Community
ILT has a rich history of fostering Invercargill’s growth and vibrancy since its inception in 1956. That year, we gifted the beloved Peter Pan statue to Queens Park for the city’s centennial and made our first significant contribution to community funding with the Conon Street learners' pool. Related: Watch: ILT Celebrates 80 Years of Community Service
By 1969, we were planning to unveil the fountain at Feldwick Cates for ILT's 25th birthday. However, due to unforeseen delays, it wasn’t completed until closer to our 30th anniversary. Oops!
Fast forward to the 2000s, and our support for community facilities really gained momentum. One of the key projects was ILT Stadium Southland, which originally opened in 2000. As many of you know, it required a rebuild in 2014. The redeveloped stadium was a community effort, and we were thrilled to play a part in it. We continue to support this wonderful venue, which serves as a buzzing hub for sports and a versatile space for events.
In 2004, the Velodrome was a welcome addition to the facility, becoming a driving force behind Southland's cycling success. That same year, Splash Palace opened its doors. Whether you’ve taken a dip or cheered from the sidelines, it has become a community staple. More recently, our funding has helped support the Learn to Swim programme, with 40,113 pool admissions in the past financial year. That’s a lot of young people gaining essential water safety skills!
But it’s not just about sports. We’ve also been honoured to contribute to the grand Civic Theatre renovation, the SIT Zero Fees Scheme, and the Murihiku Marae redevelopment. We even gifted a pub, which was transformed into a life-saving hospital! Like so many other supporters, we eagerly anticipate the opening of the Southland Charity Hospital.
This isn’t the first time we’ve repurposed one of our buildings for a good cause—Enrich@ILT, the one-day school we solely fund, is flourishing at the old Elmwood Gardens site.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to support several key community projects set to be completed in the coming years. We’ve contributed $1 million towards Te Unua Museum of Southland, which will be a tremendous asset for our community. The Grace Street Project has also received $500,000 in funding for an all-weather community space in South Invercargill. Additionally, we’ve provided close to $1 million to the Hawthorndale Care Village, which is on track to open next year. This facility will have a lasting, positive impact on those in our community affected by dementia.
Community is at the heart of everything we do, but none of this would be possible without your support. For that, we’re incredibly grateful. Together, we’re building a vibrant Invercargill!
