This regional strategic plan established a target of lifting Southland’s population by 10,000 people by 2025. The challenges facing southern New Zealand are similar to other regional centres and these have been highlighted in the SoRDS strategic document. It is critical that the Local Government now pushes forward with the necessary steps to support the Action Plan linked to this Strategy. This includes the creation of an Economic Development Agency that also draws on business and community organisations for strategic input.

South Port has been encouraged by the level of effort contributed by business and other parties to ensure SoRDS succeeds and that Southland remains a healthy and vibrant part of New Zealand. South Port Directors and management have been involved in the formulation of the SoRDS Strategy and more recently with the activities of the Aquaculture Reference Group, operating under the SoRDS umbrella.