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Penny Simmonds MP

Penny Simmonds MP's Work 41 Articles
OPINION: Putting Polytechnics Back in Local Hands
OPINION: Putting Polytechnics Back in Local Hands
Opinion   -   Jul 15, 2025

By Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister for Vocational Education Vocational education is one of the most important tools we have to grow our economy, support local jobs, and give New Zealanders practical pathways into meaningful work. That’s why this Government is making big, necessary changes to rebuild a system that

GP Funding Increase To Benefit Southlanders
GP Funding Increase To Benefit Southlanders
News   -   Jul 02, 2025

Getting a GP appointment in Invercargill, and across parts of Southland, has been a major concern for local people — but that's about to change. The National-led Government is boosting General Practice funding by $175 million this year. This is the largest funding boost for GPs in our country’

Southland Events Get Govt Funding
Southland Events Get Govt Funding
Opinion   -   Jun 10, 2025

Five great Southland events are set to receive $93,000 in Government funding aimed at supporting them and driving economic growth across the province. The events to receive support are the Burt Munro Challenge 2026 ($16,000), the New Zealand Premier Motorsport Summer Series – Next Gen Round 4 ($20,000)

Support Boost For Southland Women’s Refuges
Support Boost For Southland Women’s Refuges
Community   -   May 17, 2025

• Southland’s two refuges will benefit from funding for mental health and addiction training • 250 advocates across the country will be upskilled through specialist clinical support and training • Funding aims to improve local service access and ease mental health referral challenges Southland Women’s Refuges in Invercargill and Gore will

Empowering Southland Businesses To Combat Retail Crime
Empowering Southland Businesses To Combat Retail Crime
Opinion   -   Mar 10, 2025

Editors Note: The original article was published in complete and has been updated. Retail crime continues to be an issue in the South, as it is in many other parts of the country, with Government moves to clamp down on crime an important boost. Last year I attended a public

Youth Parliament Opportunity in South
Youth Parliament Opportunity in South
Education   -   Feb 09, 2025

The eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in Wellington this year, allowing young people from across the country – including Southland – to make their voices heard. This is a wonderful opportunity for a young person living in the Invercargill electorate to learn first-hand how democracy works and to represent their

From the Beehive: Milestones & Achievements For 2024 in Southland
From the Beehive: Milestones & Achievements For 2024 in Southland
Opinion   -   Dec 20, 2024

OPINION: Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds Minister for the Environment and Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills. As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to take the time to thank you all for your support. I value your contribution and appreciate your ongoing commitment to me, to

Exciting Future for Aquaculture in Southland
Exciting Future for Aquaculture in Southland
Opinion   -   Dec 09, 2024

Opinion: Aquaculture has the potential to transform Southland’s economy, and I am a keen advocate of this new and exciting sector. It’s important for this province’s economic future that we boost export industries and create new jobs, and aquaculture has the potential to achieve this. In the

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