The biggest talk around town is the announcement that a contract has been signed to keep the aluminum smelter at Tiwai open for another 20 years.
Che says this is not only good news for the 750 people employed there, but also great news for the businesses who support the smelter.
This includes uniform cleaners and suppliers as well as other manufacturing companies - which is at least another two thousand people. Also there’s excitement about the discovery of some baby tuatara.
Che Baker is the editor of the Southland Times.