Five great Southland events are set to receive $93,000 in Government funding aimed at supporting them and driving economic growth across the province.

The events to receive support are the Burt Munro Challenge 2026 ($16,000), the New Zealand Premier Motorsport Summer Series – Next Gen Round 4 ($20,000), the Rakiura Rhyme Machine Festival 2025 ($5,000), the Shepherdess Muster 2026 ($22,000) and the Tussock Country – NZ Country Music Festival 2026 ($30,000).

This comes on top of $79,000 in funding, announced in November, which supported seven Southern events including the George Begg Festival ($40,000) and The Invercargill Festival of Cabaret ($15,000).

The Government wants to encourage more people to visit Invercargill, with support from the Regional Events Promotion Fund helping boost local tourism and events.

I’m delighted to see Invercargill included in this round of funding support, the second year that our province has been successful.

Southland hosts some fantastic events which attract people from around the country to visit our province.

This boosts local accommodation rates, supports food and hospitality outlets and encourages spending at local businesses and retail outlets.

The more that can be done to support and promote these events, the better chance we have of ensuring their success and improving our regional economy.

This Government support will give Southland the recognition it deserves.

Events like these are great drawcards – bringing people into our community and helping keep businesses and jobs going.

This National-led Government is committed to backing regional growth and delivering practical support to communities like ours.

Invercargill MP
Penny Simmonds.
Published by arrangement. Funded by Parliamentary Services

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