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 the city of Invercargill, and to the Southland province.
It’s been a year of milestones and achievements. This year marked our first full year in office—a year defined by hard work and significant progress.
From reversing outdated policies to launching transformative initiatives, we’ve made meaningful strides around rebuilding and growing the economy, supporting the rural sector, restoring law and order, and delivering better education for our children.
While there’s more work to do, I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made to deliver the outcomes Southlanders deserve.
Here are some examples:
- Zero fees scheme extended for the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) for 2025.
- Working towards local control of SIT.
- $3.6 million in Government flood protection funding for Te Anau basin, and the Oreti and Aparima catchments.
- $2.2 million in Government support for a Southland aquaculture centre of excellence in Bluff.
- $84,000 in Government funds to promote tourism events in Invercargill.
- Three local aquaculture projects included in the Fast-track Approvals Bill.
- Specialist overseas doctor registrations fast-tracked.
- Fully funded insulin pumps for type 1 diabetics.
- Southland pothole road funding increased by 40%, from $20.6 million to $72.9 million.
- $50,000 drought relief for Southland farmers.
Inflation has dropped to 2.2%, 83% of New Zealanders are keeping more of their own money thanks to our delivery of the first tax relief in 14 years, wages have grown faster than inflation for four quarters in a row, FamilyBoost childcare payments have landed in over 40,000 families’ bank accounts, and a $604 million boost has been invested in Pharmac to help deliver up to 54 new medicines, including up to 26 new cancer treatments.
In our first year, we’ve also slashed regulations that were holding Southland farmers back.
We’ve restored common sense to intensive winter grazing regulations and stock exclusion rules and introduced practical rules for on-farm water storage.
In October, we paused the rollout of the national freshwater farm plan system. While in Southland’s case, Cabinet agreed to provide local farmers until mid-2026 to meet the requirements of the Southland Water and Land Plan.
Agriculture has been removed from the Emissions Trading Scheme, gene technology rules are under review to support innovation, and we’ve taken bold steps to increase competition in the banking sector.
We’ve led eight trade missions, concluded three trade agreements, and resolved another 16 barriers to trade. This means more high-value products like dairy and lamb will be in markets overseas, leading to more jobs and higher incomes in the south.
Our laws to crack down on gangs came into effect in November, and new laws toughening sentences for serious criminals will be in place next year.
In schools, we’ve banned phones in classrooms, required an hour a day each of maths, reading, and writing, and we’re rolling out structured literacy and maths so kids can grow the skills they need to succeed.
This Government was elected on a promise to improve the lives of Southlanders and all New Zealanders.
Progress so far is positive, and I’m committed to keeping up the hard work to ensure we continue to move forward.
In the meantime, as we count down to the festive season, I wish you and your families a safe and happy Christmas.