Councillor Ria Bond - Invecargill City Council

‼️Don’t forget -No Bin Collection tomorrow for Invercargill ‼️

Please see below for additional information for all things rubbish related.

Labour Monday = No Bin COLLECTION 🙈

Labour Weekend Bin Collections

There will be no collections on Monday (tomorrow). All collections for the week will be delayed by one day.

Invercargill and Bluff Transfer Stations: Open as normal.

‼️Extreme wild weather update‼️

The wild weather has arrived in force and is causing some disruption around Invercargill and Bluff.

Please note updates:

💨All Invercargill bus services are suspended until further notice.

💨The Invercargill and Bluff Transfer Stations are closed until further notice.

💨Bluff Service Centre is closed for the rest of the day.

💨All parks and reserves in Invercargill and Bluff are closed until further notice.

‼️‼️‼️Due to the severe weather conditions, multiple trees have fallen across the city and flying debris poses a serious safety risk. ‼️‼️‼️

💨For your safety, please avoid all parks and reserves until conditions improve and our teams have had a chance to assess any damage.

💨Further updates on ICC social media and Antenno as information becomes available.

🛑PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR FALLING TREES, FLYING OBJECTS, DEBRIS, POWERLINES IF DOWN.

DOWNLOAD the Antenno App if you don’t have this currently.

🫂Keep safe out there everyone and all our pets too.!

Bin collection CANCELLED tomorrow ⚠️
🌬️🌬️🌬️💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨

‼️Please do not put your bins out tomorrow, Thursday 23 October.‼️

Check out the information below 👇

Bin collection CANCELLED tomorrow ⚠️

Due to the expected strong winds, WasteNet has made the tough call to cancel bin collections scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday 23 October.

Please do not put out your bins.

This decision follows advice from Emergency Management Southland, with extreme winds forecast over the next 24 hours. We need to put everyone's safety first.

Unfortunately, because of the long weekend, there will be no alternative collection. Bins will be emptied next Friday (a day later due to Labour Day).

All district-wide transfer stations and the regional recycling centre will remain open and operating as normal.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

💨Please take care while you’re out and about today.

💨Keep an eye out for your wheelie bins.

💨Secure any outdoor furniture.

👀Keep an eye out for council weather updates.

Ponder this….

PONDER THIS…
If we were all told today that our right to vote was being taken away from us in New Zealand, what do you think the reaction would be?

Would more than 36% of us be horrified by that?

A day before the Invercargill City Council election closes, just 36% have chosen to exercise their democratic right.

Importantly, the 64% who haven’t yet voted still have time to do so. You can vote right up to midday Saturday.

Head to https://www.icc.govt.nz/participate-decide/elections for more details on where and how you can vote.

Don't take your right for granted.

🌟 Exciting Times Ahead! 🌟

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve had the privilege of serving on the People’s Select Committee, where we received an incredible 1,600 submissions regarding the Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025.

This legislation will impact over 180,000 women across various sectors, and it’s been an honor to hear their voices and concerns.

In addition to this important work, I’ve been balancing my mayoral campaign by actively listening to voters, visiting businesses, residential villages, friendship groups, public held meetings, my come chat with me at local cafes, taking on board what our community needs and wants from our council are after the election and for the next nine plus years.

As a former hairdresser and small business owner, governance director I bring firsthand life experience to this advocacy.

I’m committed to turning our discussions into real action and ensuring that the government listens to the needs of our community, to invest in our workforce and province with funding to support legislation and regulations.

Most importantly whether we are elected into local government or central government, we should never forget where we came from, once in office.

I’ve seen this happen far too much in the last four decades.

I bring a wealth of inner strength, steady leadership, I walk within our community, not above our community.

Together, we can make a difference in more ways then one and pave the way for equality and fairness in the workplace.
Let’s keep pushing for change! 💪❤️

Kia ora everyone,

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Unfortunately I have had to cancel todays - come sit down with me coffee catch up!!

I have double booked a zoom meeting and unable to change that meeting.

Please do reach out and PM me as some people have with any questions you may have.

This is the last week I’ll be out hosting coffee catch-ups, and I’d love to see you before we wrap things up. No speeches or formalities — just an easy chat about our town, your ideas, and what’s ahead.

📍 Where you’ll find me:
Wednesday 8th October
11:00 - 12pm at Cheeky Llarma
216 Queens Drive
12:15 to 1:00pm A’s Cafe
18 Windsor Street

It’s been such a privilege hearing from so many of you already. If we haven’t caught up yet (or if you just want another coffee!), I’d love for you to stop by.

— Ria d me

Hi everyone,
This Friday I’ll be popping into local cafés for some relaxed conversations. No agenda, no formalities — just a chance to connect and talk about what matters most to you and our community.

📍 Catch me at:
Kankis Cafe
156 Tay Street from 12 - 12:45pm

Main Street Cafe
58 Kelvin Street from 1-1:45pm

A’s Cafe
18 Windsor Street from 2-2:45pm

Drop by, share your thoughts, or simply enjoy a chat over coffee. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

— Ria

Our city deserves leadership that listens, consults, and works alongside the community to build a future that is vibrant, affordable, and sustainable.

That is the kind of leadership I offer, and that is why I ask for your trust, and your support, to serve as your next Mayor.

🗳️Bond4mayor
🗳️Bond4council

Meet ICC mayoral candidate Ria Bond Advocate Communications

#7 The Southland Tribune questions to mayoral Candidates has been published.

In May last year, the council decided to stop spending money on Rugby Park. Following October’s election, the new council will be asked to make a decision on the future of Rugby Park. Do you believe Rugby Park is something the council should be investing in as part of the Long-Term Plan? If so why? If not, why not?

Ria Bond...

Rugby Park has been part of Invercargill for generations, yet for decades it has struggled to meet its potential as an event facility and consistently failed to deliver the return our ratepayers deserve.

The Otium Group’s 2021 review found it generated just $1.89 per person. That return on investment is an unsustainable figure that highlights the financial reality we must confront.

A lack of strategy, professional event management, and marketing has left the facility underperforming and deteriorating. In my view, this has also weakened the commercial strength of our Stags franchise, which needs facilities that can support long-term competitiveness.

The key question is simple, what can Rugby Park realistically deliver now, and how will it impact our rates in the years ahead?

Our children are engaging in a broader mix of sports, including digital recreation, while our aging population needs accessible and flexible facilities. That’s why we must consider future-focused options, whether Rugby Park remains where it is, relocates into a “sports belt” model as suggested at Surrey Park, even Turnbull Thompson Park, or its current site is repurposed for higher community priorities.

Relocating Rugby Park could free up central land for much needed elderly housing, while also enabling the expansion of Splash Palace with hydrotherapy, steam rooms, ice pools, and other facilities our community will increasingly need.

What matters most is that this decision is made openly, with full transparency and genuine community input. This is not about clinging to the past or emotion, it's about planning wisely, balancing financial responsibility with future needs, and ensuring Invercargill has facilities that deliver real value for generations to come.

Rugby Park can’t survive on emotion alone we need a smart, community led decision that delivers real value for Invercargill’s future.