Penny Simmonds MP

I’ve been involved in education for many decades, and I am passionate about its impact. I believe that the results we get from our education system is the single most important thing that we can do to improve the future economic prosperity of our province. Related: New Budget to Shift Fees Free to F

We all know how distracting our cell phones can be – and when phones are within easy reach it’s very tempting to check our messages or scroll through Instagram. As adults, it’s hard enough to be disciplined, so imagine how children must be affected when they have easy access to their phones. Phones

There’s concern in the South regarding youth crime in our city. Young people are our future and it worries me that there are some who have fallen off the rails and are getting involved in serious criminal activity. I understand that it’s a small number of youths who are responsible, but local police

It’s back to school and back to basics for Southland students returning to the classroom for 2024, Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds says.  “Southland primary and intermediate students, in years 0 – 8, who are returning to school this week will be taught reading, writing and maths for an average of one

More Southlanders will receive essential cancer treatments if National becomes Government. Cancer touches almost every family in New Zealand. It is something that is also close to my heart, having lost both of my parents to cancer. Each year, more than 25,000 Kiwis are diagnosed with cancer and more

National Party volunteers were out in force around Invercargill late last night – putting up election hoardings on the eve of the installation period. Today (Saturday) is the first day that party billboards can be erected in the South – in line with local council bylaws. Invercargill MP Penny Simmon

Uncertainty remains for Invercargill childcare centres and families, as the Government rewrites its early childhood policy for the second time in a month. Labour’s arrogance and lack of consultation around its revised Early Childhood Education policy means that it remains unworkable, despite asserti

Southland families bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis will get support from National with its new FamilyBoost childcare tax rebate, of up to $75 per week, Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds says. “It’s expensive raising a family these days and sometimes it seems like there’re costs at every