Opinion

This election advertorial is published by commercial arrangement. I’m sure everyone remembers the bad joke from ten or fifteen years ago that the last person to leave Invercargill should switch the lights out. Our city was in decline, with a fast-falling population and a city centre that had seen

Invercargill MP, Penny Simmonds. In contrast to many other parts of the country, Southland business confidence is growing.  While many other regions are feeling the pinch, there’s a real positivity around the city at present and this has been supported by a recent Southland Business Confidence Survey. It shows

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

Mike Hosking breaks down the Treasury report’s damning findings on Labour’s COVID spending — and why it could cost them the next election. On a recent Mike’s Minute segment on Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking dives into the political implications of a new Treasury report. His take? The document

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

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)

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

Opinion by Southland District Mayor Rob Scott. I recently had my son’s school report emailed to me. I didn’t miss an opportunity when I got home to say in a stern voice that we need to sit down and have a chat. As a worried look came across