Dear John,

Welcome to my latest newsletter. It’s been a great few weeks in Parliament – with the return of polytechnics to the regions being a real highlight for me. This adds to the positive sentiment around the city at the moment – in contrast to many other cities further North. We are fortunate in our province to have a good rural base and some strong businesses, like Tiwai Aluminium Smelter and Fonterra, as well as a buoyant engineering and construction sector providing employment and economic stability.

SIT back in Southern hands

I was proud to announce that the National Government will be returning vocational education to local communities and removing the Labour Government’s polytechnic mega-merger (Te Pukenga). This fulfilled an election promise and in Southland has been greeted enthusiastically by the polytechnic, students, local businesses and the community. Locally led, regionally responsive, and future focused vocational education is at the heart of what will become this region’s on-going economic success story.

It’s fantastic news that we now have a new, state-of-the-art CT scanner at Southland Hospital. It will deliver significant advancements in diagnostic services for patients, that are faster and more accurate for a wide range of conditions, including cancer and heart disease, and will mean patients can start treatment sooner and with greater confidence. The new scanner replaces the previous one installed 13 years ago.

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

I was happy to acknowledge the members of the Otautau Volunteers Fire Brigade, including John Lowry and Kieran Drake, as part of the recent Volunteer Week. People around Invercargill and Southland do an amazing job in supporting a plethora of organisations and community groups, with their volunteering making our province a better place to live. Thank you for everything that 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 holders, and local advocacy which has overstepped the mark, have been an issue particularly in the South. This has created a rift between farmers and Fish and Game, and I am pleased that the Government is now drawing a line in the sand.

What a great event to attend – the National Grand Final of the Young Farmer of the Year held in Invercargill. The future of farming is in good hands, judging by the astute, enthusiastic and talented young people involved in this competition. Sadly no media coverage, which is a great pity considering the celebration of Kiwi talent on the night.

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 getting on with the job. When complete, the building will be the largest single health facility in New Zealand, covering approximately 70,000 square metres.

The minister also announced that a new panel of community leaders will be set up to keep people well informed on the hospital’s progress.

It was a great pleasure to speak at the National Community Licensing Trusts Conference, held at the ILT’s Langlands Hotel in Invercargill this month.

Stewart Island Solar Power
The Government is backing regional renewable energy projects, including a new 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 use, and support local businesses on the island. This is a win for both the environment and the community.

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

Boy Racers Under Pressure

We’re turning up the heat on boy racers with new laws and tougher penalties to deter anti-social and intimidating driving. This will support Invercargill 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 $50 to $300 – and up to $3,000 through the courts.

Great to be at the opening of Fonterra’s first new $31 million electrode boiler, at Edendale, which will reduce emissions by around 20 percent – 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 another two new 20-megawatt electrode boilers at its Edendale site is a significant boost for our province, creating employment and boosting the local economy. Work will begin shortly with completion by 2027. Farming is a mainstay in the South and it’s exciting to see Fonterra investing so heavily in our province, while taking the initiative to reduce its emissions.

It’s 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 funding aimed at driving economic growth. The recipients are: The Burt Munro Challenge ($16,000), NZ Premier Motorsport Summer Series ($20,000), Rakiura Rhyme Machine Festival 2025 ($5,000), The Shepherdess Muster ($22,000) and the Tussock Country NZ Country Music Festival 2026 ($30,000). This comes on top of $79,000 in funding, announced in November, and is great for our community.

Southlander on TEC Board

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Yvonne Browning to a vacant position on the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). The Southland Girls’ High principal is passionate about ensuring students, particularly young women, can realise their full potential through tertiary education and training and her experience and skills will be an asset.

My Diary
August 1-3: National Party Annual Conference – Christchurch
August 1: Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick | SuperBlues
August 15: Coastguard Riverton – Opening Ceremony

August 29: ILT Stadium Southland Family Day
September 5: Upper Hutt MP Cameron Brewer | SuperBlues
September 24: Tuatapere Community catch-up

Once again, I want to thank you all for your on-going support and commitment to the party.

Warmest regards,
Penny Simmonds | MP for Invercargill