Kia Ora – welcome to Radio Southland’s Community News! Updated 01/04/2025

Just a reminder – Daylight Saving finishes this weekend, so – before you go to bed on Saturday night, remember to wind your clocks back an hour

Thursday is the Senior Citizens lunch at the Anchorage starting at noon, followed by the Senior Citizens Card Day at the Senior Citizens Centre at 1pm – call Catherine Culling on 212-8138 for more info.

Join the Invercargill Repertory Society for Tom Whalley's adults-only panto, Throbbin’ Wood! This show is strictly R18, featuring offensive language and sexual references, so it’s not for the faint-hearted—but it’s guaranteed to be a hilarious night out. Radio Southland’s very own Lyndal and Darren Ludlow are part of the cast, so come along and support some familiar voices on stage. Tickets are $35, with a concession price of $25, and can be booked online at invercargillrepertory.co.nz. The show runs from May 14th to May 17th at the Repertory House, 167 Esk Street, Invercargill. Don’t miss out!

The Bluff Oyster & Food Festival is happening on Saturday, May 24th, at the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival site. Gate entry tickets are $50 and can be purchased now through the festival’s official Trade Me account, under the username ‘oysterfestival.’ This event is a must for seafood lovers, with plenty of delicious options, including the famous Bluff Oyster, alongside a variety of other food and beverages. The festival also features a full lineup of live music, as well as the always-popular oyster opening and eating competitions.

Get ready to step back in time with the George Begg Festival, running from April 10th to 13th in Invercargill! Celebrate the golden era of 60s and 70s motorsport with action-packed racing at Teretonga Park, retro-themed events, and entertainment for all ages. Tickets start at $65 per day, $100 for a three-day pass, with bundle options available. For full event details and ticket info, head to georgebeggfestival.nz.

Check out the Craft Market happening Saturday, April 12th and Sunday, April 13th, from 10am to 4pm at the Southland Indoor Bowls Centre on Onslow Street, Invercargill. You'll find a variety of handmade crafts—everything from artwork, beadwork, jewellery, and baby accessories to hair accessories and much more. There’s something for everyone, young or old! Entry is free. For more information, contact Wendy on 027 379 7227 or email wendy-butler@live.com.

Get ready for an evening of creativity and fun as Night of the Arts (NoTA) returns to the Invercargill CBD on Friday, May 16th, from 3pm to 9pm. This free event is packed with entertainment—featuring everything from community choirs and Latin dance to live art, quirky storytelling, and tamariki-friendly activities kicking off from 3pm. Expect live painting, flash mobs, street performers, DJ beats, and art installations popping up in unexpected places. It’s all about celebrating Southland’s vibrant creative spirit. For more details, email kiaora@artsmurihiku.co.nz or call 021 270 3731.

Bayleys Tussock Country – New Zealand’s Country Music Festival – returns to Gore from May 23rd to June 1st, bringing together the rural community and country music fans for ten days of celebration. With over 60 events on offer, the festival showcases the best in country music, food, rural life, and entertainment, all delivered with signature southern hospitality. Held across various venues, including the Gore Town & Country Club, the festival supports local community groups, features hundreds of artists, and draws thousands of attendees. Event times and ticket prices vary—full festival details and tickets are available now at tussockcountry.nz.

Age Concern is on the lookout for some amazing individuals like you! They need volunteer visitors to share a little joy with our older friends who might feel isolated. Imagine a cozy home visit, a stroll together, sharing a cuppa or just chatting. If you've got a spare hour each week, you could make a world of difference to someone in need of a bit of company. So, if you're up for lending an ear and some good company, Age Concern would love to hear from you! Reach out to Chris at Age Concern by dialing 2186351.

On weekdays in Bluff, there are Te Rourou sessions from 8.30 to 5 pm where everyone’s welcome to come along and relax with a cuppa and enjoy a safe, secure environment for your little ones. For more information, please call 212 8866.

Every second Thursday of the month, the Art Attic Gallery hosts a Poetry Night that kicks off at 7 pm. And the best part? It's completely free to enter, plus they'll even throw in some tasty nibbles and drinks. You can find The Art Attic Gallery at 43 Tay Street in Invercargill.

Get ready for a fantastic monthly music night hosted by the Lower Mataura Valley. It all goes down on the second Wednesday of each month, kicking off at 7:30 pm sharp, right at the Mataura RSA. For just $5, you're in for a night of great tunes and even better company. And here's a little extra encouragement: feel free to bring along a plate of your favourite snacks to share with fellow music lovers!

If you've got a bit of free time and a fantastic reading voice, the telephone information service for the blind is looking for folks who can help with daily or weekly readings from the newspaper, and you can do it right from the comfort of your own home! Interested? Get in touch with the Blind Foundation at 218-3927.

Anyone interested in joining the Foveaux Pearls Leisure Marching group please contact Dianne Blair on 216 4962.

And now a run-down of regular events and services in our province:

Activities:

Invercargill Parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5km event held every Saturday from 9am at Queens Park. Meet at the cricket pavilion carpark and walk, jog, run or volunteer - everyone is welcome. Head to their Facebook page for all of the details!

On Sundays from 9.30-1.30 the Southern Farmers Market is open at the old Railway Station - look for the market sign. Enjoy food, arts, crafts and produce in this popular market setting – it’s great to sit down and have lunch with the family!

Agencies:

The Loss & Grief Centre’s Invercargill drop-in centre is open Mondays to Friday 10am-4pm. You can also call or text 027 443 87 88, email lossandgriefcentre@gmail.com, or send them a message. The Centre also provides services in Winton, Gore, Mataura & Te Anau. Visit their website – www.lossandgriefcentre.com for more information.

Do you binge eat? Purge, starve, or compulsively exercise? Wherever you are, whatever your problem with food, Addictive Eaters Anonymous can help. Visit www.aeainfo.org to find out more about Addictive Eaters Anonymous.

Learning Differences Aotearoa are available to help if you or your child has a learning difference and needs some support – call or text Chris on 027 201 69 51, or email support@learningdifferences.org.nz.

Hearing Southland & their associated clinics in Leet St are open and taking bookings by phone - 214 91 54.

If you are elderly and need social support, access to help with meals or care services, support is available from Age Concern. Meals are available to pick up, and exercise classes are on. You are welcome to make an appointment to talk to someone, please wear a mask when you come in. They can also come to visit you. You can call them on 218 63 51, or visit ageconcern.org.nz.

If you have concerns about a senior’s safety, call the Elder Abuse Helpline for advice on 0800 326 68 65.

Jubilee Budgeting Services are available online or by phone – call 0800 Jubilee, or text 027 Jubilee. Go to their Facebook page for more information on what help they can provide. Appointments are able to be made to get advice over the phone, or to come to the office and meet in person.

The Southland Community Law Centre in the Cue on Don building in Don St are available to help - phone ahead to make an appointment – 0800 55 0800. Their hours are from 9-4 Mon-Thurs and 9-12.30 on Fridays. They also offer outreach services to Gore and Fiordland.

Council services, museums & galleries:

The Invercargill Public Library is open from 9-6 weekdays, and 10-4 on weekends. The Bluff Library is open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm, and Saturdays from 10-1. The Archives in Invercargill are open – but please call ahead to book in on 03 211 15 73. Please return all books through the slots. MyBookBag is still available for free contactless book delivery – go to www.ilibrary.co.nz/mybookbag   

Southland District Council area offices and libraries are open. Travelling library options are also available with the mobile bookbus, and have you checked their digital library options? To find out more go to southlanddc.govt.nz and click on ‘Libraries’ – or call them on 0800 732 542!

Te Hikoi Museum in Riverton is open every day from 10-4 – call them for more information on 03-234 8260 or visit their Facebook page!

The Thornbury Vintage Tractor Club focuses on Southland’s rural heritage and local history. With an extensive collection of vintage farm machinery, this is a great Sunday drive visit. It’s at 61 Foster Rd Thornbury, and its open Sundays from 1.30-4.30pm. Entry is $5. You can also call Fraser on 021 03 85 196 to arrange a time to visit!

The Otautau Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10-5. They’re at 110 Main St, Otautau, have a stunning collection of arts and crafts and they’re part of the Western Southland Arts Trail. Check out their Facebook page or phone 225-86-38 for more information. Entry is free!

The Southland Fire Museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 11-4, and can also open for group bookings – call Les on 027 254 6464. It’s on the corner of Jed and Spey Streets, and entry is a gold coin donation!

He Waka Tuia on the corner of Don & Kelvin Streets is open from 10-5 Monday-Friday and 11-2.30 on weekends. This combined art and museum space is proud to celebrate everything Murihiku. Have a visit and explore their immersive exhibitions with the kids – entry is free!

The Awarua Communications Museum is open on Sundays from 1-4pm. Take a step into a unique part of our history, view their collection of local & national communications memorabilia and enjoy their interactive exhibitions. Entry is cash only – it’s $6 for adults and $3 for children.

The Bluff Maritime Museum is open from Monday-Friday from 10-4.30, and 12.30-4.30 on weekends. They have lots of fascinating history to view, including fishing & sealing memorabilia, tours of an oyster boat, and info about this earliest European settled community, including shipwrecks in the challenging southern waters. Admission for adults is $5, and its $1 for children.

The Eastern Southland Gallery is open from 10-4.30 on weekdays, and 1-4pm on weekends! For more information on the gallery and current exhibitions, visit www.esgallery.co.nz.

If you’re a community organisation or are hosting an event – do get in touch - give us a call on 03 2189891, email admin@radiosouthland.org.nz, or go to the contact us form on our website!