Rugby Southland say the "extremely challenging" rugby environment is behind the union's loss of almost half a million dollars.

Skipper Jamie Mackintosh is adamant Southland rugby has nothing to hide despite concerns over the union's financial situation.

The family of an elderly man found dead in a sewage pond in western Southland yesterday believe he was trying to rescue a lamb.

New Year's Day is tipped to offer sunny weather for most of the country and some respite from the recent muggy, humid weather.

The bodies of five seaman and the 20 survivors from the sinking of a Korean fishing boat in the Southern Ocean arrived in Bluff last night.

Canterbury firefighters continue to battle two major fires in the region, but both blazes are under control.

A massive blaze has engulfed the hills above Waimate in south Canterbury and tonight continues to burn.

Stretched Canterbury firefighters are battling two large scrub fires, one in Rolleston and one in Waimate.

Firefighters are continuing to battle a 120 hectare scrub fire in Waimate, which has now spread into forest.

He is from another era of current affairs television and tonight (Friday afternoon NZ time) that era will end.

The Department of Conservation has condemned the massacre of more than 100 rare gulls found dead in Southland.

The search for 17 fishermen missing in the Southern Ocean has been suspended as no further survivors are expected.

Hope is fading for 17 missing fishermen after a South Korean trawler sank in the Southern Ocean, claiming at least five other lives.

The search for 17 people missing after a Korean fishing vessel sank in the Southern Ocean early today has been scaled down as it becomes increasingly unlikely further survivors will be found.

Five people are dead and 17 missing after a Korean fishing vessel sank in the freezing waters of the Southern Ocean, 2700km south east of Bluff, early this morning.

State-owned coal miner Solid Energy's plans to turn low-grade Southland lignite coal deposits into massive new industries make no sense and the coal should remain in the ground, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.