Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It sits amid rich farmland that is bordered by large areas of conservation land and marine reserves, including Fiordland National Park covering the south-west corner of the South Island, and the Catlins coastal region. The population of Invercargill City is around 53,000 (October 2013 estimate). Its territorial area is 491 km2..

Invercargill is home to the Southern Institute of Technology, which has introduced a zero-fees scheme. The scheme was partly responsible for rejuvenating the city when it was in a steady state of population decline. However the major factor in Invercargill's regrowth is the dairy industrial boom of the 2000s due to an increased demand for New Zealand milk, cheese and butter. New dairy factories have opened around the Southland Region, as well as more efficient meat processing works and research and development facilities. Invercargill is on the Southern Scenic Route (tourist road), allowing day trips to Queenstown, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Dunedin, Te Anau andFiordland. There have been plans to develop wind power and hydroelectric schemes and plans to survey the Great South Basin for oil extraction. Invercargill is at the southern end of the Main South Line railway, which extends up the east coast to Christchurch and Lyttelton via Dunedin. Invercargill Airport has the third longest runway in New Zealand, following Auckland and Christchurch, at 2210 metres.

The Invercargill City Council governs the territorial authority of Invercargill. It is made up of an elected mayor, a deputy mayor and 12 additional councillors. The current mayor is the incumbent Tim Shadbolt who has held the position for seven consecutive mayoral terms.

Invercargill is a sister city of Suqian City of Jiangsu Province, China (2013).