News
Changes to labour market undersupply and oversupply lists
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has made changes to the under and oversupply lists in some regions following a quarterly review of where the labour shortages are in New Zealand. From 16 April 2021, Immigration New Zealand will use the updated lists to assess Essential Skills work visa applications that are paid below the median wage (currently $25.50 an […]
You’re Due South
Great South, and its two Regional Tourism Organisations Visit Southland and Visit Fiordland, is proud to launch a new marketing campaign for the region, ‘You’re Due South’. Created in partnership with Christchurch advertising agency Strategy, the campaign quite simply tells kiwis they are “due south”, to explore the epic vistas of Milford Sound, the unforgettable […]
Youngest to be elected to board
Its youngest member ever has been elected to bring “vibrancy” and diversity to the Southland Chamber of Commerce board. Marketing consultant Simon Owen (23) was formally inducted to the board, along with Southland-Otago Farm Machinery group manager Tim Brown, at the chamber’s annual meeting last Thursday. Chamber president Neil McAra said Mr Owen was the […]
Southland Newcomer Leadership Scholarship
Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council, and Gore District Council have identified that there is an opportunity for newcomers to hold leadership positions within Southland’s business, community and not-for-profit sectors. The Southland Newcomer Leadership Scholarship is a contestable fund whereby eligible applicants can apply to access funding to enable them to participate in the Southland […]
Nash to be quizzed on trans-Tasman plan during southern visit
Southern tourism bosses say they desperately need a date for when the trans-Tasman travel bubble will be a reality, so they can attempt to keep their businesses going.
Community Trust South boosts funding to $8 million for the upcoming year, including a $1 million Major Grants Round
Community Trust South has announced it has approved an increase of $500,000 to the general grants budget, up to $7 million for this coming year. The Trust will also open a Major Grants Round for 2021, investing $1 million into the community for grant requests over $75,000. Together, this brings the total grants budget up to $8 million for the year ahead.
Southern public housing stock to grow by 83 homes
Kāinga Ora and community housing providers plan to deliver 83 new public houses in Southland and Otago by June 2022. But Kāinga Ora regional director Tim Blake said it was too early to say where they would be built. Planning was progressing well and the agency was working with local councils, iwi and other stakeholders […]
A Conversation with Hon Stuart Nash
Hear from the Minister on the Digital boost package and how you, as a business owner or operator, can take advantage of it and move your business into a more digitally enabled future.
COVID-19 Alert Level update
Auckland is at Alert Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand is now at Alert Level 2. These Alert Levels came into effect from 6am on Sunday 28 February and will be in place for the next 7 days. Details of what it means to be at Alert Level 2 can be found here. Businesses […]
High school students turned young entrepreneurs
Over 4000 New Zealand high school students are expected to launch their own business whilst taking part in The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) this year. Locally, we have around 135 students from Southland Girls’ High School, Aparima College, James Hargest College, Southland Boys’ High School, Mt Aspiring College and Wakatipu High School participating […]
Leadership Academy
New Intakes of the Southland Leadership Academy have been announced. This inspirational programme ignites relationship building with like-minded people, fosters inspiration to take your leadership career to the next level and provides outstanding opportunities to learn from prominent Southland-Otago leaders. Available dates and locations include INVERCARGILLFridays, 14 May – 2 July 2021, 9am – 11am […]
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Go to Instagram and give our page a follow @southland.chamber to keep up to date with all things Southland Chamber.
2021 Annual General Meeting
Notice is given of the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Southland Chamber of Commerce will be held 12.30pm, Thursday 1st April 2021. The AGM will be held at the Kelvin Hotel, Level 6, Invercargill. Nomination positions available: Two (2) Board members. Download the nomination form here. The nomination form must be completed and forwarded […]
A Shop Local Campaign
Remember that old slogan: ‘Southland, we’ve got what it takes’. They might have been on to something there. Arguably, it rings true today when we think about the strength of mind needed to commit to the massive redevelopment of our inner city, and the all-important shop local message. The year has started with a string […]
Covid-19 Vaccine Guideline for Employment
The first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine is due to reach New Zealand by April and will be available to border staff and essential health workers in the first instance. Current indications are that at least 70 per cent of the population will need to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity. We’ve put […]
The government has announced new COVID-19 support for businesses.
Short-Term Absence Payment (Available from mid-February) Resurgence Support Payment (Available from late-February) Wages Subsidy Scheme (for Alert Level 3 or above) Full information on these new initiatives can be found here
Tiwai aluminium smelter to stay open until end of 2024
Southland Chamber of Commerce president Neil McAra said the smelter extension was very good news which would bring certainty to smelter staff and the wider business community for the next four years. But it was important the Southland leaders now refined their plan for the longer term prospects for the region. “That work should continue on.” In the long term Southland wants to use the power generated from the Manapouri power station, currently used by the Tiwai plant, to create employment, he said.
Business association takes first steps
The Fiordland business community has appointed a ‘‘transitional business association committee’’ to set up a new Fiordland Business Association. The idea was raised in December, and Southland District deputy mayor and Te Anau resident Ebel Kremer said at least 60 business had already shown their support. Formal procedures, such as drawing up a constitution and […]
Southland Chamber of Commerce champions workplace wellbeing
2020 has been extremely challenging for many business owners, both financially and in terms of their mental wellbeing. The Southland Chamber of Commerce (SCOC) was already working with its 4,500 members to encourage workplace wellbeing within local businesses. During lockdown it galvanised this work with a series of regular wellbeing webinars designed to boost members’ […]
Keeping this Glorious Place Glorious
Sitting in my office in Esk Street, the noise of the construction site across the road and the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers reminds me that we’re okay. The predicted doom and gloom of 5000 unemployed for our region and businesses closing down left, right and centre hasn’t happened and we’re just getting on […]
Te Anau needs people: both visitors and staff
With the holiday season fast approaching some Fiordland business are facing yet another Covid 19-created obstacle. Summer is expected to bring a “short, sharp” boost of income for tourist-dependent Te Anau, but restaurateurs are concerned they won’t have enough staff to take advantage of the windfall. This year, the region has already weathered the literal storm […]
Strong interest in proposed business association
A lack of tourist income into Fiordland has prompted the local community to seek survival methods ahead of what may prove to be a hard winter. Organised by Southland District Council deputy mayor Ebel Kremer, a public meeting held on Sunday in Te Anau was to gauge interest in the creation of a Fiordland Business […]
Fiordland businesses say they need more help to boost the economy
A Fiordland Business Association is among the ideas being discussed to help rebuild the region’s struggling economy. Southland District Council deputy mayor and Te Anau resident Ebel Kremer said the idea had been raised in an ideas forum and was still very much in its beginning phase. He was hoping to “pull businesses together” for […]
Export Southland Awards Reimagined for 2020
This year’s Southland Export Awards night will have an interesting new twist. In lieu of the traditional biennial September Export Southland Recognition Awards, which is facilitated by the Southland Chamber of Commerce, the trust felt it was more appropriate to have an evening of recognizing the trials and tribulations of a difficult year, due to […]
Tiwai Point smelter closure announcement devastating for Southland region
The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter closure announcement is devastating news that will have significant and wide-ranging impacts on the region, Southland Chamber of Commerce President Neil McAra says.