Southland is a vast and geographically diverse electorate covering the southern reaches of the South Island, excluding only the urban canter of Invercargill. It is an electorate of stark contrasts, balancing the booming, tourism-driven economy of Queenstown and the Lakes District with the rich agricultural heartland surrounding rural service towns like Gore. The region is a massive contributor to the national economy, driven by intensive dairy farming, sheep and beef production, and its status as New Zealand's premier international tourism destination. Politically, Southland is a fortress for the National Party and is widely considered one of the safest "blue" seats in the country. It was the long-time political home of former Prime Minister Bill English (formerly known as Clutha-Southland) and has remained loyal to the centre-right for decades. The seat is currently held by Joseph Mooney, who was first elected in 2020 and retained the electorate with a commanding majority in 2023. In the 2025 boundary review Southland lost an area west of Winton to the Invercargill electorate.