Welcome to Radio Southland's Community Notices 06/11/2026            

The SBS Bank Tour of Southland is underway until November 7th, celebrating its milestone 70th edition. Elite riders are racing through Southland’s towns, countryside and iconic spots, on stages that have tested generations of cyclists. It’s a much-loved Southland tradition, so get out and cheer on the peloton as it comes through your way. Keep an eye on tourofsouthland.com for the full stage schedule and route information.

South Alive and the Riverton Environment Centre are running the Bountiful Backyard Workshops on Saturday November 14th, from 10 am to 3:45 pm at 262 Ness Street, Appleby. Learn about vege gardens, no-dig gardening and worm farming, and there are bucket garden and microgreen sessions for the kids. Entry is by gold coin donation, and children under 14 must be with an adult. Spaces are limited, so get there early. For more info call 03 218 6882.

The Civic Theatre is celebrating its 120th birthday with a Community Open Day on Saturday, November 14th from 10 am to 4 pm, and entry is free. Explore this much-loved Category 1 heritage building, hear stories from its past, and take a peek behind the curtain at one of Invercargill’s most treasured venues. Bring the whānau along for a look at 120 years of history.

The Multicultural Street Food Market takes over Esk and Don Streets in the Invercargill city centre on Saturday November 14th, from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm. It’s free to attend, with international kai, live music, and dancing from community groups across the region. Just a heads-up for drivers: Esk and Don Streets will be closed to traffic from 2 pm to 10 pm.

The Southern Artisan Christmas Fete is on at The Hideaway, 201 Lochiel Branxholme Road, just five minutes out of Winton, on Saturday November 21st from 10 am to 4 pm. Set in beautiful gardens, it’s a great spot to get your Christmas shopping sorted, with artisan stallholders from across the South Island selling homewares, jewellery, art, clothing, plants and gifts. There’ll be live music, local produce, and plenty of good food and drink too. Entry is $20, or $50 for a pre-purchased gourmet lunch box ticket with bubbles. Head to southernfete.co.nz for more details.

Conversational English sessions run every Monday during school terms from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at Southern REAP on Fairfield Street in Gore. It’s a free, relaxed session for practising spoken English, with a bit of grammar, plenty of conversation, and tea, coffee and kai. Participants must hold New Zealand residency. To find out more or to join, get in touch with Southern REAP at info@reap.co.nz or freephone 0800 111 117.

If heritage is your thing, the Heritage South Monthly Lunch is held on the last Tuesday of each month, from 12 pm to 1 pm at Brew’d Cafe in Invercargill. It’s free and informal, and everyone’s welcome, whether you’re a regular or coming for the first time. Guests are encouraged to support the cafe by buying food or a drink. Please RSVP to Fraser Pearce, Heritage South Trustee, the week before so a booking can be made. You can reach Fraser at fraser.pearce@heritagesouth.nz.

IHC is looking for a Supportive Older Peer volunteer to join a group of young adults with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergent profiles on Monday evenings. It’s about helping build connections through things like games and outings, and being a calm, reliable presence that supports confidence and independence. If you’re patient, consistent and enjoy connecting with people, contact Leon directly on 021 308 549.

Age Concern needs volunteer visitors to spend time with older folk who might be feeling a bit isolated. That could be a home visit, a stroll together, a cuppa or just a good chat. If you’ve got a spare hour each week, you could make a real difference. Get in touch with Chris at Age Concern on 2186351.

If you’ve got a bit of free time and a good reading voice, the telephone information service for the blind needs people to help with daily or weekly readings from the newspaper, all from the comfort of your own home. Interested? Get in touch with the Blind Foundation on 218 3927.

Anyone keen to join 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 — a free, weekly, timed 5km event held every Saturday from 8am. It has returned to it’s regular venue, meeting at Feldwick Gates,  Queens Park. Everyone is welcome to walk, jog, run, or volunteer. For updates, event details, and bus information, visit their Facebook page.

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 Monday to Friday from 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 9:00am – 4:00pm Tuesday to Thursday, Monday & Friday by appointment. 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 Muesum 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. 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!