Venture releases World Cup plan for city

As the Rugby World Cup clock ticks around to one year out, Venture Southland has released its concept plan to keep rugby-mad fans entertained in the south.

The plan is based around an event called A Taste of Southland, which will try to bring the scenic attractions, culinary experiences, arts and music from around the region together in Invercargill.

Venture chief executive Jeff Troon said the plan was to draw visitors to the city centre, where they could mingle with locals and experience a real taste of Southland and Kiwi culture.

With banners hung around the city centre, Venture hoped to turn Esk St into a showcase of Southland attractions and talent, he said.

The SIT Arcade would then be used as a temporary information site where people could organise possible trips to Stewart Island, marae or even Southland industries, he said.

A Taste of Southland menu had also been proposed to be adopted by Southland restaurants, so even if people were in Southland for just a couple of days they could still get a feel for the region, Mr Troon said.

Venture community development and events group manager Rex Capil said the plan was in the early stages only and specific details had not been put in place, but were expected to come together in about six months.

However, Venture was limited by what it could plan because no-one knew how many people would be coming to the south, he said.

There was a feeling that people would not come to New Zealand until later on in the tournament, and that could limit the amount of people travelling south, he said.

Mr Troon said Southland was hosting games at the beginning of the competition only, so plans would need to cater for the possibility of both large or small crowds.

Venture will be in discussion with various businesses throughout Southland in the coming months to organise and develop further attractions.

It is calling on anyone to put forward ideas to be promoted alongside the others.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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