Great South

02/08/2026

Great to see the Meridian Hydro Half Marathon bringing participants to Te Anau this August. 👏

This much-loved event showcases the stunning landscapes of Fiordland while supporting active lifestyles and community connection.

📍 Te Anau
📅 8 August

More info:

Spectacular backdrops, stunning scenery and a vibe that can’t be beaten - it has to be the Hydro Half Marathon.

31/07/2026

We're proud to celebrate the young people shaping Southland's future workforce. 👏

The Great South Vocational Excellence Awards recognise students excelling through vocational pathways, workplace learning and industry training.

Nominations close on 6 August.

One week to go!

Nominations for the Great South Vocational Excellence Awards close on Thursday 6 August.

These awards celebrate Southland students who are excelling through vocational pathways such as Gateway, Trades Academy, workplace learning, and industry training.

Do you know a student who:
✅ Turns up and gives it their all?
✅ Has impressed an employer?
✅ Has shown real growth, commitment and professionalism?
✅ Is building their future through hands-on learning?

Students can't apply directly. Nominations are made through their school, so if this sounds like someone you know, now is a great time to chat with your school's careers advisor about the awards.

The Vocational Excellence Awards are shining a spotlight on the talented young people helping build Southland's future workforce, are made possible through the support of local industry partners and sponsors.

29/07/2026

We're excited to see Freestyle Kings coming to Invercargill in 2026. 👏

As the only New Zealand stop on the Freestyle Kings World Tour, the event will bring world-class riders, impressive stunts and a unique live entertainment experience to Rugby Park.

Tickets are on sale now.
https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=FSKLIVE26

28/07/2026

Looking to build deeper capability in your R&D team?

The R&D Career Grant supports businesses to hire a Master’s or PhD graduate, bringing fresh perspective and advanced skills to your projects.

Applications open 31 August.

Learn more: https://www.business.govt.nz/careergrant

27/07/2026

We're looking for a Business Events Manager to join the Great South team.

This is an exciting opportunity to help attract and grow business events in Southland, showcasing the region as a premier destination for conferences, meetings and events.

Learn more about the role and apply here:
https://greatsouth.nz/about-us/work-with-us

26/07/2026

A great example of destination storytelling in action 🍽️

100% Pure New Zealand's An Invitation to Dinner campaign celebrates the people, places and experiences behind New Zealand's food story.

As part of the campaign, Fiordland is featured in this stunning video showcasing RealNZ's Milford Sound Business Class experience. Cruising through Fiordland NZ, guests enjoy a five-course menu created by acclaimed chef Tom Hishon, featuring regional ingredients inspired by the flavours and stories of the region.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Piopiotahi Milford Sound, it's a great example of how food, hospitality and place come together to create unforgettable visitor experiences.

It's fantastic to see Fiordland representing Southland on a national stage and helping tell New Zealand's food story to the world.

Learn more about the campaign and how Great South is using it to showcase Murihiku Southland as a food tourism destination: https://greatsouth.nz/news/invitation-to-dinner-campaign

So... see you at dinner?

23/07/2026

Kai, kōrero and kākāpō made for a pretty memorable start to the day at Great South. 💚🦜

We had a special morning learning all about the much-loved kākāpō with Tāne Davis, Ngāi Tahu representative on the Kākāpō Recovery Group. Tāne's work is to combine mātauranga (knowledge) and science to help kākāpō.

From seeing the size of a kākāpō egg and learning how chicks are hand-reared, to hearing about the technology used to monitor these incredible birds, it was fascinating to get a closer look at the work behind their recovery.

With a population of around 235 kākāpō across managed populations, every bird matters. Learning about the journey of both young chicks and adult birds reminded us just how precious these unique taonga are.

A huge thank you to Tane for sharing his knowledge, stories and passion for conservation with our team.

A special thank you to Darius from Predator Free Rakiura for bringing this experience to the Great South team.

To learn more about the amazing work being done to protect kākāpō, visit the Department of Conservation's Kākāpō Recovery programme:

https://www.doc.govt.nz/kakapo-recovery

21/07/2026

We're looking for a General Manager Strategic Projects to join the Great South team.

This is an exciting leadership opportunity to help shape and deliver projects that support Southland's future growth and development.

Learn more about the role and apply here:

https://greatsouth.nz/about-us/work-with-us

21/07/2026

The businesses that recover fastest from disruption aren't the luckiest ones, they're the ones that planned ahead.

Join our Business Continuity Planning Workshop and learn practical tools to help your business prepare for, respond to, and recover from unexpected disruption.

Upcoming Southland workshops:

📍 Invercargill – 3 August
💻 Online – 3 & 10 August

✅ Free for New Zealand business owners
✅ Practical tools and resources
✅ Delivered through the Regional Business Partner Network

Register now:

Discover the support you need to grow your business. Our assessments, workshops, and training programs are designed to help you achieve success.