About us

Inspired by community spirit and the gift of giving, the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) serves people with care and compassion in their time of need. RRT offers quality catering assistance and tangible support to charities, government and emergency services confronting some of humankind’s greatest challenges. RRT adapts their benevolent support services to meet the need at hand. Whether it be fire, drought or even a global pandemic, RRT volunteers bring hope to people in their time of need.

Many people think of hospice as just a building, when in fact it is a philosophy of care. The hospice philosophy places equal importance on the physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional, and social well-being of a person living with a life limiting condition.

Anyone with a terminal illness, not just cancer, can access hospice care and support. People with life limiting conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lung failure, motor neurone disease, or dementia can benefit from palliative care.

Whilst hospice care is primarily focused on the person who is dying, services are also for the family both before and after their loved one has died.

Everything is provided free of charge and heavily reliant on community fundraising.

St John's core activity is providing Ambulance Services throughout New Zealand but they're also playing an increasing role in meeting the broader health needs of New Zealand communities including Friends of the Emergency Department and Hospital Friends services, which provide non-clinical support to patients and their family and friends. Youth Programmes which encourage young people to develop personal strengths and care for others. They learn first aid and make friends in the process. The provision of adult first aid training courses to teach people the skills they need to act with confidence in an emergency. Medical alarm service to help people live safely, for longer, in their own homes and are working to develop solutions that will enable more effective monitoring of chronic illnesses from the patient’s home. This is complemented by the Caring Caller service, which provides a friendly phone call to check on someone’s wellbeing. Health Shuttles are also available in a number of areas to help people with impaired mobility attend essential appointments.

The Southland Charity Hospital Trust was established in 2019 following the epic fight of Blair Vining: Blair was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in 2018 and, after discovering the inequities within New Zealand’s healthcare system because of the ‘postcode lottery’, decided to do something about it. One of the greatest legacies Blair has left behind is the formation of the Southland Charity Hospital Trust.

Founded by the community, for the community, the Southland Charity Hospital will provide healthcare for those living in the Southern DHB Zone who would otherwise be unable to access treatment through the private or public systems.

Much more than a venue, ILT Stadium Southland is the heart of the Southern community and home to 12 sporting organisations and utilised by all sectors of the wider Southland community - recreational, sporting, cultural, corporate and entertainment of all genres.

A diverse range of internationally-acclaimed shows have performed in the venue, which has also hosted numerous national and provincial events, including craft shows, boat shows, exhibitions and trade shows as well as high profile events such as a gala dinner with Nigella and the Joseph Parker - Road to the Title fight.

The versatile facility incorporates the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome, which opened in 2006 as New Zealand's first indoor velodrome.

Located in the very spacious foyer area are four squash courts as well as Clip n Climb that has 15 climbing walls to keep the young and young at heart entertained.