STAGS ROAR CANTERBURY WIMPERS

Actually it was a bloody close game but at the end the Stags tossed aside the Cantabrians . and the Shield went south. 

Southlanders love their rugby  - just as much as Cantabrians we reckon and they will make good use of the shield to whip up a bit of southern patriotism. 

Well done boys..  

DIRTY DAIRYING NEEDS TO CLEAN UP ITS CRAP

Half of all dairy farms inspected by Environment Southland are polluting rivers and waterways to such an extent that they are liable for prosecution.

Dairy Farmers seem to have grown in arrogance because of the important place the industry holds in our economy. Dairy farmers are making good money and there is no excuse, that in the race for bigger profits, the amenities the rest of the community own and enjoy are degraded in the process.

Tourism is also a vital income stream for this country and fishing is a big drawcard- in fact its a poster child for the tourism industry. But the arrogance of the dairy industry is squashing the face of tourism deep in a muddy green eutrophic mire.

Environment Southland has a obligation to get tough with dairy farmers. This level of non- compliance is not acceptable. If it is possible for half of all dairy farmers to comply then it is possible for all dairy farmers to comply.

A SLIPPERY SLURPY PIECE OF GOURMET GOOD NEWS

Its the start of the BLUFF OYSTER SEASON!

Bliss. Yum! Gobble!

And as we have fallen in love with the Wooing Trees Blondie - we are going to buy 5 doz and have an oyster - have a sip, have another oyster, have another sip.

Perfick.. and for the record we like our oysters like our men - big - full of juice, and naked.

Apparently there is a chair at a table at Dockside tomorrow with our name on it.

However we have also heard that they haven't got the balls to serve them up on a naked young buck..

ON THE SAFE SIDE

Well, we have the start of what appears to be a decline in blue cod stocks in Southland but some fishermen are upbeat about the state of the flatfish stocks. Flatfish took a hammering a few years back and as a result the quota was cut considerably. Its estimated that the flat fish Total Allowable catch is worth about the same as Blue Cod - $35million.

However, while fishermen in Riverton think that a couple of good years means that the quota should be up for review, a fishermen for whom we have enormous respect, John Young (aka Bunyion) isnt so sure. He is happy to take a wait and see approach. We agree. Its takes a good five years to work out any meaningful patterns in stock rebuilds.

And if there is an increase in numbers of fish and the quality is right up there - then dig in. flat fish from the deep south especially the big meaty flounders and brill, are significantly better eating than the insipid almost translucent tiny flounders often served in in Wellington fish shops.

And the best way to eat flounder? On the bone. Dusted with season flour, pan fried in butter and served with a beurre blanc.

And wine? A nice dry reisling - Johners would do nicely.

NEW ZEALANDS BEST FISH UNDER THREAT?

Cod help us - the most delicious fish in the country is in a parlous state.

Blue cod is one of our favourites - and we admit to loving the heads more than the fillets. Our favourite boil up - bar none. Just a few shallots, pepper and salt and boil or steam. Eat, lay, sigh.

It is a staple of the Southland diet and just as Bluff oysters taste better than the same species grown in Nelson, the Southern deep cold sea Blue cod tastes better than cod from anywhere else apart probably from the Chathams.

We use to go commercial blue cod fishing for three or four days every month with our previous partner.

Its a tough fishery, hard demanding and often boring. And its prone to serial depletion. That is the fishermen go where its easiest to catch the fish and they can get fished out quickly.

However there could be a goods reason that the catches are down

The total allowable commercial catch for BCO 5 is set at about 1500 tonnes, fetching more than $35 million when the quota is filled, but Mr Carbines said 300 tonnes less than that was caught on average during the past three years.

"... We can safely say we have concerns for the fishery," he said.

If there is a good year for lobster, those lobster fishermen who hold Blue cod quote dont bother fishing it. And there have been some bloody good years for the lobster fishermen.

We applaud the BCO5 fishermen and the government for engaging in a longish term four year study to find out the true state of the fishery.

And as for the best way to eat Blue Cod ? Sashimi or lightly pan fried in butter with just a smidgeon of tarragon.

Its also excellent in a tempura batter.

And the wine? Olssens Pinot Gris. Its layers of stone fruit lift the ozone out of our country's greatest tasting fish.

SHADBOLT OR PRENTICE

We still watch Southland from afar.. And for us its a no brainer. Shadbolt is tired and divisive. Time for a change. We have known the Prentice family over the years. So we are more than happy to endorse her. So goooo Suzanne!

WE WON!!!!! SOUTHLAND ROCKS!!!

YEEEHA! Southland had retained the Ranfurly shield in a tough battle against arch rivals the dour Otago buggers...

There will be beer a flowin down Dee St tonight...

Congrats guys...

GOOOOOOO SOUTHLAND!!!!!!!!!

We are with them in spirit.. Go boys - give them hell!

HEARTWARMING STORY OF THE WEEK

Our old mate Eric Roy tells a story about losing his wallet twice and both times its been returned -

Only in Southland

SMITH IN HOT SEAT IN SOUTHLAND

Oh dear, it appears that there was a change in the climate in Southland tonight but it had nothing to do with Global warming and everything to do with people getting hot under the collar about the ETS.

Southland is famous for its fiestiness and although its pretty much a Blue ribbon province they are not so keen on the ETS.

You only have to go back to the late 70's, to the day the streets of Invercargill ran red with blood as farmers , distressed by a lengthy strike by the meatworkers unions in the middle of a drought, staged a macabre protest. They were desperate to get the starving stock off the farms and into the works. So they took their protest to the people and slaughtered stock on the main street of Invercargill. It was not a pleasant sight. The sheep were dying on their feet so for most it was a mercy killing. It was an event that earned the moniker Bloody Friday.

It worked.

So they are capable of getting their dander up. And it seems that the ETS has got them in a lather....

Nick Smith and Eric Roy would have had a tough time of it....

THE MYSTERY OF THE SOUTHERN CHEESE ROLL.

Its MSG!.

We watched TV in awe as last night the secret Southland cheese roll recipe was revealed. It's sharp bitey cheddar, evaporated milk, mustard, nestles onion soup., a bit of chopped up onion and boiled it up till it thickens and spread it on thin white bread.

There is a cheese onion and pineapple version that includes tinned pineapple in syrup.

The MSG is in the soup mix. It's reason why the onion dip for chips is sooo bloody addictive.

For the record we love the ones from Zookeepers Cafe in Invercargill - no MSG.

Its one of those foods that is soooo good because it is sooo baad...

EAT EM UP

While the focus is on the demotion of Jones Carter and Ririnui we can report that a former Labour politician is carving out a new career in the real world. Mark Peck was a good constituent MP for Southland and latterly was the Director of the Smokefree Coalition.

However, he is now the proprietor of a new cafe ( well an old cafe with a new name ) called Little Peckish.

Now Mark is - errr vertically challenged so the name is a delightful pisstake. Food looks good too. We are wondering after serving Southland for so long if he he will offer up Southland's favourite morning tea filler - the cheese roll.

He was a unionist for quite some time and we expect that being an employer and a capitalist will be an interesting progression on his way to be a better man.

BEST PARTY OF THEY YEAR - SOUTHERN STYLE

We have good mates who are organising the party of the year. It used to be a regular event on the Wellington social scene and was only  open to a very select clique of Wellingtonians - ex pat Southlanders. It has always been hosted at Parliament by the Southland MP's.
 It showcases good Southland food - seafood , lamb , and is a great way to get together with people who have their roots in the southern most province. It will be held sometime in September and there will be more details soon on the facebook page  set up for the event  here 
Sadly the original database has been misplaced but if you you like to be on the list then  email  bustedblonde@gmail.com

To qualify you must be a Southland descendant or have  a very strong connection to the south. 

 

SOUTHLAND SECRETS

Jasons travel publishers have issues up a challenge to all Southlanders - share your secrets. Seems that today's travellers look for the uniqueness in destinations. Couldn't agree more. A recent tour to the outbacks took us to some pretty cool places but it was the intrinsic uniqueness of specific towns that people really looked for.

So here's ten things that we know about Southland we think are cool.

There are the remains of an old whaling base in Paterson Inlet on Stewart Island.















The sun always shines on the old neck beach in Paterson Inlet.

There is a smugglers cove in Pegasus Inlet that you can only find if you know where to look.

There is a shag breeding colony in a roadside swamp between Riverton and Orepuki.

The reservoir at Bluff has the biggest fresh water crayfish ( koura) aka crawlies you ever did see.

The best cheese rolls ( and coffee ) in Southland are at Zookeepers.



















The mouth of the Eglington on Lake Te Anau as the sun goes down is so breathtaking it will make you cry.
















Ruapuke mutton is the best in the world because the sheep sometimes graze on salt loving plants.


The Dunsdale Picnic ground inthe Hokonuis is one of the best in the world.


and the 10th?















Smallcraft inlet next to Port Pegasus where the Sealions play in the old forest...

HAS SHADBOLT SHOT HIS BOLT?

Tim Shadbolt probably faces his toughest local body election for some time next year. He presides over a fractured Invercargill City council and it seems he feels undermined and uninformed.

Personally we think Shadbolt is a dickhead and a sifty dickhead at that. Invercargill could do much better than having a seedy old shit like Shadbolt as their Mayor.. Time for new blood.

We reckon Suzanne Prentice is the gal for the South..

WE WON WE WON WE WON!!!!!

Southland has taken the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury! Well thats a bloody turn up.. We are proud.!!!! Woohooo!!!! Take that red and black...

Go the Stags!

Update : We have been to a few shield games but this is the first time in 50 years Southland have taken home the Log O Wood.

She's gonna be a big night in the garden city...

Score was 9=3

GETTING THE SOUTH PUMPING

We blogged on this a couple of days ago - Its a good start.

Press Release by ExxonMobil at 2:51 pm, 08 Oct 2009

ExxonMobil New Zealand (Exploration) Limited (EMNZEL) and Todd Energy announced today that they have received approval from Crown Minerals to amend their work program commitment in permit PEP 50117, located in the Great South Basin.

A change to permit conditions was sought to facilitate more effective exploration of the permit area. To assist with this, EMNZEL (90% and operator) and Todd Energy (10%) will seek interest from other parties to farm-in to the permit. A decision to drill a well in the permit area will be contingent on the outcome of discussions with parties interested in acquiring an equity position in the acreage.

ExxonMobil Project Manager, Adem Djakic, said that seeking interest from other potential partners is standard industry practice, and assists with spreading the financial and technical risk typical of high risk exploration basins such as the Great South Basin.

"The Joint Venture has spent a significant amount of money on this initial phase of the exploration program so far, and brought in specialists with extensive technical expertise to evaluate the data." he added. "We have been committed to stakeholder engagement, and kept stakeholders informed throughout the process."

About the Block

PEP 50117 comprises approximately 16,390 square kilometres and is located in the Great South Basin off the southeast tip of New Zealand, 100 kilometres from shore and in a water depth of 500 to 1000 metres.

From 17 December 2007 until 11 April 2008, a 3D seismic exploration program was conducted in PEP 50117. Approximately 1336 square kilometres of 3D seismic and 961km of 2D seismic was acquired and processed. An additional 1200 kilometres of existing 2D data was also re-processed.

ENDS

GUSHER

Boy have we been waiting a long time for this news. Later this week Exxon Mobil is expected to announce that it will head south soon to start exploring for oil.

We grew up as teenagers amongst the riggers on the Penrod drilling platform. Exotic young men in an exciting game. It was a great fun for a nubile southland girl, they earned big money and had that attraction that all men with big hearts, hands and ... heads have in spades.

There was oil there last time but it was the extraction cost that prevented further action. We hope that this time the economics of drilling combined with new technology means that the Great Southern Basin fulfills its promise of decades past.

LAMB CUTS UP ROUGH

We have for quite some time tried to get Lamb Cut to blog. She must be bored. She commented on our post on a Southern Tourism venture. She is a bit of a policy twonk and a rabid advocate of all things rural. We think Alf Grumble and Home Paddock will appreciate Lamb Cuts words of wisdom. And we hope that she blogs some more.

Here is her post in full.

Lambcut wishes Southern Dive all the best in its private venture but has some concerns about the current governmental drive toward funding of tourism generally. Lambcut knows that in these troubling times the government wants to be more than a bit magnanimous toward good ideas and new business.

That’s all well and good but government has a history of squandering funds on fiscal pups. (Lambcut doesn’t think that Southern Dive is one of those but wants to rant about government spending on tourism in Southland).

The ratepayers of Southland contribute approximately 85% percent of Venture Southland’s operational income (VS is Southland’s economic development agency and it spends the vast bulk of its funding on tourism). Farming businesses contribute about 70% of the overall rate take in the Southland District. On that basis, farming businesses contribute the same proportion to the Local Authorities that fund Venture Southland.

Given farming’s disproportionately large contribution to Southland’s tourism funding, VS and government generally might do well to consider why farming businesses should contribute disproportionately large amounts to other businesses, such as tourism and hospitality.

Selective state promotion of industries such as tourism and hospitality (funded primarily by farmers, in Southland at least) diverts resources, investment and employees to those other industries, at agriculture’s expense.

Imprudent governmental jerkings and tweakings of the economy have, in recent history come to naught, except a pouring of people’s money down a fiscal black hole. Lambcut urges caution and fiscal prudence in the spending of ratepayer and taxpayer money. Unnecessary administrative costs and spending on woolly social process activities are a deviation from Local Authority’s and indeed government’s core functions and should not be allowed to burden taxpayers.

SOUTHLAND STUDENTS FULL OF SPUNK

Literally - errkkk . This one is definitely up Cactus's alley. Students on orienteering in Southland drink bull sperm so they can get free beer.... Go figure.

And in fine Southland tradition the students showed they aren't quitters or spitters - they swallowed.

No burnt sperm here

Not bad blokes for sheilas huh.