A week ago, Ardern, Robertson and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones visited Invercargill where they met with Southland mayors to discuss future job opportunities in the region. RNZ understands there was back and forth between ministers about a roughly $100 million package for Southland, focused on job creation. "No, there was no discussion of a financial package for Southland last week - full stop,'' he told RNZ. He did, however, reveal he told Ardern she was travelling to Southland on behalf of the Labour Party, not the coalition government. "The Prime Minister was going down with MBIE [Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment] and other ministers to talk about the future of Tiwai Point.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 22, 2020 20:15 UTC