Evan Harding

A young man who killed his best mate in a drink-drive crash on a rural Southland road has been sentenced to two years and seven months prison.

Jasmine Giles repeatedly punched her partner in the head and body when he refused to give her money, then smeared jam over his face and chest, a police summary of facts says.

A Southland farmer whose environmental offending resulted in agricultural effluent flowing into and damaging the Tokanui stream has been sentenced to 12 months home detention.

Fifteen Great White sharks tagged near Stewart Island early last year travelled roughly 2500km to near the Pacific Islands and north-east Australia before many returned within 12 months.

The southern New Zealand dotterel/pukunui, population 160, have numerous quirks and idiosyncracies.

A potential re-route of a 39km section of the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail in northern Southland is unlikely to receive Southland District Council funding, mayor Rob Scott says.

Missing Southland man Kevin Belling is most likely dead and it's possible he was a victim of foul play, police say.

More details of an emerging online trend described as “paedophile hunting” have been revealed, with police saying it “appears to be facilitated through an online influencer”.

A police revelation that missing Southland dairy farmer Kevin Belling was possibly the victim of foul play was a “bit scary” his estranged wife said.

Wapiti deer in the Fiordland National Park have been formally designated as New Zealand's first Herd of Special Interest.