Tracy Hicks
Gore on a mission to be more age-friendly for older people
Southland's second largest town - Gore - is on something of a mission. It realised years ago that a sizeable proportion of its population of 12,800 was older, at 65 plus.
That led to a commitment to… Audio
Covid-19: Southland mayors campaigning for vaccinations
Cycling's Tour of Southland got underway at the weekend - but it's a different tour of the region which may be the key to beating back the pandemic.
A farmgate vaccination tour of remote towns in… Audio
Southlanders starting to accept Tiwai Point closure
Southlanders are starting to think ahead and accept the likely reality of a closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.
Tracy Hicks from the Southland Mayoral Forum says he wasn't surprised the… Audio
Tiwai Point staff enter holiday season with future uncertain
The Labour Party campaigned on keeping the aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point open for another three to five years.
But as Christmas approaches, the smelter's 1000 staff go into the holidays uncertain… Audio
Hopes Mataura mill could be freed from dross soon
There's renewed hope Mataura may finally be freed of the burden of 10,000 tonnes of potentially toxic waste.
Court action taken by the Environmental Defence Society against the Tiwai Point aluminium… Audio
Labour promises to keep Tiwai Point smelter running
Labour has pledged to keep the lights on at Tiwai Point, despite earlier indicating it's a sunset industry.
Leader Jacinda Ardern and energy spokesperson Megan Woods visited Invercargill to pitch… Audio
Mataura mill fire raises questions about ouvea premix removal
A fire near a disused paper mill in Mataura has raised further questions about when the hazardous waste stored in the mill will be removed.
About 8500 tonnes of ouvea premix is sitting in the mill in… Audio
Mataura residents have bags packed ready to leave due to paper mill dross
Residents of the Southland town of Mataura have their bags packed ready to evacuate in case potentially lethal ammonia gas is released from toxic waste being stored there.
A nearby fire yesterday is… Audio
Toxic dross still a threat at Old Paper Mill in Mataura
Gore's district mayor says putting a fire out at the Old Paper Mill in Mataura has not ended the danger of eight thousand tonnes of toxic waste. Yesterday, Fire and Emergency extinguished a blaze only… Audio
Meet the Mayors: Gore's Tracy Hicks
It's the time of the week where we speak to one of our local leaders - today we head to Gore where Tracy Hicks has been mayor since 2004. Audio
Anger and anxiety as Southland's toxic time bomb is ready to go off
The 10,000 tonnes of toxic waste causing anger and anxiety in Mataura - and the secret deal that saw it dumped there. Audio
Anger and anxiety as Southland's toxic time bomb is ready to go off
The 10,000 tonnes of toxic waste causing anger and anxiety in Mataura - and the secret deal that saw it dumped there.
AudioRio Tinto refuses to acknowledge deal over Mataura mill
Rio Tinto is refusing to acknowledge a handshake deal it made with the Gore District Council to remove toxic waste from the Southland town of Mataura.
The company reiterated in a statement yesterday… Audio
Deal to store tonnes of aluminium dross is called off
A deal to get 10 thousand tonnes of aluminium dross - a potentially dangerous chemical stored at the former Mataura paper mill in Gore, has been called off. Audio
Southland clean-up begins in earnest
The sodden clean up in Southland gets underway in earnest this week, as the remnants of floodwater slowly disappears and the full extent of the damage is revealed.
Jordan Bond reports. Audio
The worth of a mayor
The Renumeration Aurhority has decided being a mayor is a full-time job and are adjusting their salaries accordingly. Southland and Otago mayors will receive a pay rise of between 2.8 per cent and 12… Audio
Gore mayor urges govt to help clean up toxic waste
The liquidators of a company that was supposed to clean up thousands of tonnes of toxic waste from the Tiwai aluminium smelter say the only solution will be to ship it overseas for processing. Taha… Audio
Gore's mayor unsurprised by Todd Barclay's decision to resign
Gore's Mayor Tracy Hicks says Todd Barclay is bright, energetic and enthusiastic and this scandal has been a huge surprise. He says the fallout is concerning and a lot of people are feeling fragile… Audio
Gore District mayor welcomes Chinese investment in the region
The Mayor of the Gore District Council is welcoming the Chinese investment that will see a $200 million dollar diary manufacturing plant in the region. Audio
Gore mayor relieved at Ebola clearance for local nurse
News that a Gore nurse has been cleared of Ebola is being welcomed by her friends, family and locals who say she's been making a difference in the fight against the virus. Audio
