Chief Executive appointment

Nau mai haere mai to Chami Abeysinghe, our new Chief Executive who will be joining the team mid-September. Chami comes to us from the Southern Institute of Technology, where she was International Director. We are looking forward to working with her to make great things happen for our region!

Space Ops NZ Export Award finalists

We're delighted that Great South-owned company Space Ops NZ is a finalist in two categories of the DHL Export Southland 2022 Recognition Awards, in the MVM Organisation Award and the NZAS Innovation Award categories. The Awards are being held on 23 September 2022.

Fiordland: $90,000 event fund 

Applications for the fourth round in the Fiordland Regional Events Fund are now open, with $90,000 available. If you have an idea for a new event, or an existing event that has the potential to attract visitors from outside of the region read more below.

Funding boost for New Zealand Functional Foods

The government is backing NZ Functional foods with $6 million from the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund to develop its plant-based beverage manufacturing facility at Makarewa. Great South is a very proud 49% shareholder in NZFF and is excited for what the future holds when it comes to oat milk production here in Southland.

First stage of Invercargill Central complete

Stage one of Invercargill Central was officially opened late last month, which includes a variety of retail offerings. Our City Centre Coordinator Kirsten Harper has been supporting this significant milestone to be reached and if this is just a taste of what's to come it sure is exciting!  

Selling Southland to the world

Our Visit Fiordland Manager Stu Cordelle is making sure Fiordland and Southland are top of mind in the travel itineraries for our friends overseas by attending the Kiwi link USA and UK trade events. Our attendance at trade and travel events provides a premium opportunity to reconnect and strengthen our relationships with wholesale partners. If you're looking to share your tourism product with international markets, find out more below.

Tourism business funding - closing 31 August!

Applications for the Tourism Communities Advisory Support, Advice Implementation Grant and kick-start funds all close 31 August 2022. If you have a tourism business within the Southland District Council rating area, now is the time to apply for these funds, which are part of the Government's Tourism Communities: Support, Recover and Re-set Plan. Up to $5000 is available for each of the first two funds and $10,000 to $50,000 is available with the Kick-start Fund. More info and apply below.

Looking for your summer workforce?

After its inaugural success, Summer of Work is returning in 2022. Great South's Southland Youth Futures team are on the hunt for employers with entry-level summer employment vacancies and by participating you will be connected with a potential summer workforce. Find out more about this initiative below.