The decision that brought Invercargill back to life

The decision that brought Invercargill back to life

When our government or councils make laws or introduce new policies there is almost always a downside.

But once in a while our politicians make a decision which almost everyone likes.

This happened 15 years ago when Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt made one of these decisions and it was one that brought a dying provincial town back to life.

The head of a tiny and struggling provincial polytechnic approached Mr Shadbolt and the idea was simple and it saved the city.

The Southern Institute of Technology worked out that if student numbers were at a certain level, government subsidies would completely cover their costs.

All it needed was a cash injection to lure students to Invercargill with free study.

The $7 million punt with the town's money was an all-or-nothing gamble, but Invercargill was also the fastest declining city in New Zealand and Australia so something had to be done.

Story looks into the one decision which brought the town back from the brink and the offer students couldn't pass up.

Watch the video for the full Story report.