NewsBank (Ensign, The)

Take these simple steps to keep your household safe from fire this winter.

Food festivals, public Wi-Fi and a small shopping mall are at the top of the wishlist for a future Gore, a group of students told receptive Gore District councillors last week. Gemma Sinclair reports.

Finally a totally predictable round with the two Aussies teams thrashed and the Blues only going through to the semis as the “lucky loser”.

The Ensign has been profiling the head students from the secondary schools in the readership area. This week we are introducing Menzies head students Nicholle Bedrijo and Hudson Roy.

Three things matter when it comes to heat retention.

Two Cromwell friends will stage the ultimate betrayal later this month.

After three decades running Gore’s most famous event, Phil Geary is stepping aside as convener of the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards.

Getting his kicks on Route 66, Mike Yardley recommends the Arizona section of the fabled road as it celebrates a major milestone.

The Mataura Rugby Football Club’s 140-year jubilee was a celebration of the lifelong bonds created by the sport.

The sale of Gore’s Resthaven Village, owned by Presbyterian Support Southland for more than 70 years, has been formally confirmed, with the new owners to take over operations on July 1.

Two appeals have been made for the consent of a gold mine near Gore.

New Zealand homes aren’t good enough.

Navigating with a map and compass may sound old-fashioned, but orienteering is in vogue and is coming to Gore again in time for the school holidays.

Contact Energy chief executive Mike Fuge said the final consent approval for the Southland Wind Farm was another step forward in our vision to lead New Zealand’s renewable energy future.

The Ensign would like to welcome new reporter Gemma Sinclair.

The volunteers who run the Gore ice skating rink are reminding themselves good things take time as they go into overtime to get the rink ready in time for its reopening this week.

The days are darker, it’s getting colder, and the temptation to run the heat pump at full blast might be growing. After all, they’re a low-cost and efficient way to heat your home. Tempting though it might be, blasting your heat pump will add to the numbers on your electricity bill, but it also adds to your carbon footprint, according to EECA.

If in doubt, chuck your blanket out, WorkSafe says.

Lachie, 10, Violet, 9, and Harry, 13, Moore kicked off their school holiday break with a Easter egg hunt at Mitre 10 on Monday. PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG.

State Highway 1 near Pukerau was closed on Sunday afternoon after a car hit a power pole.

Blue Mountain College’s recent celebration of its 50th anniversary was an opportunity to highlight the Tapanui school’s success, culture, and why it punches above its weight in so many different ways, organisers say.

Returning to a familiar southern setting is a dream come true for new Balclutha supermarket owner Josh Lee.

THE ART OF COLONISATION

Silver Fern Farms Ltd is back in the black, having posted a $29.1 million net profit after tax for the year ended December 31 on revenue of just over $3 billion.

Contact Energy has made no immediate commitment to build a giant wind farm near Wyndham and an opponent has not thrown the towel in yet.

Cyanobacteria, also known as toxic algae, has been found in the Mataura River. The algae (right) can produce toxins (called cyanotoxins) that are harmful to animals and humans when eaten, even licked, or when water containing the toxins is swallowed. Some people will have an allergic reaction to just touching the algae.

On March 21, a giant ghost moth with a 73mm wingspan flew into my house. This was Aoraia rufivena, a ghost moth of the family Hepialidae.

HOPPERS

AFTER living life in the fast lane for many years, competing around the globe and the country, rally driver Emma Gilmour is changing lanes in 2026 and taking her foot slightly off the gas.

Memories of the past and a challenge for the future were among the highlights of a celebration to mark Prue Scorgie’s 50th anniversary of teaching at St Peter’s College.