Great Southern Debate should be done up here

I had the privilege of being one of the invited (and handsomely rewarded) speakers at a conference in Southland called by the combined councils down there to consider the way forward for their province for the next 20 years.

Under the charismatic leadership of Mayor Tim Shadbolt, a crowd of over 300 had paid a nominal entry fee for the day’s discussion aimed at coming up with ideas to lift their already good performance economically and socially. It was great to see the councils and communities focussing out 20 years compared to our 20 day focus on just getting building permits responded to.

First up speaker was an Australian demographer, Bernard Salt who provided fascinating data on the worldwide drift from rural farming provinces to cities and warmer coastal lifestyle communities with the odd exception like Queenstown in NZ and Phoenix in the USA. He linked the population movements to and from Australia over the last few decades showing the drifts reverse from time to time when things get better economically in NZ.

Northland fortunately benefits from the drift to the equator, however Invercargill’s long term population loss is a challenge. The brilliantly successful Zero Fees promotion at the Southland Polytech produced a lift in population of 4500 which turns out to be one of only two such reversals on the planet, the other being a town in rural USA that opened a casino.

Southland benefit from very strong institutions compared to other provinces. The Southland Community Trust puts $10million each year into the community as does the Invercargill Licensing Trust, resulting in wonderful facilities like the vast sporting complex, home to the champion Southern Sting Netballers and the amazing indoor velodrome next door which gives cycling such a boost to go with the famous Tour of Southland.

The unfortunate statistic for Invercargill is the relative absence of young people in the 18 to 35 age groups and the Licensing Trust, although generous in financial terms has resulted in some of the most boring pubs and very few of the small licensed bars and restaurants that places like Mangonui are blessed with. Many of the ideas for the future growth involved making the place more youth focussed.

Their tourism needs seem similar to ours with competition from the big traditional tourist destinations and there was strong support for the idea of the Four Corners of NZ, being Southland, Taranaki, Tairawhiti and the Far North as a type of national tour of the icnic Kiwi destinations.

All in all a thought provoking day lead by an iconic mayor who really promotes his home area.