Breakfast Southland with Chitty

West Otago’s AJ Aitken checks in for his weekly footy and farming yarn. We review the final pre‑season hit‑outs before the Barbarians club season kicks off on  11 April , chat about what’ll keep the boys busy in the meantime, and get the latest from the farm — from the killing schedule to fuel costs. Plus, AJ weighs in on a certain new face in the All Blacks coaching lineup....

South Otago High School PE teacher Zharna Beattie joins us after being named in the New Zealand team for the upcoming Oceania Champs. It’s her third time wearing the fern , but her first at senior level , as she gears up to represent New Zealand across the ditch this May.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie, Hattie, and Ivy from St Mary’s School pop in to share all the excitement ahead of their big community night market. From jeep rides, orb balls, bouncy castles, ponies, and emergency service displays — to a stacked lineup of food stalls offering everything from steamed buns to pulled‑pork rolls — there’s something for everyone. All for a gold coin entry, raising fun...

Locker Room Lads Nathan & Damo break down the Government’s temporary cost‑of‑living boost — a $50 increase to the in‑work tax credit for eligible families — and what it means for thousands of Kiwi households. They also dive into Invercargill’s proposal to ban buy‑now‑pay‑later options at liquor stores, plus a timely discussion on staying safe with road‑side hunting and...

Annie Nelson joins Chitty to unpack a surprising cultural shift — people ditching their phones for analogue throwbacks. From disposable cameras at concerts and wired headphones making a comeback, to phone‑free shows and screen‑free days, why are we suddenly craving simplicity again? Plus, the unbelievable story of a Los Angeles woman who found the actual Academy Awards red carpet in a dumpst...

John Falconer from the Gore Pakeke Lions shares the story behind their Pop‑Up Book Sale happening this weekend at the Cardboard Factory on Hokonui Drive. John talks variety (books, puzzles, CDs, DVDs), exciting donations, Friday vs Saturday sessions, the best bargain‑hunting tips, and where the funds raised will go to support the community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After visiting Gore Main School’s hands‑on Enviroschools workshop, Chitty chats with Ali Green from WasteNet about the heart of the Enviroschools programme. Ali explains how it empowers young people to care for their local environment, why practical sessions like waste audits and composting are so powerful, and how easy it is for more Southland schools to get involved. See omnystudio.com/lis...

National MP for Southland, Joseph Mooney, stops by to talk fuel prices, Federated Farmers, the local Hokonui Rūnanga, and the Robertson Investments announcement — and what all of this could mean for the future of Eastern Southland communities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Otago dairy farmer Mathew Korteweg joins us for his weekly check‑in — sharing what’s happening on farm at this time of year, how things are feeling despite the state of the world, and why it might be time for more of us to give back by joining committees to keep the community organisations we grew up with strong for future generations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

senior Sergeant Gary from the Southern District Police catches us up on what’s happening in the community — copper thefts, fuel thefts, the importance of reporting incidents, and how we can all stay safer on our roads as we head into the months ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

St Peter’s College is gearing up for a spectacular fundraiser next Monday, March 30th — a helicopter golf ball drop on the school field at 1.30 p.m., thanks to the team at High Country Helicopters. Justine Abernethy, Julie Chisholm, and Rebecca McKee join Chitty in studio to break down how the event works, the fun twist involving coloured golf‑ball spot prizes, how raffle-card numbers...

After celebrating Chitty’s grandmother turning an incredible 100 last week, the Locker Room kids imagine what life might look like if  they make it to triple digits. Thoughtful, funny, and very on‑brand for the crew — hear their takes on future birthdays, hobbies, and what being 100 even means to them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim, Taryn, Shirley & Tyla dive into the sneaky world of passive‑aggressive communication — from “fine.” that’s definitely not fine to the silent signals we all pretend we don’t use. Then they tackle household etiquette, unpacking chore stand‑offs, pet‑peeve habits and the unspoken rules that make home life… interesting. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

After 50 years teaching at St Peter’s College, Prue Scorgie has seen it all — and she joins me for a heartfelt chat about the early days, how career options looked for women when she started, the lessons she’s learned, and why she’s never felt the pull to leave. A warm, inspiring conversation with a woman who has dedicated her life to shaping young people. See omnystudio.co...

Gore’s Jayden Broome shares his story following a life‑changing accident last year. Jayden talks us through what happened that night, the toughest moments in hospital, and the mindset that’s kept him moving forward. Now back home, he opens up about daily recovery, life after rugby, the huge support around him, and the future he’s building — including plans to share his jour...

We look back at the team’s gritty pre‑season clash, preview the match coming up this weekend, and talk about the worrying rise in rural thefts across the region. And to wrap things up, AJ shares his take on the wild idea of a Bluff Oyster Festival… without the oysters. Only in Southland! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiona Brown from Māruawai College joins us to chat about their upcoming international student visit and why they’re calling on caring local families to host. What makes a great homestay? What support is offered? And how can you put your hand up? A brilliant chance to open your home — and show off Southland life! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan, Tom and Q unpack the Gore District Council’s decision to lift rates by 11% — the tense meeting, and then we dive into cost‑of‑living chaos, soaring fuel prices, and whether all this world turmoil is reason to panic… or just take a breath. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Annie’s in for our weekly catch‑up, and this time we’re talking Lent — what she’s giving up, what we couldn’t possibly abstain from, and the surprising things we reckon we could . Then we take a sharp left turn into reincarnation… if we got another go at life, who (or what) are we coming back as? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chitty catches up with Jason Domigan , Gore District Council’s General Manager of Critical Services — the man in charge of our water, wastewater and stormwater networks. With councillors voting later today on whether to bring Waitaki District Council into the Southern Waters partnership, Jason breaks down what this actually means for Gore in simple, practical terms. See omnystudio.com/...

Fred Stewart from Leithen Valley has done it again — three wins in a row in the iconic Jack Russell Race at the Wānaka A&P Show. Chitty chats with the boys who know him best — Harry, Jack and Archie Stewart — for the inside scoop on what makes Fred such a legend on the track.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inspired by Invercargill City Council’s new initiative encouraging kids to dream up small projects that create big smiles, Chitty asks the Little Locker Room crew what they would do with $5000 to brighten Southland. Felicity shares her joy‑spreading idea, Harlee imagines a brand‑new fun activity for local kids, Ada designs something based on kindness, Jude dreams up an outdoor addition for a...

Pagan McCullum from Gore McDonald’s joins Chitty to share details on their epic all‑day treadmill challenge happening March 20th. From 9am to 5pm, the team will be running, walking, and having fun to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities — and the whole community is invited too!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Locker Room Ladies, it’s just Taryn and Chitty left unsupervised — and things get delightfully off‑track. The duo dives into the drama of Lily Allen’s new West End tour, where she turns the breakdown of her marriage into a full theatrical moment, complete with giant receipts and a song accusing David Harbour of living a “double life.” Then it’s straight...

More than 200 rural women gathered in Tokanui for the South Island’s first ever Shepherdess Muster — three days of learning, connection and real kōrero. Committee member and Southland District Councillor Julie Keast joins us to unpack the magic of the weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.