News
Visa extensions and visa conditions
The Government has announced extensions to Working Holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) visas, and changes to Essential Skills visas, which may affect some of your employees. Working holiday visas Working holiday visas that are expiring between 21 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 are being extended for a further six months. Visa holders […]
Workforce attraction and retention issues have taken on a whole new complexion post-Covid.
Chamber members are crying out for staff across all industries. Southland is competing with other regions for the same pool of people, and we need to pull together as a region to make Southland a destination of choice. While it’s been an issue for several years, Covid has intensified the challenges with the migrant workforce […]
He Tohu Maumaraha ki a – Suzanne Spencer Māori Business Awards 2021
On behalf of the Te Kupeka Umaka Māori ki Araiteuru Business Network (KUMA), you are invited to take part in the Māori Business Awards 2021, which will be held at Friday 2 July at Elmwood Gardens in Murihiku / Invercargill from 5pm to 11pm. This awards night provides an opportunity for us all to come together, […]
Invercargill ‘Neat Places’ featured
Great South has commissioned the marketing platform Neat Places to create a pocket guide featuring Invercargill’s ‘neat places’, with everything from eateries to unique stores included. Pick up a guide in the city or view the listings online here.
Recognising and celebrating the brilliance of local business
Our Southland Business Excellence Awards are back and nominations are open! Before entries open in June, we want to hear about local businesses and organisations doing great things! They could be someone you work with, a supplier, a client, or even your friends and family. Know a deserving business? Nominate them! Do you know a […]
Budget 2021
The Budget at a Glance is a high level summary of key initiatives funded in the Wellbeing Budget 2021, along with an overview of the Government’s wellbeing approach and the fiscal and economic outlooks as presented in the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update. The Budget Headlines WELLBEING BUDGET 2021: KEY HIGHLIGHTS Lifting weekly main benefit rates by between $32 and […]
Jobs in Southland
In Southland, we’re innovative, creative and entrepreneurial and as a result, Southland has one of the highest employment rates in New Zealand. There is a great range of employment opportunities available including medicine, engineering, agriculture, education, trade and professional services. Click here to view the Southland Jobs Portal which pulls together vacant roles from multiple […]
$200m tourism package targets five South Island regions and future ‘recovery and reset’
The funding is targeted at a number of areas including $49m kick-start fund for tourism businesses to restart ahead of international visitors arriving $26m for Regional Tourism Organisations to plan, promote and market tourism activities $20m to diversify the Queenstown-Wanaka region away from tourism $16.5m for local councils to apply for new spending $15m to […]
Invercargill labour shortage threatens development of much-needed construction
Incentives are being considered to lure construction workers to Invercargill as a shortage of labour threatens its development. Local construction company ABL has already doubled their staff to keep up but they need more. “With Queenstown closing down we’ve had people come out of there but at the same stage with all the other work […]
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 […]
We’re on Instagram!
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