Southland (Māori: Murihiku) is the name of New Zealand's southernmost region and is also the name of a district within that region. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The region is the top tier of Local government in New Zealand. Territorial authorities are the second tier of Local government in New Zealand, below regional councils.

History

Originally part of Otago Province, Southland Province was one of the provinces of New Zealand from 1861 until 1870. (For the current top-level subdivision of Otago in New Zealand see Otago) The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until (For the current top-level subdivision of Southland in New Zealand see Southland Region) The Southland Province was a province of New Provinces in New Zealand were used from 1841 until the Abolition of the Provinces Act came into force on November 1, 1876. It rejoined Otago Province due to financial difficulties, and the provinces were abolished entirely in 1876.

Structure

A map showing population density in the Southland Region at the 2006 census.

Settlements

The region has one city, Invercargill and one other district, Gore. Invercargill ( Waihōpai in Māori) is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world Gore is a town surrounding borough and district in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. Southland covers an area of 28,681 square kilometres. In the 2001 census it had a population of 91,002 people, down 6,096 from the 1996 census, making it one of New Zealand's most sparsely populated areas. The sizable western part Fiordland is almost empty of permanent human ihabitation. Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island.

Representation

Southland is divided into two parliamentary electorates, and is represented in Parliament by Bill English (Clutha-Southland) and Eric Roy (Invercargill). The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and until 1951 the New Zealand Legislative Council Simon William "Bill" English (born 1961 is a New Zealand politician and former leader of the National Party from October 2001 to October 2003 Both are members of the opposition National Party

Local government

The seats of Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland), Southland District Council and the Invercargill City Council are in Invercargill. The New Zealand National Party ("National" or "the Nats" currently forms the second-largest (in terms of parliamentary seats Political party Invercargill ( Waihōpai in Māori) is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world Southland District includes the towns of Winton, Lumsden and all of Stewart Island/Rakiura. Winton is a town in Southland New Zealand. It is located close to the east bank of the Oreti River, 30 kilometres north of Invercargill and 50 kilometres Lumsden is a town in Southland New Zealand. Lying in a gap in the surrounding hills it is the location of a major junction halfway along the north-south road from Queenstown

National parks and tourism

The region is home to Fiordland National Park which covers 7,860 square kilometres. Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island. Southland also includes Stewart Island, much of which is set aside as Rakiura National Park. Rakiura National

Tourism spending is a major factor of the Southland economy, with NZ$ 368 million being spent by visitors in 2003, of which NZ$ 92 was spent in the Fiordland area. ^[1]

See also

• Fiordland
• Southland Rugby
• Stewart Island
• Southland museum and art gallery

References

External links

• Southland regional council's site
• Southland district council's site
• Southland travel guide from Wikitravel