Environment Southland

22/09/2026

One report. Quick action. Positive result. ✅

Thanks to a vigilant fisherman who reported a suspected marine pest near Rakiura Stewart Island, Environment Southland was able to investigate swiftly and confirm there were no further signs of invasive seaweed Undaria at the site.

It's a great example of how everyone can play a part in protecting our marine environment. 🌊

For details, read the full press release here 🔗 https://brnw.ch/21x5Rmi

21/09/2026

Update 1.20pm 22 September: Our flood warning/watch has been switched off as river levels have dropped below the broadcast trigger levels.

We've activated the High River Watch status on our website. Heavy rain is currently affecting the Waimea Stream at Mandeville. For the latest information on rivers and levels, please check our online flood warning service at www.es.govt.nz/floodwarning. View our live water level map: www.es.govt.nz/river-levels

Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) uses reasonable endeavours to ensure that the information it provides is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. However, professional or specialist advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action on the basis of this inform...

18/09/2026

This Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week we’re exploring the history behind the names of the rivers flowing through Murihiku Southland.

This river has a particularly memorable story behind its name.

Ngāi Tahu tradition records that survivors of the Takitimu waka, which was wrecked near the river mouth, named the Waiau because of the swirling nature of its waters.

The Waiau was also a major travel route, connecting Murihiku Southland and Foveaux Strait with the West Coast and providing access to important food-gathering places along the way.

So next time you see the Waiau moving, you’re looking at the very characteristic that is remembered in its name.

18/09/2026

💨 MetService New Zealand has issued a strong wind watch for Coastal Southland, Clutha, and Stewart Island from 4:00pm Saturday 19th September to 7:00am Sunday 20th September.

⛵ Our Harbourmaster would like to remind boat owners to ensure their vessels are well secured to their moorings or berths.

➡ Please remember owners are responsible for managing their vessels and ensuring they remain in place during adverse weather and tidal conditions.

🟡Strong Wind Watch🟡

- Period: 15hrs from 4pm Sat, 19 Sep - 7am Sun, 20 Sep
- Area: Coastal Southland and Clutha, also Stewart Island
- Forecast: Westerly winds may approach severe gale in places.
- Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

- Issued: 10:09am Fri 18 Sep
- Next update: 9:00pm Fri 18 Sep

See more at metservice.com/warnings

18/09/2026

As Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week comes to a close, let's finish the week close to home.

Waihōpai is also the Māori name for Invercargill, but the Waihopai River's story stretches back much further than the city itself.

The Waihōpai was once described as being "hip deep" with a gravel bottom. It also formed part of a traditional trail between Waihōpai and Tūtūrau, linking the coast with inland Mataura.

The river has changed significantly over time. Near Thomsons Bush, the Waihōpai was diverted in the 1960s to improve drainage and reduce flooding.

So next time you walk beside it or cross it, take a moment to reflect on the generations who travelled this route before us, and how the river itself has been reshaped over time.

17/09/2026

🌊 Flood resilience is about taking practical action.

Major channel improvement works on the Mataura River in Gore are now complete, helping water move more efficiently through this section of the river during high-flow events.

The work involved removing built-up sediment from the river channel, increasing flood flow capacity by around 13% and reducing pressure on existing flood protection infrastructure.

♻️The sediment wasn't wasted either. It has been reused by Gore District Council as capping material on its retired landfill site.

This is one part of a wider programme to strengthen flood resilience across the Mataura catchment that will make a real difference for our communities and benefit generations to come.

📷 Check out some of the photos as the team neared the end of the job below.

16/09/2026

Here’s a name with a strong local story behind it. It’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week, let’s dive in to some history.

Ngāi Tahu settlement records tell us that the historic settlement of Aparima, where Riverton is today, was named after the daughter of Hekeia, a southern rangatira - a leader of high standing.

The Aparima River also has a long cultural history. An eel weir was built where the Pourakino River enters the Aparima, and the river and estuary provided eels, whitebait and shellfish.

The river mouth was also a settlement and departure point for waka journeys around Foveaux Strait, Rakiura Stewart Island and the Tītī Muttonbird Islands.

A lot of history connected with one familiar Southland place!

16/09/2026

⛰️ High above Southland, something pretty cool is happening.

We've installed our first snowpack monitoring station at Hyde Rock.
Perched about 1,300 metres above sea level, the station will help us understand how much snow falls in our alpine areas, how quickly it melts, and what that means for Southland's rivers.

Getting the equipment into such a remote location was no small feat, but the views made it worthwhile.

The data collected will help improve our flood forecasting and give us valuable insights into an important part of Southland's climate that is expected to be significantly affected by climate change.

It's another way we're using science and monitoring to better understand our environment and support Southlanders now and into the future.

🔗 You can check out the data on envdata.es.govt.nz by selecting the 'snow' dataset.

14/09/2026

It’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week and we’re exploring the history behind the names of the rivers flowing through Murihiku Southland.

The name Mataura is most likely to mean “reddish water”, thought to relate to iron oxide in local swamp water.

But one of the river’s strongest stories is at Mataura Falls.

The falls have long been known for kanakana (lamprey), which migrate from the sea into freshwater and have traditionally been gathered there as an important food source.

In 2006, a 10-kilometre stretch of the river around the falls became New Zealand’s first freshwater mātaitai - a customary fisheries reserve.

That’s a remarkable depth of history and connection in a place many of us know simply as Mataura Falls.

13/09/2026

At Environment Southland we’re all about looking after the waterways that contribute to our thriving region. This Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week we’re exploring the history behind the names of the rivers flowing through Murihiku Southland.

Here’s an interesting story behind the Ōreti name.

One commonly recorded interpretation of Ōreti is “place of the snare.” A local cultural-history account links this to Ōreti Beach and its longer Māori name, Te Whanga Kōreti Hau Tonga “the Bay that catches the South Wind” although the exact origin of the name is uncertain.

What we do know is that the Ōreti was an important inland pathway. Ngāi Tahu travelled along the river towards Lake Wakatipu and important sources of pounamu greenstone.

People could return downstream in mōkihi, traditional vessels made from raupō a native bulrush, carrying pounamu and gathered food.

A pretty different way to think about a river many of us cross regularly.