Vote Lou for ILT.

There’s so much potential in Invercargill for young people, and yet they don’t stay. Our city culture, nightlife and food scene has a lot to do with this. And it’s time for change.

As the largest employer of young people in the region, the ILT have a responsibility to provide quality training. Our “Southern Hospitality” reputation lies in their hands.

I want to help the ILT engage and attract this new generation and create a brighter future for Invercargill. Here’s how:

• Listen to the needs of this audience

• Provide high-quality eateries and small bars

• Offer options for night culture - places people want to enjoy and share

• Offer a wider selection of craft beer

• Provide meaningful employment with quality training

• Offer menu alternatives to chips and aioli

The Invercargill Licensing Trust board would benefit from having someone connected to this next generation, offering a fresh perspective. Someone ready to listen and test fresh ideas. I am that person.

I’m 33. Decisions this board makes impact my life, and the culture of this city I’ve chosen to return to. If you’re a young person or are youth adjacent (like me) I’d love to hear your thoughts. Email me at louise@lemoncreative.co.nz

Southland farmers, fishers, and growers provide Kiwis across the country with world-class lamb, beef and venison, blue cod, shellfish, potatoes, milk, carrots, and kelp.

And yet, it's pretty hard to get fresh blue cod for dinner in town, or a dish with any local ingredients.

The ILT tagline is “For our Community.” Let’s bring this purpose to life and help our food-producing communities showcase their kai through the buying power of the ILT’s many restaurants and hotels.

It would:

Give tourists quality cuisine from the places they were inspired by on their travels around Southland, encouraging them to stay longer, spend more and share with others.

Give locals menus to inspire them, and offer more options for dining, including plant-based and dietary. Create stronger food resilience in supply chains in our backyard.

Give local producers a pathway for growth by creating steady demand, and quality control. In turn keeping money in the South and enticing more high-end chefs, producers and foodies to travel to Invercargill.

Ma Te huruhuru, Ka rere Te manu - Adorn the bird with feathers so it can fly.

Empowering and supporting staff to inspire excellence will lead to happier workers, stronger turnovers, cost efficiencies, and establishments to be proud of.

ESOP is one way of achieving this. It’s a win-win: the better the establishment performs, the better the ultimate benefit for both the staff and the ILT. There are other means of rewarding loyalty, too. However it is achieved, it is necessary for creating and running establishments that are not only profitable but have personality. Currently, many of our taverns feel the same-same.

The ILT are remarkable in their contribution to community funding. The numbers don’t lie - millions have been spent on improving our city.

I applaud and wish to help continue this effort.

I have been a footballer since I was a kid, and play for Old Boys’ now. I enjoyed track cycling, squash, swimming and hockey. All in world-class facilities that exist with help from the ILT. We’re privileged in Southland to have these opportunities, but we’re more than simply sport.

And I’d love to see this same support offered to our wider community - grow our culture and embrace the diversity that is evolving here.