Breakfast Southland with Chitty

Jack “Ranfurly Shield” Taylor touches down — and Southland is fizzing! Fresh off the plane and carrying the mighty Log o’ Wood, Jack Taylor landed in Southland with the Ranfurly Shield in hand — bringing it back to the south for the first time in years. I caught up with him at the airport, and it was exactly what you’d expect: the boys were buzzing, the region w...

Each Wednesday, thanks to Quinns Unichem Pharmacy, we catch up with a bunch of local lads who tell it like it is. On this episode, Hewi and Nathan join the chat the morning after the Melbourne Cup — sharing their thoughts, a few hot takes, and what things might look like if they were running the Mataura Licensing Trust. It’s honest, insightful, and classic Southland banter See omnystud...

Scott Eade steps up — a new era for the Southland Stags. Joining us is a name well-known to Southland rugby fans — former player, Pathways Manager, and now newly appointed Head Coach of the SBS Bank Southland Stags, Scott Eade. After a full season as Assistant Coach in charge of Defence, Scott takes the reins as Rugby Southland shifts to a new coaching structure. We talk about his reac...

Each Friday, thanks to Quinns Unichem Pharmacy, we catch up with a bunch of local ladies who keep us on our toes and well and truly entertained. With different interests and strong opinions, they bring fresh energy to every episode. This week, Kim, Shirley, Taryn, and Tyla dive into the topic of tall poppy syndrome — that uniquely Kiwi tendency to cut down those who stand out or succeed. Is...

Movember isn’t just about moustaches anymore — it’s about men’s health, mental wellbeing, and getting active. Local Movember ambassador Victoria Clark joins us to talk about why she’s taking on the Move for Movember challenge and what the movement really stands for. We chat about what inspired her to get involved, how the challenge is going so far, and why this messag...

Evelyn Sutherland – Soroptimist Woman of the Year Nominee Evelyn Sutherland is the graceful force behind Balancé Dance Studio, bringing classical ballet to Eastern Southland and inspiring dancers of all ages. Before the awards night, we chatted about what led her to open her studio, the journey of preparing 28 students for international exams, and what ballet has taught her beyond the...

Every Monday, thanks to Quinns Unichem Pharmacy, we catch up with our Little Locker Room crew — a bunch of local legends who let us know what’s happening in their worlds. This week, we flipped the script and put them in charge… literally. Rene, Harlee, Baleigh, Charleigh and Felicity were tasked with creating 10 Rules for the Whole World . From banning school to free food, and e...

Annie Nelson – Soroptimist Woman of the Year Nominee Annie’s all about action—whether it’s behind the scenes or front and centre in the community. Before the awards night, we caught up to chat about what drives her, the projects she’s proud of, and the people who inspire her. Plus, she takes on some fun hypotheticals: who she’d invite to a Gore dinner party, and...

Nick Hamlin – Pitching In for Southland Football Nick Hamlin, Board Chair of Southland Football, joins us to talk turf—specifically, the exciting new project that’s set to transform the game in our region. We chat about why the turf matters, how they’ve already raised over $910,000, and how locals can help ‘Pitch In’ for the final $60K. With player numbers boomi...

Mathew Koretweg – Red Pill, Blue Pill & Rural Life South Otago dairy farmer Mathew Koretweg lives by a “red pill, blue pill” rule with his mates—a philosophy that leads to some wild and wonderful adventures. We caught up with Mathew at Gold Coast Airport to chat about what that rule actually means, how it plays out in real life, and what it says about rural resilience,...

Christine O’Connor – Soroptimist Woman of the Year Nominee Christine O’Connor is the creative force behind Riversdale Arts—an artist, organiser, and all-round arts champion. Before the awards night, we chatted about what drives her, her favourite part of making art, and her passion for community creativity. Plus, Christine takes on some fun hypotheticals: who she’d in...

Brent Scammell – NZ Motocross Nationals Hit Southland Southland’s about to get loud and fast! Brent Scammell from Southland Motorcycle Club joins us to talk about Invercargill hosting the NZ Senior Motocross Champs for the first time ever. We chat about how it all came together, what fans can expect on race day, and why even first-timers will be blown away. Plus, Brent shares what this...

Gore Soroptimist International Woman of the Year Nominee Before the big night, we sat down with Karen Bellew—a familiar face in Gore and a nominee for Soroptimist International Woman of the Year. From Neighbourhood Support to the Hokonui Fashion Awards, Karen’s all about community. In this episode, she shares what drives her, the moment that made her say “This is why I do it,&rdq...

Piri Weepu’s on tour — and he’s spilling the beans! The former All Black joins us to chat about what it’s really like Tiki Touring around Aotearoa. Does he reveal his favourite spots? You’ll have to listen to find out! And of course, we couldn’t resist throwing a bit of code around — especially in a Rugby World Cup year. Is Piri still backing the boys in b...

Apparently, Paddy Gower’s got issues… and a soft spot for Southland! In this episode, Paddy gives us a sneak peek into his raw and revealing memoir, This is the F#$%ing News: My Story , published in September 2024. He opens up about his personal battles with alcohol addiction, anger, and anxiety — all while navigating the high-stakes world of journalism. It’s honest, gritt...