Education

Southland Girls’ High School Year 12 student Sophie Ineson is this year’s recipient of the Prime Minister’s Space Prize for student endeavour and will receive $50,000 to support her tertiary education, Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds says. “This is a wonderful achievement. Congratulations to Sophie – she has done

A collaborative project between Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) environmental students and the local community has won top honours at the Environment Southland Community Awards. The Kew Bush Restoration and Education Programme was named the winner of the Environmental Action in the Community category. Kew Bush, a 3.3-hectare patch

Two talented Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) chefs have been selected as finalists in the prestigious Proud to be a Chef (PTBAC) programme, which takes place in Melbourne, Australia, in February 2026. Recent SIT graduate Sam Kissell and current cookery student Hery Sakti will join 30 other emerging chefs from

Four new members have been appointed to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) Board, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds announced. “I am pleased to appoint and welcome Emeritus Professor Sally Davenport MNZM, Dr Uluomato'otua (Ulu) Saulaulu Aiono ONZM, Mr Simon Flood and Mr Michael (Mike) Chapman as new members

The Invercargill Licensing Trust celebrated a record number of recipients at the 2025 Tertiary Scholarship Presentation on Monday night. A total of 70 recipients each received $2000 for three years to support their tertiary studies - from budding aerospace engineers to artists, healthcare professionals and teachers.  ILT President Paddy O’

• Telford campus celebrates return of Zero Fees Scheme to support aspiring agricultural students • SIT aligns with government focus on training for future-ready primary industry careers • Free full-time study in 2026 removes major financial barriers for young domestic learners Southern Institute of Technology’s (SIT) Telford campus is welcoming back its

Opinion: Vocational education in Southland and around the country is at a pivotal moment, as changes to the polytechnic system deliver the opportunity to prioritise skills to meet today’s job market. A critical part of the current redesign is greater local industry and employer involvement, which will lead to

Proposed NCEA changes are designed to ensure that Southland students leave school with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in further education, training, or employment. It’s essential that young Southlanders receive a world class education that sets them up for life. At the moment kids are leaving