Celebrating Southland’s Cultural History
Join host Senga White as she keeps you up to date with what’s happening in our local heritage sector and shares information about heritage events and activities around the region. She’ll be chatting with some of the amazing people who make it all happen, who work to bring heritage alive in our province while sharing interesting snippets from the heritage stories that shaped Southland.
Podcasts produced from August 2026 have been made possible with generous funding from the Southland Masonic Charitable Trust.
Heritage South podcast is also available through Spotify and will be the place for people to listen to older episodes that are no longer available on the Radio Southland page.
To listen to older episodes, please select the Heritage South - The Archives button or see below.
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Tap the images below to listen and relive Southland’s heritage moments. ✨
SPRING EXHIBITION AT HE WAKA TUIA ~ The first Annual Spring Art Show was held at Anderson House in 1951. The current exhibition at He Waka Tuia - Spring, What We Kept - celebrates 75 years of this special collection.
BUILT HERITAGE ~ MASONIC LODGE. This episode delves into the history behind Masonic Lodges in Southland and looks at several heritage-listed Masonic buildings around the South.
HERITAGE BUSINESS ~ CRAIG PRINTING COMPANY is celebrating 150 years this year and Ellie van Empel, author of A Company of Characters, talks about the early days of Craig Printing, the oldest printing firm still operating in New Zealand. Find out about founder, William Craig and his mark in Invercargill Teaser: What is a Heidelberg Platen Press?
HERITAGE PLACES ~ Senga is joined by Wendy McArthur, discussing the early days of the borough of South Invercargill; the first mayor, Richard Powell, and the history of the Appleby Hotel. Teaser: Always wondered why there is a kink in Nelson St?
BUILT HERITAGE - TRAVELLERS REST. This final episode in our current series about built heritage in Southland, Travellers Rest on Rakiura/Stewart Island has a fascinating place in the history of the island. Find out about Harrold’s Point, early tourism on the island and Granny Harrold’s community spirit.
BUILT HERITAGE - ROCKHAVEN. What do Chinese dragons and motorcars have in common in early 20th century Invercargill? Hear about this, the iconic home on Queens Drive, called Rockhaven, and the fascinating man who had it built. Senga and Davey discuss Ernest Godward: inventor, businessman, local councillor, artist and sportsman and the impressive home he had built for his family.
BOOK LAUNCH - LLOYD ESLER ~ Senga sits down with the always captivating 𝐋l𝐨y𝐝 𝐄s𝐥e𝐫 for a fast paced, story packed chat about his new book D𝐞a𝐝 𝐚n𝐝 𝐁u𝐫i𝐞d i𝐧 𝐒o𝐮t𝐡l𝐚n𝐝. Lloyd is a standout of Southland Heritage Month every year, and his St John’s Cemetery tour is always a crowd favourite — so you already know this episode delivers.
BUILT HERITAGE - TEMPLETON FLAX MILL. In this episode of our Built Heritage series, Senga and her guest David Dudfield explore the history of the Templeton Flax Mill, one of Southland’s most significant industrial heritage sites. They chat about the stories of the early days of Southland’s flax industry, the Templeton family, and the roles both men and women played at the mill. You’ll also hear a nod to the Stripper Jacket Story featured on the Heritage South Built Heritage page.
SHM – CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF THE SOHP - The Southland Oral History Project marks its 20th anniversary this year and was the focus of the Southland Heritage Month Opening Event. Project Coordinator Rosie Stather joins Senga to discuss the project’s journey and significance.
BUILT HERITAGE – OHAI RAILWAY BUILDING - The Ohai Railway Board Offices are among some of the South’s heritage listed properties, and in this episode, Senga is joined by Lindsay Buckingham, who shares some of the stories of the Ohai Line and the plans afoot for the F150 steam engine.
SHM26 PROMO- Senga outlines the variety of events and activities taking place across Murihiku Southland during Southland Heritage Month 2026
2025 – THAT’S A WRAP! - Senga and Heritage South Chairperson, Cathy Macfie, spend some time reviewing their highlights for 2025 while looking forward to what 2026 has install.
BUILDING TE UNUA - Senga chats with Museum Director Eloise Wallace and Naylor Love Senior Site Manager, Iain Chapman, about the building project.
PIONEER NURSES OF SOUTHLAND - Following on from our recent Dee Street Hospital episode, this week Senga is joined by Dr Sally Dobbs to talk about Southland’s Pioneer Nurses
BUILT HERITAGE – DEE STREET HOSPITAL - Built Heritage Story number four explores the former Dee Street Maternity Hospital — the site where McDonald’s stands today.
PRESERVED – HERITAGE COOKBOOK - Preserved is a Culinary Heritage Community Cookbook project with a difference! Listen to Senga, Louise Evans from Wee Magazine and Sarah Brown from He Waka Tuia talk about this cookbook with a difference and then contribute your stories!
BUILT HERITAGE – HOWELL’S COTTAGE - For the third instalment of our Built Heritage Stories series, Senga is joined by David Dudfield to explore Howell’s Cottage — also known as Whare Kohikohi.
BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS - Listen to a potted history of Yule House in this episode, looking backwards and forwards!
DIGGING DEEP – WOMEN OF THE SOUTHERN GOLDFIELDS- Senga’s second interview with Julia Bradshaw — Digging Deep: Women of the Southern Goldfields.
DIGGING DEEP – JULIA BRADSHAW - Senga’s first of two interviews in the Digging Deep series features Julia Bradshaw, Curator of Human History at Canterbury Museum in Christchurch.
HISTORY OF SOUTHLAND LAND WITH JESSE - This week's episode: Kew Bush! Senga continues the conversation with Jesse Bythell from the QEII National Trust about Southland's natural heritage.
QEII TRUST IN SOUTHLAND - Jesse Blythell, the Southland Representative for the QEII Trust joins Senga in this episode.
THE ALEXANDRA BUILDINGS – BUILT HERITAGE STORIES - David Dudfield joins Senga for the second episode from our Build Heritage Stories, this one is on The Alexandra Buildings
THE GRAND HOTEL – BUILT HERITAGE STORIES - Join Senga for the first Built Heritage Story where she talks with David Dudfield about The Grand Hotel
THE HERITAGE LIST – BUT NOT BUILDINGS - This week's episode is about some Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga listings that aren't buildings! The Statue and the Gates.
THE HERITAGE LIST IN SOUTHLAND - Sarah Gallagher - area manager for Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga in Otago and Southland joins Senga to talk about the Heritage List in Southland
HERITAGE NZ BUILDING MAINTENANCE - Senga discuses tips with Susie Farminer
HERITAGE STORY - H&J Smith - Stories from the Store with Vicky Henry
STORIES OF HERITAGE MONTH 2025 - Highlights of Southland Heritage Month 2025
HERITAGE PEOPLE - Heritage New Zealand with Andrew Coleman
HEIRLOOM – HERITAGE, MEMORY & COMMUNITY - join Senga and He Waka Tuia manager Sarah Brown to find out about the new exhibition, Heirloom
THORNBURY RURAL HERITAGE CENTRE - with Fraser Pearce
LAUNCHING SOUTHLAND HERITAGE MONTH 2025 - Heritage Month 2025 ~ In this episode, Senga focuses on some of the great events happening in Eastern Southland
MARK YOUR HERITAGE CALENDAR - Heritage Month 2025 ~ Join Senga as she chats with David Dudfield about the special events coming up
TE UNUA MUSEUM OF SOUTHLAND – 2025 - Eloise Wallace, Director of Te Unua-Museum of Southland returns to chat with Senga about her role at the museum and what’s happening with the project in 2025.
TROOPERS MEMORIAL CORNER CHARITABLE TRUST - Morgan Pearce joins in with Senga
HAPPY NEW YEAR & 2024 WITH THE TRUSTEES - Wrapping up Southland Heritage 2024 - Senga talks with Trustees
TE UNUA MUSEUM OF SOUTHLAND - Senga's first talk with Eloise Wallace, Director of Te Unua Museum.
STORIES OF SOUTHLAND - Rev Wohlers & Ruapuke Island
HERITAGE EVENT – WALKING & PHOTOGRAPHING OUR HISTORY- Senga and David Dudfield
HERITAGE SOUTH TRUST – WHO ARE WE? ~ Cathy Mcfie, Heritage South Chairperson, joins Senga