Latest news with #Southland
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
A warmer winter is on its way, NIWA says
By John Lewis , Otago Daily Times Climate scientists are predicting winter 2025 could be warmer than usual. Photo: Tom Kitchin Electricity bills may deliver less of a hammering this winter if NIWA's outlook for the next few months comes to fruition. It shows temperatures from June to August are "very likely" to be warmer than average this winter, meaning fewer cold snaps and frosts than usual. NIWA National Climate Centre forecasting principal scientist Chris Brandolino said El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions in the tropical Pacific remained neutral at present, but there were "residual signals" that indicated weak La Nina conditions were persisting. Occasional La Nina-like atmospheric patterns might still emerge over the next three months, he said. "However, international guidance indicates about a 70 percent chance for the tropical Pacific to remain in an Enso-neutral state over the next three-month period." He said higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure was expected to the east of the country, leading to northeasterly flow anomalies that might shift to a more northwesterly direction towards the end of the three-month period. That means seasonal air temperatures are expected to be above average across all New Zealand regions for the winter season. "While cold snaps and frosts will occur, they are expected to be less frequent than usual." On the West Coast, Southern Alps and foothills, inland Otago, and Southland, temperatures were very likely to be above average, he said. Rainfall totals, soil moisture levels and river flows are about equally likely to be near normal or above normal. Temperatures were also very likely to be above average along coastal Otago, he said. "Rainfall totals are most likely to be in the near normal range, and soil moisture levels and river flows are about equally likely to be near normal or above normal." Brandolino said for the remainder of the calendar year, ENSO-neutral conditions were expected to persist. "The guidance available, however, suggests the possibility for La Nina conditions to return by summer 2025-2026." La Nina can bring more northeasterly winds to New Zealand, leading to drier conditions in the south and southwest of the South Island. - This story was first published by Otago Daily Times
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Power outage in Southland continues, nearly 400 homes remain without electricity
Southland power supplier, PowerNet say nearly 400 homes in the region are still without power. Photo: Supplied / PowerNet Southland power supplier, PowerNet says nearly 400 homes in the region are still without power. The electricity network company on Saturday said three of its networks had been badly disrupted by stormy weather overnight, and warned affected customers to prepare for extended blackouts to last for days. They were OtagoNet, Electricity Invercargill and The Power Company, which services Southland. At that time, PowerNet said some customers could remain without power into Monday and people who were medically dependent on electricity should plan accordingly. By 8.45pm Saturday, 1600 properties were still without power, reduced from about 8000 customers earlier in the weekend. A PowerNet spokesperson said staff had worked throughout Saturday in difficult conditions to restore power to most of the impacted homes. They said it was expected at least 80 percent of the remaining homes would be reconnected by the end of today. The strong winds on Friday and into Saturday had kept firefighters busy in the lower South Island, including calls for help with roofs lifting off houses and fallen trees. MetService forecasters issued strong wind warnings, including for gusts up to 130km/h in places. Elsewhere, a heavy swell warning remains in place for parts of Wairarapa from 1am this Morning, and is expected to last until late Monday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Around the Southland: Andrew Wind Symphony hits right note at SuperState, more
Victor J. Andrew High School band students once again were chosen to play in the state's premiere band festival in the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois in Champaign. The high school's Wind Symphony played at the 2025 University of Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival, which serves as the state championship for concert bands. About 80 ensembles submitted applications that included a recorded performance, and 24 high school bands were asked to perform at SuperState. Andrew students also marked a first this year – being chosen as the Class 2A Honor Band, which means they will return in 2026 for a feature performance. They performed 'Galop' by Dmitri Shostakovich, 'Over the Moon' by Frank Ticheli and 'Deep River' by Benjamin Horne. 'I'm just really proud of the kids,' Director Mark Iwinski shared in a news release. 'They play so musically and have a desire to play some of the best repertoire in the best places.' Reservations are being taken for the free event Hike the Freedom Trail, set for 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 7 at the boat launch at Beaubien Woods Forest Preserve, 134th and the Little Calumet River. Seating is limited for the program, which features expats providing a historically accurate story from experts of the Midwest Underground Railroad Network about the hundreds or even thousands of escaped slaves known as 'freedom seekers' who traveled on the Underground Railroad in the Chicago area's south region prior to the Civil War. One site is the farm owned by the Jan Ton family, which is near Beaubien Woods. The tour, sponsored by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the Calumet Heritage Partnership, includes a bus ride and a moderate hike. Dress for the weather. Sign up online or call 773-370-3305 or email tonfarmugrr@ Southland College Prep Charter High School in Richton Park recognized all 145 graduating seniors during its 12th All In celebration, noting that once again all of them were accepted to college and earned $50 million in scholarships. For the first time, four seniors earned scholarships from the newly created Kwarteng Foundation, which honors Alex Kwarteng, of Matteson, who immigrated to the United States from Ghana in the 1980s. His daughters, Lisa, Amy, Sandra and Esther Kwarteng, established the foundation, which awarded $10,000 in scholarships to four 2025 graduates of Southland College Prep: Itohan Salami, Terri Mensah, Dhayra Gomez and Kehinde Sowemino, who was class valedictorian. Amy and Esther Kwarteng are Southland alums. In addition, 10 Southland seniors were admitted to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with full-ride scholarships worth $2 million, and as a result of the growing partnership with the two schools. Two graduating seniors, Rickaiya Bernard and Mofuluwake Arogundade, earned a cumulative total of more than $750,000 in scholarships to top universities from the QuestBridge National College Match Program. Celebrate local artistry and entrepreneurship during Rhythm & Roots: An Artisan and Entrepreneur Showcase from noon to 4 p.m. at the Up House – Building D, 13811 S. Western Ave., Blue Island. The event highlights live music from recording artist Gregory Echols and a lineup of wellness experiences, small businesses and tastemakers such as Spa in Your Space, Health Hair Institute, The Chi Concierge, Make Us One Productions and The Entrepreneur Expo. Participants can connect with Black-owned brands, enjoy wellness experiences and discover handcrafted goods, all while experiencing live music. Tickets cost $25 in advance at or $30 at the door. Adults 50 and older can socialize with friends and neighbors at 3:30 p.m. June 6 at the Green Hills Public Library, 10331 S. Interlochen Drive, Palos Hills. Puzzles, coloring sheets, board games and coffee will be available during the program. Information is at 708-598-8446. The annual Kickoff to Summer Celebration sets sail from 3 to 8 p.m. June 1 at Briedert Green in downtown Frankfort, featuring a theme of 'All things yacht rock.' A DJ splints turns starting at 3 p.m. with hulu hoop contests, limbo challenges, classic lawn games and a water balloon toss planned. Bubble Captain Jason Kollum will provide a sea of bubbles from 3 to 5 p.m., and a balloon artist and face painter will entertain kids 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. From 5 to 6 p.m., the first 500 guests will receive free homemade popsicles from La Michoacana de Frankfort. A mini car show from the Frankfort Car Club will highlight iconic vehicles from the 1970s and '80s. The Yacht Rock-ettes will play soft rock hits from 6 to 8 p.m. Details are at Sire Holloway, of Chicago, a senior at Marist High School in Chicago, has earned The Gates Scholarship, one of the country's most competitive scholarships for minority high school seniors who show exemplary leadership. Holloway plans to major in computer science at Howard University. While at Marist, he was a member of the National Honor Society, president of the Black Student Union and an active leader at the school. The Gates Scholarship, which fully covers college tuition and room and board, is presented each year to 'exceptional student leaders from low-income, minority backgrounds, helping them realize their maximum potential.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Milestone speaks to Simpson's dedication
A great night for Kristie Simpson is when nobody notices she is in the room. That was a little hard on Monday when the Southland umpire officiated her 150th national league netball game during the Southern Steel and Northern Mystics clash in Dunedin. It was a fitting moment for Simpson who now holds the national record for umpiring the most national league games. Asked how she felt about the milestone, Simpson joked ''like I've been around for a wee while''. But she acknowledged it was a special achievement and her longevity spoke to her determination as an umpire at the top of her game for the past 15 years. Simpson, who lives on a farm in Tokanui, grew up umpiring and officiated her first national game in 2010 during the transtasman ANZ Championship era. There had been many highlights through the years, including the league's first ''sudden-death'' game, which presented new challenges for players and umpires, and shuffling her life through Covid lockdowns, when most of the games were played in Auckland while she was based in Southland and had a family to think about as well. She also umpired the Steel's victory against the Mainland Tactix in Christchurch in 2017, days after Steel players were injured in the van crash. ''We spend a lot of time with the players, we see them week-in, week-out,'' Simpson said. ''Whilst we're trying to achieve different things, we've got a great respect for what they do, so that was definitely a game that stands out for a lot of emotions.'' Simpson, who has also officiated at Netball World Cups and the Commonwealth Games, has grown as an umpire through the years and never stopped developing. ''I guess when you've been doing it for this long you get a picture memory bank of things that happen and how they go about happening. ''You have a good idea of the players and what they're trying to achieve ... and how the defence is trying to stop them. ''You get a better feeling for that contest, contact and consistency across the court.'' But there were always things that kept her on her toes, including the addition of the two-point shot to the competition this season. The new rule turned the goal circle backwards - while shooters have traditionally tried to be under the post, they are now aiming to be in the two-point zone. ''From our perspective, we've got to look in different places. We've got to have different angles to the court and therefore the defence is trying to do that opposite thing to what they're normally doing. ''It has made it interesting, it's made it a new challenge, a new thing to think about and I think that's always good and exciting.'' Her enjoyment for the game had never wavered and the often thankless task of umpiring had been her way of being involved in the sport. ''It's great to be a part of the game and this is the part that I can do well. That's the thing I like the most is being involved in the game. ''But the best games are always when they don't notice us. ''At the end of the day if you've got a game and you come off and someone's like 'oh did you umpire that game?', it's a big win.'' Simpson, who is also a coach for the national watch list umpire squad, is part of a unique crew from the Eastern Southland centre, home to five international umpires in Colleen Bond, Alison Cormack, Bobbi Brown, Jono Bredin and Simpson. ''The joy of Eastern is we still have those umpires and those people in there helping,'' Simpson said. ''They're such a great support, they've got so much knowledge and that gives you a lot of confidence, especially when it's the young umpires coming through when you're starting. ''I feel very lucky and very privileged to have been able to come from there.''
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Cable car companies unveil plans to connect Queenstown
A cable car race is underway in Queenstown, as two different companies unveil their schemes to connect the town by high-wire. Whoosh and Southern Infrastructure Ltd have revealed blueprints of their proposed urban transport networks, at the Electrify conference in Queenstown this week. But are these sky high fantasies, or firmly on track? Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd has the story. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
