For over 50 years, Dame Robin White’s art has portrayed people and their environments in New Zealand and the Pacific.
It is a treasure of New Zealand art now on display at the Eastern Southland Gallery and I encourage everyone to see it.
It was also incredibly special to be at the official opening of the Southland Charity Hospital in Invercargill.
The dream of the late Blair Vining carried forward relentlessly by Missy Vining and supported by an incredible number of people across the South and New Zealand is now a reality and a valuable addition for the South.
There have also been some further major developments from the government towards health.
We are taking a big step in the fight against bowel cancer by lowering the age for free screening from 60 to 58.
This will give more Kiwis access to life-saving early detection, helping to prevent hundreds of cancers, and ultimately save lives.
This is an election commitment from that is now being delivered.
Kiwis will also get better access to primary healthcare under our plan to empower nurses to deliver quality services in rural communities like Gore.
The government will invest $34.2 million over five years to fund 120 nurse practitioner training places in primary care each year from 2026.
An additional $21.6m over four years will accelerate advanced tertiary education for up to 120 primary care registered nurses annually.
Increasing the number of highly skilled nurses in local communities will mean better access to healthcare — especially in rural areas.
More patients will be seen sooner, and pressure on doctors will be eased.
With a growing population and an ageing workforce, we are facing a shortage of doctors, especially in general practice.
That is why the government is also increasing medical school placements, ensuring we have more locally trained doctors to serve our communities.
