Southland

A long-awaited report on how one of the country's most visited tourist destinations will be managed is due to be released next month and may define its community and the tourism industry.

A group of residents living on a rugged patch of coastline at the bottom of the South Island are worried about the future of their crumbling scenic road - and concerns are rising about a potentially…

One of Rio Tinto's top executives has been meeting with Southland iwi today about the closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

Tiwai Aluminium Smelter operators have revealed there are tens of thousand more tonnes of highly toxic waste stored at its Tiwai Point than it has previously reported.

Police have received more than 50 calls from people offering information about the disappearance of Amber-Lee Cruickshank, since a $100,000 reward was offered a fortnight ago.

The group from Thornbury Vintage Tractor Club will set off on Sunday from Invercargill in a 1983 Massey Ferguson 20D tractor to complete the 1200 kilometre round trip to Christchurch.

Work is already under way to have Fiordland recognised as a Dark Sky Park, with hopes it would bring domestic and international visitors to the region.

Late autumn chills have set in for Otago and the lower South Island, with a further bite on the way.

Environmental experts checking on contamination at Tiwai Point aluminium smelter are looking at 400 samples from 200 sites.

A decision to let a friend drive him home left a Southland man and his family needing to rebuild their shattered life.

Fire fighters spent last night battling two small vegetation fires in high winds, and much of the South Island and parts of the lower North Island are being warned to prepare for severe weather today.

One person has been taken to hospital with burns after a house fire in Bluff this morning.

A rāhui has officially been enacted today to help protect the Foveaux Strait oyster fishery from the potential spread of a deadly parasite.

Almost two-thirds of senior doctors and dentists in Otago and Southland feel burnt out, according to a survey from a union representing the salaried workers.

A post-mortem has confirmed that a body found in a wooded area of central Invercargill last week is that of missing man Raymond Horn.

A body found in a wooded area of Invercargill is believed to be that of missing man Raymond Horn.

A Rahui will be placed on an area in Foveaux Strait following the discovery of a deadly parasite that could put the entire bluff oyster trade at risk.