Business Support Ecosystem

Regional Business Partner Network

Great South is the Regional Business Partner (RBP) agency for the Murihiku Southland region.The Regional Business Partner Network provides businesses with a single point of access to advice, support, funding, and expertise targeted at growing business and innovation capabilities for small-to-medium sized business owners. 

Callaghan Innovation

Great South partners closely with Callaghan Innovation to enable Southland Business to improve their Research & Development and their innovation approach.

Callaghan Innovation is a government agency, based on the idea that intergenerational prosperity won’t come from traditional businesses or business models.

It provides funding and scientific expertise, promotes R&D, facilitates collaboration between researchers, scientists, and industry and supports the commercialisation of ideas with positive impact.

COIN South

COIN South is a collaborative innovation network to support Southland startups and businesses to grow and thrive. It has a deep network of mentors, industry experts, alumni and coaches, and a can-do attitude. Its focus is on coaching individuals and businesses using startup methodology and innovation tools to ensure it supports successful, profitable, and sustainable businesses, and connects startups and businesses with the right people, skills, and tools at the right time.

Invest South

Invest South is an investment fund which supports local businesses seeking capital and expertise for growth. Invest South’s focus is on partnering with management teams to increase and realise the value of a business. It brings board expertise, strong networks and hands on management support to assist with change that underpins successful growth.

Southland Business Chamber

Southland Business Chamber assists the local business community by providing business events, including networking, advocacy, manufacturing cluster, training and development.

Its aim is to inspire and influence, to foster innovation, as well as to promote, support and encourage sustainable and profitable business growth. 

Within its membership base, the Southland Business Chamber represents businesses of all sizes, from the very large to the getting started.

Great South works in partnership with the Southland Chamber of Commerce to support these activities and works together to create collective outcomes.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)

MBIE provides a range of services to assist business and is the ministry in charge of the Regional Business Partner Network and Callaghan Innovation as described above. MBIE provides a range of tools and resources to assist businesses. These include:

• Business Connect makes it easier for small businesses in New Zealand to understand and comply with government legislation and to succeed. They package content and advice from across government, into tools and resources designed with small businesses in mind. 
• Business.govt.nz is the Government’s website for small businesses. Business.govt.nz makes business easier by packaging advice from across government and the private sector into tools and resources designed to meet the needs of small businesses.
• Digital Boost is a government-run website and is a free online programme which provides education and videos to businesses on upskilling and utilising digital tools. 

Business Mentors NZ

Business Mentors New Zealand matches experienced business professionals (mentors) with small business owners. Through their extensive pool of 1,800 mentors they can match you with the right expertise to suit your needs on a case by case basis.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)

NZTE assists businesses getting ready to export, grow internationally or to raise capital.