Poll: Should The Southerner passenger rail service be reinstated?
The Southerner passenger train will be resurrected if The Opportunities Party (TOP) wins a seat at the general election, its leader says.
TOP’s transport policy, released on Wednesday, pledges support for a five year trial of The Southerner, the passenger rail service between Christchurch and Invercargill which ended in 2002.
TOP leader and Ilam candidate Raf Manji said the trial would operate between Christchurch and Dunedin, stopping in towns like Timaru and Ashburton along the way.
Depending on demand, it could operate five to seven days a week and do two or three return journeys a day. TOP has estimated the cost at $100 million, based on the costings of the Hamilton to Auckland train service, Te Huia.
What do you think? Should the service be reinstated? Read reporter Sinead Gill's full story here (subscription required) and let us know what you think in the comments below.
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85.9% Yes
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10.7% No
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3.4% I'm not sure/something else (tell us in the comments)
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Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Book Cellar Christmas Opening hours
Merry Christmas from The Book Cellar!
The summer break is the perfect time to relax with a book or two (or three or four…). And, of course, books make excellent gifts. There is still time to come in and find the perfect read for you or someone else.
We are open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week as usual, then our Christmas hours are:
Monday 22nd December, 10am – 3pm
Wednesday 24th December, 10am – 12noon
Friday 26th December (Boxing Day), 10am – 1pm (last day for the year).
We will reopen with our usual hours on Thursday 8th January 2026
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