Spring has sprung and there’s a vibrant air of positivity around Invercargill and the rest of the province. This has been enhanced by strong rural sector returns and growing local business confidence. Government initiatives have also supported economic growth, including lower interest rates, better policy-making and infrastructure support. |
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Delivering on Disestablishing Te Pukenga
Last week also saw the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill, pass its third reading in Parliament. This bill will disestablish Te Pūkenga and enable the re-establishment of ten regionally governed polytechnics on 1 January 2026, including SIT - with 4 more to be considered later in the year.
It means industry is back where it belongs, in the drivers’ seat of industry training, with 8 new Industry Training Boards also set up for 1 January 2026. It’s taken much time, consultation and commitment, but I’m pleased that we’re now rebuilding a vocational education and training system in NZ that’s locally and industry-led, regionally responsive, and future focused. This reform will finally deliver a stable, practical, and future-focused vocational education and training system for Southland's SIT and the rest of the country. |
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Growing Southland’s economy
The Government is taking decisive steps to grow Southland’s economy, aiming to create jobs, lift wages, and help local people get ahead, including:
- Creating new, practical and fair methane targets for Southland farmers
- Delivering tax relief to hard working Southlanders
- Passing RMA changes to stop councils from starting work on costly plan changes before our final plans are cemented
- Slashing red tape, including fixing unworkable freshwater rules
- Cutting wasteful spending and inflation, and driving down mortgage rates
- Introducing Investment Boost enabling local businesses to claim an upfront 20% tax deduction on new assets
- Giving rate rebates and inflation-proofing super payments for Seniors
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It was great to recently attend the 2025 Southland Business Excellence Awards, at the Ascot Park Hotel, where more than 400 business leaders, sponsors and supporters gathered to celebrate the strength, resilience and innovation of our region’s enterprises.
Bowel Screening Expansion
Great news - the starting age for free bowel screening has been lowered in Southland to 58. This means thousands more people will now have access to lifesaving testing, giving them the best chance of having bowel cancer detected early. Our goal is to bring the age down even further, and building colonoscopy capacity is key to achieving that. |
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It was momentous to be at the signing of the construction contract for the new Dunedin Hospital inpatient building last month, with Health Minister Simeon Brown. This is a key milestone in delivering a modern hospital for the Southern region and to see it progressing to the next stage is positive.
ED staffing boost in South
In a new Government investment, Southland Hospital’s emergency department will receive funding to increase frontline staffing. This is part of a $20 million boost across hospitals nationwide over the next nine months and is a positive boost for our province. It will deliver more staff to the frontline, relieve pressure and allow for faster patient care.
Digital health service delivering faster care in South
Southlanders are among those benefitting from the Government’s new 24/7 digital health service. Since July, more than 21,000 consultations have been delivered nationwide, with 20 percent of those in the South Island. This service gives local people faster access to care when they can’t see their usual GP. |
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Public Meeting - Meet Hon Todd McClay
You're invited to a public meeting, on November 25, with our Spokesperson for Agriculture Hon Todd McClay, at the Otautau Connect Centre, 134 Main Street, Otautau.
Food & Refreshments from 6.30pm.
See you there.
Contact:
Otautau National Party Branch Chair Bill O'Sullivan on 027 206 1238
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I always enjoy getting out around the electorate for my constituent clinics and my visit to Tuatapere was no exception, when I joined this wonderful farming family out at the Tui Base Camp enjoying a birthday lunch.
Southland gets rail infrastructure boost
The Government is making a significant investment in the Southland-Otago rail network, including 21km of re-sleepering, 13km of re-railing and 10 turnout replacements, for the 2024/25 to 2026/27 period. Eight culverts and 11 bridges will be renewed and 24 level crossings will be resealed. This is very positive for Southland, which relies on good infrastructure, like rail, to get our goods to market.
Government invests in Flood Protection in Southland
Almost $15 million in Government flood resilience funding for Southland is a positive step in future-proofing this province and its people. The Invercargill and Ōreti Flood Resilience stopbank upgrades and Mataura River Flood protection improvements will help protect more than 10,000 people and over 7,500 hectares of land. |
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Southern rural schools get maintenance support
Ensuring children in rural areas have access to excellent facilities is a priority for this Government. As a result, $413 million in school infrastructure investment across the country is being brought forward. In Southland this means maintenance work at some schools will be able to be done earlier.
Earthquake-prone building changes
Changes to our earthquake-prone building system will have a big impact in the South – particularly in rural towns like Riverton and Wyndham. The new earthquake-prone building system will now capture only buildings that pose a genuine risk to human life, in medium and high seismic zones. This will move the focus to strengthening buildings that pose real risk, reducing significant costs to owners while focusing on safety.
New Seasonal work visas support farmers
New seasonal work visas will be a boon for local farmers and businesses needing skilled staff in a hurry. This is not about taking jobs away from Southlanders – we simply don’t have these skilled people currently available to do the work. These visas are about supporting business and boosting the local economy.
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My Diary
29 October – Kings Birthday Honours 2025 – Investiture Ceremonies in Dunedin
7 November – Catherine Wedd visit – SuperBlues
25 November - Agriculture Minister Todd McClay visit
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Once again thank you for the wonderful support. It is a real honour to represent you and the Invercargill electorate
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Warmest regards,
Penny Simmonds | MP for Invercargill |
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