Venture Timaru

06/08/2026

Cheers to International Beer Day! 🍻
Venture Timaru is proud to celebrate DB Draught Brewery's enduring presence in Washdyke and its contribution to our local economy. Since opening in 1976, the brewery has been part of Timaru's manufacturing story, showing resilience across decades of changing markets and customer preferences.

We're especially proud to acknowledge Adrian Finlayson (pictured) and his team for the work underway at the brewery to improve water and energy efficiency, supported by ongoing investment in plant and operational upgrades. DB’s internal data shows reductions in heat, electricity and water use at the site over the last few years, and there have been a number of exciting upgrades including replacing coal with biomass for process heat, and improvements to wastewater treatment.

“In a regional economy like ours, investment of this nature matters. It helps sustain specialist skills, supports local supply chains and reinforces Timaru’s role as a place where nationally significant production can thrive,” says Nigel Davenport, CEO, Venture Timaru.

Read the full article here https://vtdevelopment.co.nz/2026/08/07/celebrating-db-breweries-international-beer-day/

04/08/2026

We sat down with Gary Fahey of Dan Cosgrove 2014 Ltd to talk about diversification and how it sets his business up for success.
"The strength of Cosgrove’s lies in its investment in capability. Strategic investment in plant has enabled Gary and his team to manufacture for multiple industries, creating the flexibility to respond to changing markets and building the resilience that has underpinned its success” says Nigel Davenport, CEO, Venture Timaru.
Watch the clip or read the full story via our website blog here https://vtdevelopment.co.nz/2026/07/15/dan-cosgrove-ltd-diversification-driving-long-term-success/

Did you know?
The Timaru District is one of the most diverse regional economies in New Zealand.
Informetric reports Timaru District as having a diversity index of 245, compared to 489 across New Zealand’s 66 territorial authorities. The lower the number, the more diverse the economy.
That diversity helps to drive resilience within our local economy.

We actively support business looking to establish, relocate or expand here.
Explore the advantages of investing in our district.
https://vtdevelopment.co.nz/make-timaru-your-business/

22/07/2026

Māia, Matatū! All the best for Saturday's final - our amazing Wāhine toa. We are with you all the way from all of us here at Venture Timaru. Matatū

22/07/2026

We spent time earlier this week with the newly appointed managers of the Timaru Ballantynes Department Store - Store Manager Jo Cockrane and Store Supervisor Brie Ashley.

Jo is a familiar face to many, having been part of Ballantynes for more than 20 years and supporting six store managers along the way. Her move into the Store Manager role is a natural next step for someone who knows the business, the team, and the customers so well.

Brie’s journey is equally worth celebrating. She first joined Ballantynes as a casual while still at school five years ago and has now stepped into the Store Supervisor role - a great example of the career pathways and leadership development happening within the business.

Their appointments bring fresh energy to a store with an incredible local legacy. Ballantynes Timaru was established in 1883 and remains one of the CBD’s landmark retailers, continuing to play an important role in our local retail landscape.

The famous Ballantynes sale begins this Friday, 24 July - which also happens to be World Self-Care Day — the perfect reason to pop in, treat yourself, and support a long-standing Timaru business.

Did you know? The Timaru branch was established in 1883 and moved to its present site in 1913, with new premises opening in 1986 and an extension into the first floor added in 2006.

Its history is closely connected to the people and architecture of the town, with the Stafford Street building designed by Messrs Clarkson and Ballantyne. Mr Clarkson was a son of the founders of Dunstable House (Christchurch Store), while Mr Ballantyne was a nephew of John Ballantyne (opened the Timaru store)

17/07/2026

Voting is now open for the ANZ People's Choice Award, the finalists would be incredibly grateful for your vote!

Vote here: https://southcanterbury.org.nz/peopleschoice/

Voting closes 7 August

15/07/2026

New Zealand's leading accommodation supplier and a proud local business - Vendella has built its reputation, and entered the Australian market, by designing fit-for-purpose products that help holiday parks, hotels and motels (accommodation providers) work more efficiently, improve guest experiences, and protect profitability.

Productivity is a current hot topic for many businesses navigating growth, but for Vendella, it has long been part of how they respond to what their customers need.

Tania Stoddart, our Business Development Manager, caught up with Luke and Wendy from Vendella to discuss how their focus on innovation, efficiency, and customer-led solutions has helped them create fit-for-purpose products that support productivity improvements and stronger profitability for their customers.

“What stands out about Vendella is that their innovation is grounded in understanding their customers and continuously improving how they deliver value. It demonstrates that world-class businesses do not need to be located in major centres to have a national and international impact.” Nigel Davenport, CEO, Venture Timaru
Vendella’s growth into Australia is a strong example of how South Canterbury companies are combining practical innovation, strong customer relationships, and operational excellence to compete successfully in larger markets.

We also want to congratulate the Vendella team on being nominated for the Holiday Parks NZ Trade Member of the Year Award. This nomination recognises their excellent customer service and their commitment to consistently delivering quality products on time, every time.

13/07/2026

We want to hear from you about the Caroline Bay Carnival!

Venture Timaru and the Caroline Bay Carnival Association are seeking feedback from our community about the Caroline Bay Carnival.

What do you love most and what would you like to see in the future? Your feedback will help shape the Carnival as it continues to grow and evolve.

Click the link below to share your thoughts and ideas.
surveymonkey.com/r/2026BayCarnivalFeedback

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

08/07/2026

Applications for the 2026 funding round are now open, for medium to large events taking place in Timaru District by 31 July 2027.

The funding is for grants between $10,000-$50,000 and is sourced from the Timaru District Council and administered by Venture Timaru. The annual portfolio of major events supported is a diverse range of events across the calendar year and the district, including a mix of arts, music, cultural and sporting events.

📅 Closing date for applications is 5pm on Thursday 20 August 2026.

See the full details and application form here www.vtdevelopment.co.nz/business/major-events-support-fund

03/07/2026

Another Timaru District business leading the way in innovation. 👊