Southland stands up for Southern Institute of Technology
Friday, 1 March 2019
Southern Institute of Technology chief executive Penny Simmonds has thanked the Southland public for the support it had been shown.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins visited Invercargill on Friday to address Southlanders about a proposed polytechnic merger, which includes SIT.
A Stand Up for SIT campaign was launched and backed by the Southland business community to ensure Hipkins understood what SIT meant to the province.
Plenty of signs were erected throughout Invercargill and thousands of T-shirts handed out to create a sea of orange, SIT's trademark colour.
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The public also packed out Hansen Hall for a meeting, with many asking Hipkins to leave SIT alone.
'I think it was good to show the minister how much support [SIT] has had for many years, and it was very visible with the orange,' Simmonds said.
Carla Forbes, the person behind the Stand Up for SIT campaign, has praised the Invercargill community in regard to how everyone had rallied to ensure the campaign message was plastered in front of Hipkins during his time in Invercargill.
'The response has been overwhelming, however we shouldn't be surprised. If there was ever a time for Southland to mobilise this is it. It's our own asset, we put our own money into it.
'It makes me even prouder to be a Southlander to be honest.'
Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt was delighted with the passion shown.
'I don't think this would occur in any other city in New Zealand, in terms of the interest, passion, drama, and exchange of ideas,' he said.
'It shows the people of Southland want to get involved in the decision-making protest and want to be able to challenge our national leaders.
'I think we come out of it showing we have a dynamic society.'