A reminder of the ‘really good stuff’ happening in Southland

10. Powerful American partnership announced for The Grace Street Project
It may seem strange at first to understand how a community-driven initiative, aiming to transform south Invercargill, has connected with two women with significant influence in America. Although that’s what the group behind The Grace Street Project have done. . (READ MORE HERE).

9. Invercargill wins big at national landscape awards
Invercargill residents have another reason to be proud of the city they call home, after receiving two major honours at the national landscape awards. Invercargill’s City Streets Upgrade project and the Sandy Point Domain Masterplan both received an Award of Excellence, at the NZ Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards at The Beehive in Wellington on Friday night. (READ MORE HERE).

8. Chamber: ‘This is momentous for Southland
The Southland Business Chamber says securing the future of the Tiwai Aluminium Smelter, marking a monumental milestone for the region. The organisation says the agreement, guaranteeing energy supply from three generators until at least 2044, brings unparalleled certainty to the community, staff, and suppliers for the next two decades. (READ MORE HERE).

7. ‘This will be special’: Father, son duo to take field together
One of Southland sport’s more special moments is likely play out on Saturday at Oreti Park. The father and son combo of Jason and Gregor Rutledge are expected to line up together for Woodlands in a premier club rugby game against Pirates-Old Boys. (READ MORE HERE).

6. Outstanding commitment highlighted with Civic Honours Awards
The outstanding commitment of five Southlanders to their community has been recognised at the Invercargill City Council’s Civic Honours Awards. The awards, which have been on hiatus for almost a decade and have returned in 2024, aim to recognise those contributing to community wellbeing in four categories: social, cultural, economic and environmental. (READ MORE HERE).

5. Invercargill building firm honoured for city block work
Amalgamated Builders Ltd (ABL) has won big at the 2024 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards for its work on the Invercargill Central development. At the awards held in Wellington on Friday the ambitious urban redevelopment project was honoured with a prestigious Gold Award, the National Category Winner award for Retail, and a Special Award from the judges. (READ MORE HERE).

4 . Southland cyclist claims ‘biggest race in North America
Josh Burnett has declared there are “some big goals” in the pipeline for the 2024 SBS Tour of Southland following arguably the 23-year-old’s most significant victory of his career to date. Burnett became the first Kiwi in 34 years to win the Tour de Beauce in North America in what was also a special victory for his New Zealand Cycling Project – MitoQ team. (READ MORE HERE).

3. Wyndham volunteer fireman awarded for contribution to fire safety
Wyndham volunteer firefighter James Walker has been recognised for his contribution to Wyndham’s fire service for 40 years with a Community Service Award. Southland District Council Mayor Rob Scott and Waihopai Toetoe Community board chair Pamela Yorke presented the award on Saturday Walker at the Wyndham Golf Course Club rooms to a full crowd. (READ MORE HERE).

2. Southland’s Saili books Olympic Games spot
Southland’s Alena Saili will get a shot at adding another Olympic gold medal to her collection when the 2024 Olympic Games rolls around in Paris in July. On Thursday the former Southland Girls’ High School pupil was confirmed in the 12-strong Black Ferns team to head to Paris. (READ MORE HERE).

1. No 1 ranked region: Southland topples Auckland for top spot
Southland is “a force to be reckoned with” economically, according to a research report collated by the ASB Bank. Each quarter ASB puts together a “Regional Scoreboard” which ranks regions based on year-to-year growth across a range of measures. And Southland is No 1. (READ MORE HERE).