News
Huge Diversity Across Business Awards
A record number of businesses entered the Southland Business Excellence Awards, and the finalists have now been announced. Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sheree Carey said they were thrilled to have 141 applicants received over 11 categories.
Southland Businesses Celebrate Excellence Through Pandemic
Innovation, passion and resilience shown through the Covid-19 pandemic has been highlighted by the finalists for this year's Southland Business Excellence awards. Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Sheree Carey said the quality of the finalists, announced on Wednesday, demonstrated the future of the business community was bright.
Southland Chamber of Commerce Frustrated at Lack of Lockdown Clarity
Three or four day level 4 restrictions are starting to frustrate Southland businesses. Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sheree Carey said: “I think people are getting frustrated because we're not getting any certainty, if we were like Auckland, and they said 'definitely, you're in it for two weeks', people would learn to live with that, they would know what financial assistance they needed to get them through.”
Covid-19: Business Owner’s Devastation After Becoming a Close Contact
Christine Flynn had been back home in Winton for eight days, even opening her Mitre 10 store for extended hours, before she got the news. Flynn, her son, and an employee were considered close contacts and had to get themselves tested for Covid-19.
Southland Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Cautious of Drop in Alert Levels
Some people in the Southland business community are cautious about dropping down Covid-19 alert levels too quickly. Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sheree Carey said a cautious approach was the best long-term option.
$1.7 million to be Spent on Southland-wide Tourism in Next 12 Months
Both the Southland and Fiordland Regional Tourism Organisations received funding as part of the government’s Tourism Support, Recovery and Re-Set Plan. Great South looks after Southland’s two RTOs, Visit Southland and Visit Fiordland. The funding is allocated for an approved work programme aligning to priority areas and the funds are required to be spent within 12 […]
Southland Resiliency Leads to Record Entries for Business Awards
A record number of entries in this year's Southland Business Excellence Awards has shown businesses have not only survived the pandemic, but found ways to thrive.
Callaghan R&D Experience Grants – Applications Open
Employ a tertiary student to undertake R&D fulltime this Summer and you could have it fully funded by Callaghan Innovation, via its R&D Experience Grants. Learn more including How can the grant help me? Who can apply? How do I find a student? Is there a limit to the grants funding? How does it work? […]
Southland Eyed Up for Hydrogen Production
Momentum is building as Southland is eyed up by multinational companies as a potential centre for hydrogen production. Read more in an Otago Daily Times interview with Great South strategic projects general manager Steve Canny.
Milford Opportunities Masterplan Launched
The Milford Opportunities Project Masterplan was launched in Te Anau last week, with bold plans that will be transformational for the whole region. Watch the video and read more here
Fiordland Business Association Announces Inaugural Committee
The Southland Business Chamber is delighted to announce that Nathan Benfell, Shakespeare House has been elected Chair of the inaugural Fiordland Business Association (FBA) Committee. The committee positions were contested by ten candidates. Inaugural committee members appointed include– Bronnie Chamberlain (West Range Station)– Cameron Davies (The Fat Duck)– Christine Wallace (Milford Sound Lodge & Fiordland […]
Workplace Injury Prevention Subsidies
If you’re in manufacturing or residential construction, you might be eligible for an ACC subsidy to help pay for health and safety advice from a HASANZ-registered advisor. Who is eligible? Small to medium businesses (typically 6 to 99 employees) in specified sectors will be eligible for a relevant workplace injury prevention subsidy. Four subsidies are currently […]
2021 Law Changes Round-Up
From sick leave updates to new investment property rules, below are this year’s law changes all in one place including: Sick leave changes Minimum wage increase Tenancy Law Changes Healthy homes standards Vaping law changes Changes to consumer credit laws Investment property changes Click here for specific details on the above changes. Source: Business.govt.nz – […]
Z Business Partner
Sign up for a Z Business Partner for Southland Chamber of Commerce fuel card and receive your choice of 250 Flybuys or 50 Airpoints Dollars™, along with everyday discounts and rewards. Use promo code CHAMBERSTH. Ends 20 August 2021. Full articleTerms and Conditions
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 […]