its full year profit, as its margins increased from rising interest rates and increased lending.

The Invercargill mayoral race has thrown up another curveball, with deputy mayor Nobby Clark now entering the fray.

The massive jump in costs was due in part to the smelter promising to get rid of more than 200,000 tonnes of spent cell lining waste containing cyanide and toxic fluoride by 2029.

Strong-wind alerts remain in place for parts of the country this evening and into tomorrow.

Three wards at Southland Hospital continue to remain closed to visitors following a Covid-19 outbreak.

Two people in Southland have been arrested after fleeing police, driving along a footpath and crashing into a patrol car.

Southland Hospital was closing wards to ensure staff did not get infected, amid "significant staffing shortages", the head of the DHB's Covid-19 response said. Audio

Southland Hospital has abruptly closed three of its wards to all visitors because of what it is describing as multiple Covid-19 exposures.

For the first time there has been a mass bleaching of native sea sponges in Aotearoa, raising alarm about the impact climate change is having on marine ecosystems.

A Southland restaurant owner has been fined more than $10,000 for failing to keep proper records for the seafood they were moving between their two Te Anau restaurants.

Stewart Island's visitor levy is expected to treble - but it will be phased in.

The Southland District Council has voted to start charging people more money to visit Stewart Island.

A local council is being urged to get on with building the new Southland Museum and Art Gallery.

Drought conditions plaguing Southland farmers have eased, after some much-needed rain in the region.

A dead adult Hector's dolphin was discovered at a Southland bay over the weekend.

Artificial intelligence can be used to design better renewable energy systems and could offer remote communities cheaper options, according to a new study. Audio

The latest survey of Invercargill City Council members shows no notable progress on mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt's working relationship with councillors.

Growing interest among farmers in using drones has led a Southland catchment group to organise a field day to showcase the technology.

A protester has allegedly been arrested after about 30 activists stopped operations at Takitimu coal mine in Southland. Audio

A motorcyclist has attacked a speed camera van, smashing a window and injuring the operator inside, police say.