The Southland Tribune; Edition #217
Does Invercargill have a room occupancy problem? | A Southland return: Black Fern's 'full circle moment' | Creatives urged to 'push boat out' for 2024 Night of the Arts
Creatives urged to 'push boat out' for 2024 Night of the Arts
Fourteen Stags prospects to lineup for Highlanders Bravehearts
Out & About… Harness racing at Ascot Park
Does Invercargill have a room occupancy problem?
Invercargill’s short-term accommodation occupancy rate is in decline with Invercargill Licensing Trust’s boss saying there’s already an oversupply in the market. And that’s before another 150-room hotel is opened in the city. (READ MORE HERE).
A Southland return: Black Fern's 'full circle moment'
“It’s quite a full circle moment because [Southland’s] where my love for rugby started. A lot of important people, who have been part of my rugby journey, will get an opportunity to see that.” (READ MORE HERE).
Deputy Mayor asks public if 'we’ve got the balance right'
The Invercargill City Council is calling on the public to have its say on the “big projects, activities and services” for Invercargill and Bluff over the next 10 years. (READ MORE HERE).
Tribune Shoutout…
Southland lawn bowler Sheldon Bagrie has added to his ever-growing list of achievements with another national title.
On Thursday Bagrie-Howley teamed up with Selena Goddard to win the national mixed pairs title at the tournament played in Taranaki.
The pair emerged from a record number of teams and beat John Garrud and Trish Howard in the final.
Bagrie-Howley and Goddard went one better in 2024 after progressing to the 2023 mixed pairs final before losing the final.
Big congratulations to Sheldon from your fellow Southlanders.
Creatives urged to 'push boat out' for 2024 Night of the Arts
Creatives from all over Murihiku are being invited to be part of the ever-expanding Invercargill arts scene at the second Night of the Arts (NoTA) in May. (READ MORE HERE).
Fourteen Stags prospects to lineup for Highlanders Bravehearts
Fourteen potential 2024 Southland Stags will line up for the Highlanders Bravehearts in a showdown with Crusaders Development on Saturday. The second-tier Highlanders team will line up against the Crusaders Development team at the Pleasant Point Rugby Club in South Canterbury. (READ MORE HERE).
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Quick Quiz…
1. Who are the two mana whenua representatives at the Invercargill City Council?
2. Before the Rugby Park name returned, what was Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill called?
3. Which high school did former All Black Justin Marshall attend?
4. Who will Matatū play in the opening Super Rugby Aupiki round at Rugby Park on Saturday
5. When was Sir Tim Shadbolt first elected Invercargill Mayor?
Answers: Pania Coote & Evelyn Cook 2. Homestead Stadium 3. Gore High School 4. The Blues 5. 1993
How about a bit of croquet?…
Judy Stewart (pictured) was part of the Southland team that took on Coastal Otago at an Interprovincial Golf Croquet Tournament in Dunedin on Thursday.
Coastal Otago won 24-16. Each team had eight players.
Stewart, of Gore, won two games and lost four at the tournament.
She is in her third season of playing croquet and a member of the Gore Croquet Club. Stewart played golf and tennis in earlier years before taking up croquet.
“I had watched the odd [croquet] game and thought, 'I quite like that',” Stewart said.
That was enough for her to sign up with the Gore Croquet Club.
Out & About…
Harness racing at Ascot Park, Invercargill
The Invercargill Harness Racing Club will host a 10-race card at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill today (Friday, 1 March).
Admission is free with the first of ten races scheduled to commence at 3.00pm and the last at 7.20pm.
The feature race is a heat of the Southern Belle Speed Series, supported by the Southern Standardbred Breeders Assn.
It is the ideal opportunity to make an early start to the weekend by finishing work early and relaxing trackside with an evening of harness racing action.
In case you missed it…
$128k: Saturday was a pretty powerful one for the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Southland Hospital. A Home & Garden Tour, put together by Ray White Invercargill, raised $128,419 for that Family Room. (READ MORE HERE).
‘Optimistic’: The latest addition to Invercargill’s retail scene has full confidence in the Southland market and has also declared the Invercargill Central development “world-class”. Christchurch-based Ballantynes will officially open up a new satellite store in Invercargill on Friday. (READ MORE HERE).
