Invercargill

Invercargill

Invercargill (Māori: 'Waihōpai')[2] is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff, which is the southernmost town in the South Island. It sits amid rich farmland that is bordered by large areas of conservation land and marine reserves, including Fiordland National Park covering the south-west corner of the South Island. Many streets in the city, especially in the centre and main shopping district, are named after rivers in Great Britain, mainly Scotland. These include the main streets Dee and Tay, as well as those named after the Tyne, Esk, Don, Thames, Mersey, Ness, Yarrow, Spey, and Eye rivers.

Economy

Invercargill is home to the Southern Institute of Technology, which has introduced a zero-fees scheme.The scheme was partly responsible for rejuvenating the city when it was in a steady state of population decline. However the major factor in Invercargill's regrowth is the dairy industrial boom of the first decade of the 21st century due to an increased demand for New Zealand milk, cheese and butter. New dairy factories have opened around the province of Southland, as well as more efficient meat processing works and research and development facilities.Invercargill is on the Southern Scenic Route (tourist road), allowing day trips to Queenstown, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Dunedin, Te Anau and Fiordland. As of 2008, there have been plans to develop wind power and hydroelectric schemes and plans to survey the Great South Basin for oil extraction.

Climate

Invercargill has a temperate oceanic climate similar to that of the British Isles. The mean daily temperature ranges from 5.2 °C in July to 14 °C in January. The yearly mean temperature is 9.9 °C. Rainfall averages 1112 mm annually, and measurable snowfall is occasionally seen during the winter months of June to September. It is located in the cloudiest area of New Zealand with 1580 hours of sunshine per annum. Despite its cloudiness, and a relatively high frequency of rainy days, Invercargill receives less rain than either Auckland or Wellington. Invercargill is also New Zealand's second windiest city, after Wellington.

Education

All High Schools in Invercargill are Year 7-13, following a Ministry of Education review in 2004 that made most of Invercargill's primary schools Year 1-6 and closed the Year 7-8 schools Rosedale Intermediate and Collingwood Intermediate and Tweedsmuir Junior High James Hargest College is in northern Invercargill with about 1800 students. Current Principal is Andy Wood. Aurora College was established in 2005, after Mount Anglem College was closed in 2004. Current Principal is Robyn Hickman. Southland Girls' High School In 2005 became the first state Year 7-13 single-sex female school in New Zealand. Current Principal is Yvonne Browning. Southland Boys' High School In 2005 became the first state Year 7-13 single-sex male school in New Zealand. Current Principal is Ian Baldwin. Verdon College is a co-educational Catholic school with about 620 students. Current Principal is Jarlath Kelly.

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