Blog - Local News
Big news: 2012 oysters to be big 'uns
Oyster lovers could have to wait another day to get their first fill of the delicacy for the year with strong winds expected for the open of the season tomorrow. Direct Fish and Oyster owner Willie Calder yesterday said winds were forecasted at 35 knots for tomorrow, well above the 20 knots he considered bad, so he did not expect any fishermen to be out in Foveaux Strait in the morning. The wind was expected to ease in the afternoon so boats may go out then, but that could mean the oysters would not be opened until Friday, he said. "The forecast is quite accurate these days so ... if it is 35 knots it's not going to be good for anybody," he said.
Read the full postSquirrel for Rakiura helicopter company
Rakiura Helicopters, the only helicopter company with a concession for operations out of Stewart Island’s Fern Gully, and Bluff’s Ocean Beach, has purchased a six-passenger Squirrel helicopter that adds capacity for travellers, hunters and commercial operators and also vital medivac facilities for the island. info@rakiurahelicopters.co.nz
Read the full postStump the Hump
Organisers of the second annual Stump the Hump 24- hour walking event along the 55km Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track on 03FEB report that there are still a few spaces left, and entries close 27JAN.
Read the full postTunnel opposition mounts
The Southland Times reports that the Venture Southland joint committee has this week voted to submit against the proposed Milford-Dart tunnel plan and write to politicians in opposition. The paper’s online edition says Venture outhland’s strategic projects manager, Steve Canny, and Distinction Hotels chain owner Geoffrey Thomson spoke out against the tunnel at the meeting.
Read the full postStump the Hump 24-hour Challenge: 03-04FEB12
Stump the Hump is a 24-hour walking event aimed at endurance sportspeople and adventurous trampers. It challenges walkers to complete the entire 55km of Southland’s Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track in a single day. Starting from Rarakau at midnight on Friday 03FEB, entrants trek over sandy beaches and through ancient podocarp forest reaching
the subalpine Okaka Lodge in time for hot porridge and to watch dawn break over the Takitimu Mountains, Stewart Island and the Southern Ocean.
Remote Southland lodge takes out top award
One of the most remotely situated lodges in New Zealand has been named as the best in its class at this year’s prestigious Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence. Fiordland Lodge on the Te Anau–Milford Highway has taken out the award in the category “Best Accommodation”.
Read the full postKingston Flyer relaunched
Southland’s famous vintage steam train, Kingston Flyer carried its first paying passengers in two years, when more than
1000 fans filled five sold-out trips last Saturday.
