The latest from your Southland Regional Development Agency
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December 2022
As we come to the end of 2022, it is important to reflect on the year. Impacts of Covid-19 continued to be felt in the first half of the year, which brought with it disruptions and lost opportunities.
We have however seen our borders re-open, allowing us to welcome back tourists and working holiday visa holders to our region as we head into summer. Invercargill City developments are progressing well with stage two now open. The Langlands Hotel has delivered additional and much-needed accommodation, restaurants and bars, adding to the vibrancy of our inner city. And we’ve had exciting announcements about new industries being established, with the promise of more on the horizon, all of which is stimulating significant interest in our region.
As we head into Christmas, I hope you are all able to enjoy time with whanau and friends, and take time to relax, unwind and re-fresh. 2023 is promising to be an exhilarating year! If you are heading out and about, I recommend you take time to look at our promotional website www.southlandnz.com, you might just find some new travel inspiration.
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year. We look forward to being in touch with you then.
Kia pai ngā hararei! Happy
holidays!
Chami Abeysinghe
Chief Executive
Latest News
Meeting our new shareholder reps
With so many new council representatives in Southland, we took the opportunity to host our shareholder and partner organisation representatives recently, including all three new mayors. After a presentation about Great South and its activities, attendees boarded a bus to Awarua where CEO Robin McNeill took them on a guided tour of the Space Operations NZ satellite ground station.
Tourism Sustainability Pilot a success
A celebration for the 11 businesses that took part in the 12-week Murihiku Tourism Sustainability Pilot Programme was held in Te Anau recently. Participants learnt how to calculate their carbon emissions and identify what areas they needed to focus on, with some already implementing changes. The programme will be offered again in 2023 so If you are interested in taking part, please email us at the button below.
Take time off in Te Anau campaign
A new Te Anau Time campaign 'Take Time off in Te Anau', aimed at domestic and Australian markets is currently active and has reached more than 100,000 people in Australia and more than 60,000 in New Zealand.
Southland Summer Wheels
A gig guide celebrating Southland’s 'wheely' good events from mountain bike racing to classic car shows, track champs in the velodrome and traction engines in action.
Check out the full line-up of over 20 wheel, tyre and tread events speeding into action in January, February and March 2023 at the button below.
Holiday office hours
The Great South team will be taking a break for the summer holidays. Our Invercargill and Te Anau offices will close at 5.00pm on Thursday 23 December and re-open 8.30am Monday 9 January. After what has been another challenging year, we hope everyone enjoys a rejuvenating break!
How could tourism be developed to benefit your community?
If you live in or whakapapa to Murihiku Southland and are aged 15 or over, we want to know your thoughts on how you’d like to see tourism in all its forms develop in your community and in our region as a whole. Remembering tourism includes people visiting friends and whānau, business travellers, tour groups, people visiting for events, cruise passengers and holidaymakers to name a few.
Please register at the button below and the survey will be emailed to you.
It's important that we get the views of many people from the many communities within Murihiku and we’d love it if you could also encourage your friends and whānau to take part. You could win one of two $500 Prezzy cards!
Beyond 2025 Southland is wanting to understand the housing needs of people who live in Murihiku Southland to help inform its long-term planning for the region.
Whether you own multiple properties, are renting, or living with mum and dad - if you live in Murihiku Southland, please take part in the survey.
The survey includes questions that will ask about current living circumstances, whether there is likely to be a change in the future and the circumstances that would contribute to any change.
It would be appreciated if you could encourage others to complete the survey too. Hard copies are also available at libraries across the region.
Business News and opportunities
Southland tourism operator opportunity
New Zealand tourism’s biggest international tradeshow TRENZ is in Christchurch 8 -12 May 2023. There will be a number of international buyers attending the show and there is opportunity to showcase the Southland region as part of familiarisation tours before and after the event.
If you are a tourism operator in Southland/Fiordland and would be interested in being involved, please complete the expression of interest form at the button below.
Callaghan - New to R&D Grant
Callaghan Innovation has recently announced a new funding grant called New to R & D. More than just a grant, it helps you develop your R&D capability and prepare your business to access future R&D funding through the Research & Development Tax Incentive. You'll need to show you're in it for the long-term. To check if you might be eligible for this grant click on the button below or contact the Great South business team.
Tourism recovery innovation programme
Applications are now open for the $54 million Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery that will support unique and transformative ideas that improve the tourism sector.The programme will co-fund grants for projects that encourage transformative innovation, meaning a disruptive shift in systems, business models, processes, experiences, or products that create a meaningful impact across the New Zealand-Aotearoa visitor journey. Find out more at the button below.
Training Opportunities
Project Management - Prince2 Foundation Course
13 February 2023
Southland Business Chamber
More information
Assess Your Business Plan
14 February 2023
Southland Business Chamber
More information
Team Culture Workshop
21 February 2023
Southland Business Chamber
More information
The Art of Minute Taking
8 March 2023
Southland Business Chamber
More information
Upcoming Events
Distinction Hotels Te Anau Invitational
28-29 December, Te Anau
Revitalize Music Festival
2-4 January, Western Southland
Edendale Crank Up
28-29 January, Western Southland
