The South Invercargill Urban Rejuvenation Trust, South Alive, has entered into a 5-year partnership with the Department of Internal Affairs under its Community Led Development Programme. One of sixteen communities throughout New Zealand participating in the programme, the partnership allows the South Invercargill community to continue to identify its aspirations and to achieve its vision and goals. The partnership brings long-term support for projects the community has identified as important to it and that will have significant positive impacts for South Invercargill.

Established in 2012, South Alive is an urban rejuvenation group, led by the community, with the goal of identifying the best possible future for South Invercargill and ways to make it happen. South Alive has a history of delivering community-identified goals, such as the upgrade of the South City shopping area, the development of The Pod - a purpose-built community centre for South Invercargill, the creation of a community-centred social enterprise retail store “The Pantry’, the establishment of community gardens and fruit and nut tree orchards, the development of numerous community events and initiatives to bring the community together and reduce social isolation etc. The community has identified additional projects which it feels would create pride and vibrancy in South Invercargill – this partnership will support those projects with expertise and funding.

Robyn Hickman, Chair of South Alive notes that “This will allow South Alive to continue to build momentum and effect positive community-led change in the lives of the South Invercargill community”. While this partnership is a tremendous boost for South Alive, it is also a huge win for Invercargill and for the South Invercargill community.

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