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Dear John,

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Welcome to my latest newsletter. It=E2=80=99s been a great few weeks in Par=
liament =E2=80=93 with the return of polytechnics to the regions being a re=
al highlight for me. This adds to the positive sentiment around the city at=
the moment =E2=80=93 in contrast to many other cities further North. We ar=
e fortunate in our province to have a good rural base and some strong busin=
esses, like Tiwai Aluminium Smelter and Fonterra, as well as a buoyant engi=
neering and construction sector providing employment and economic stability=
.

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SIT back in Southern hands
I was proud to announce that the National Government will be returning voca=
tional education to local communities and removing the Labour Government=E2=
=80=99s polytechnic mega-merger (Te Pukenga). This fulfilled an election pr=
omise and in Southland has been greeted enthusiastically by the polytechnic=
, students, local businesses and the community. Locally led, regionally res=
ponsive, and future focused vocational education is at the heart of what wi=
ll become this region=E2=80=99s on-going economic success story.

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It=E2=80=99s fantastic news that we now have a new, state-of-the-art CT sca=
nner at Southland Hospital. It will deliver significant advancements in dia=
gnostic services for patients, that are faster and more accurate for a wide=
range of conditions, including cancer and heart disease, and will mean pat=
ients can start treatment sooner and with greater confidence. The new scann=
er replaces the previous one installed 13 years ago.

Strengthening Primary Care
The Government is taking further action to ensure Southlanders can see a do=
ctor, focusing on improved funding for rural practices, faster access to pr=
imary care, and a stronger pipeline of locally trained GPs. We are updating=
GP funding to better reflect patient needs, setting a new health target fo=
r faster GP access and backing GP training and retention. People in the Sou=
th should be able to see a GP when they need one and this is what National =
is focussed on.

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=C2=A0
I was happy to acknowledge the members of the Otautau Volunteers Fire Briga=
de, including John Lowry and Kieran Drake, as part of the recent Volunteer =
Week. People around Invercargill and Southland do an amazing job in support=
ing a plethora of organisations and community groups, with their volunteeri=
ng making our province a better place to live. Thank you for everything tha=
t you do for the community.

Fish & Game Reforms
Southlanders will be pleased to learn of Government reforms to refocus Fish=
and Game back to its core job of managing our sport fishing and game bird =
resources. Previous reviews have made it clear the current legislation isn'=
t fit for purpose. Variable governance practices, disconnect from licence h=
olders, and local advocacy which has overstepped the mark, have been an iss=
ue particularly in the South. This has created a rift between farmers and F=
ish and Game, and I am pleased that the Government is now drawing a line in=
the sand.

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What a great event to attend =E2=80=93 the National Grand Final of the Youn=
g Farmer of the Year held in Invercargill. The future of farming is in good=
hands, judging by the astute, enthusiastic and talented young people invol=
ved in this competition. Sadly no media coverage, which is a great pity con=
sidering the celebration of Kiwi talent on the night.
=C2=A0

Dunedin Hospital Progress
Work is now progressing on the new Dunedin Hospital. I was in Dunedin with =
Health Minister Simeon Brown to update progress and I can say we are now ge=
tting on with the job. When complete, the building will be the largest sing=
le health facility in New Zealand, covering approximately 70,000 square met=
res.

The minister also announced that a new panel of community leaders will be s=
et up to keep people well informed on the hospital=E2=80=99s progress.

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It was a great pleasure to speak at the National Community Licensing Trusts=
Conference, held at the ILT=E2=80=99s Langlands Hotel in Invercargill this=
month.
=C2=A0

Stewart Island Solar Power
The Government is backing regional renewable energy projects, including a n=
ew solar farm at Stewart Island, with a $15.35 million suspensory loan from=
the Regional Infrastructure Fund. The Southland District Council will lead=
the solar energy project that is set to lower power costs, reduce diesel u=
se, and support local businesses on the island. This is a win for both the =
environment and the community.

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Congratulations to Southland Girls' High School student Nargis Girhotra who=
has done the Invercargill electorate proud as our Youth MP for 2025, takin=
g part in the Youth Parliament in Wellington earlier this month.

Boy Racers Under Pressure
We=E2=80=99re turning up the heat on boy racers with new laws and tougher p=
enalties to deter anti-social and intimidating driving. This will support I=
nvercargill Police, who have been doing some great work recently trying to =
clean up our streets. Under the new penalties, just one conviction will be =
enough to have your car destroyed, Police will be able to shut down illegal=
street gatherings, and fines for excessive vehicle noise will jump from $5=
0 to $300 =E2=80=93 and up to $3,000 through the courts.

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Great to be at the opening of Fonterra=E2=80=99s first new $31 million elec=
trode boiler, at Edendale, which will reduce emissions by around 20 percent=
=E2=80=93 the equivalent of taking almost 20,000 cars off NZ roads.

Fonterra Invests in Southland
A further announcement that Fonterra will spend $72 million installing anot=
her two new 20-megawatt electrode boilers at its Edendale site is a signifi=
cant boost for our province, creating employment and boosting the local eco=
nomy. Work will begin shortly with completion by 2027. Farming is a mainsta=
y in the South and it=E2=80=99s exciting to see Fonterra investing so heavi=
ly in our province, while taking the initiative to reduce its emissions.
=C2=A0

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It=E2=80=99s been a busy month of speeches and events in the South for me, =
including the National Holstien Friesian conference, The Pathways Breakfast=
- AI into the future, the National Community Licensing Trusts conference, =
SuperBlues Gore and Winton meetings, Nepalese Independence Day celebration,=
Filipino Cultural Event and a community catch-up at Otautau.

Tourism Funding for South

Five great Southland events are set to receive $93,000 in Government fundin=
g aimed at driving economic growth. The recipients are: The Burt Munro Chal=
lenge ($16,000), NZ Premier Motorsport Summer Series ($20,000), Rakiura Rhy=
me Machine Festival 2025 ($5,000), The Shepherdess Muster ($22,000) and the=
Tussock Country NZ Country Music Festival 2026 ($30,000). This comes on to=
p of $79,000 in funding, announced in November, and is great for our commun=
ity.
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Southlander on TEC Board
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Yvonne Browning to a vacant pos=
ition on the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). The Southlan=
d Girls=E2=80=99 High principal is passionate about ensuring students, part=
icularly young women, can realise their full potential through tertiary edu=
cation and training and her experience and skills will be an asset.=C2=A0
=C2=A0
My Diary
August 1-3: National Party Annual Conference =E2=80=93 Christchurch
August 1: Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick | SuperBlues
August 15: Coastguard Riverton =E2=80=93 Opening Ceremony
August 29: ILT Stadium Southland Family Day
September 5: Upper Hutt MP Cameron Brewer | SuperBlues
September 24: Tuatapere Community catch-up=C2=A0
=C2=A0
Once again, I want to thank you all for your on-going support and commitmen=
t to the party.

=C2=A0
Warmest regards,=C2=A0
Penny Simmonds |=C2=A0MP for Invercargill

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=C2=A0
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