The Big Southland Quiz: 150 questions for you

How good is your knowledge of Southland?

How good is your knowledge of Southland? Pull up a camp chair and put everyone to the test with our Big Southland Quiz made up of 150 questions all about the greatest province.

For our regular readers of The Tribune many of questions may well be familiar, but how good is your memory?

THE BIG SOUTHLAND QUIZ

1. In what year was the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter opened?

2. Who did Ben Bell replace as Gore’s mayor?

3. Which Southland cricketer took the wickets of Kane Williamson and Tim Southee on debut for the Otago Volts as a 17-year-old in 2012?

4. Who was the highest polling Invercargill councillor at the 2022 election?

5. What was the first high school All Black prop Ethan de Groot attended in Southland?

Answers: 1. 1971. 2. Tracy Hicks. 3. Jacob Duffy 4. Nigel Skelt. 5. Gore High School.

6. In what year did the Lazers Colosseum nightclub in Invercargill close?

7. Who is the MP for Invercargill?

8. What was the score when the Southland Stags beat Canterbury to win the Ranfurly Shield in 2009?

9. What event draws runners in big numbers to Te Anau each December?

10. Which Southland-based boat company was Paul Adams key in starting in 1987?

Answers: 6. 1998. 7. Penny Simmonds. 8. 9-3. 9. Kepler Challenge. 10. Stabicraft.

11. Who in 2023 became the first Southlander to win the national men’s singles bowls title?

12. In what year was the Kelvin Hotel opened in Invercargill?

13. Who is the Gore singer and songwriter named Southland’s Entertainer of the Year in 2017?

14. Sir Tim Shadbolt contested the 1994 Selwyn by-election as a candidate for what political party?

15. Southland is home to two National Parks, what are they?

Answers: 11. Sheldon Bagrie-Howley 12. 1965. 13. Jenny Mitchell. 14. NZ First 15. Fiordland National Park and Rakiura National Park.

16. What is the name of the Southland sports podcast hosted by Nick Jeffrey, Nathan Burdon, and Logan Savory?

17. Who was the Southlander that was awarded the inaugural Prime Minister’s Space Prize for Professional Excellence?

18. In what year did the Southland Museum & Art Gallery close after being deemed earthquake-prone?

19. Who was the Invercargill radio announcer that retired in December 2012 after 33 years as a breakfast radio host?

20. What is the maximum depth of Lake Te Anau? (Multi choice: 217m, 317m, or 417m).

Answers: 16. The Roar 17. Robin McNeill 18. 2018 19. John "Boggy" McDowell 20. 417m (1368ft) deep.

21. Which popular Invercargill attraction is situated on the corner of Tay St & Anglem St?

22. Where in Southland will you find the Switzers Museum?

23. Who was the first coach of the Southland Sharks in 2010?

24. What is the name of the restaurant & bar at Bluff’s Stirling Point?

25. The Invercargill Airport terminal was named after who in 2024?

Answers: 21. Bill Richardson Transport World 22. Waikaia 23. Richard Dickel 24. Oyster Cove 25. Sir Tim Shadbolt.

26. Which Southland town is The Country radio host Jamie McKay from?

27. Which well-known NZ country singer is on the Invercargill Licensing Trust board?

28. Which late author has a “Writer in Residence” honour in Invercargill named after him?

29. In what year was the company H&J Smith established in Invercargill?

30. Who captained the Southland Stags in 2024?

Answers: 26. Riversdale 27. Suzanne Prentice 28. Dan Davin 29. 1900 30. Sean Withy

31. Who was the Labour list MP based in Invercargill from 2017 to 2023?

32. In what year did the Southland Sharks first play in the NBL?

33. What is the name of the church on the corner of Tay St and Ythan St in Invercargill?

34. This year who become Southland first two-time Olympic gold medallist?

35. What closed in Mataura in August 2000?

Answers: 31. Liz Craig 32. 2010 33. First Church 34. Alena Saili 35. Mataura Paper Mill.

36. Which popular community event, put on by Active Southland, will be held on March 2, 2025?

37. Which former Southland rugby player was named Southland Entertainer of the Year in 2016 for his talents on the fiddle?

38. Proud Southlander Jason Paris is the CEO of which large New Zealand company?

39. Who is the Gore mayor?

40. Which sporting event in Te Anau each December attracts many of New Zealand’s best men’s players from that particular sport?

Answers: 36. Surf to City 37. Steven Hayes 38. One NZ 39. Ben Bell. 40. Te Anau Tennis Invitational.

41. Who will coach the Southern Steel in 2025?

42. Which milk company can be found at 19 Pease Street, McNab?

43. Mossburn has a statue of what animal in the town?

44. What is the name of the main restaurant at Langlands Hotel in Invercargill?

45. Who is the CEO of the Invercargill Licensing Trust?

Answers: 41. Wendy Frew 42. Mataura Valley Milk 43. Stag 44. Meld. 45. Chris Ramsay

46. Where in Southland is the popular horse race meeting held at Easter?

47. Who is the former James Hargest College pupil who founded aerospace company Rocket Lab?

48. Which former tavern building did the ILT gift to the Southland Charity Hospital Trust?

49. Who were the Southland Stags co-coaches for the 2024 NPC?

50. In November Josh Burnett won which annual event in Southland for the second time?

Answers: 46. Riverton 47. Peter Beck 48. Clifton Tavern 49. Matt Saunders & James Wilson 50. SBS Tour of Southland

51. Rowena Jackson has a retirement village named after her, what was she famous for?

52. Who is Invercargill’s Deputy Mayor?

53. In which occupation did former Invercargill resident Peter Arnett make a name for himself?

54. What is the name of the event that has attracted some of the world's biggest names in BMX and free-style motocross to an Otapiri Gorge farm?

55. Simon Edwards is a breakfast radio announcer in Southland for which radio station?

Answers: 51. Ballet dancer 52. Tom Campbell 53. Journalism 54. Farm Jam 55. More FM

56. What is the name of the first European settler who made the Invercargill area home in 1856 and was celebrated at Invercargill Central on Saturday?

57. Which Environment Southland councillor was previously an MP in Parliament

58. Which business previous operated on the corner of Esk St and Dee St before the building was demolished to make way for a new office building?

59. Which Southland musician launched his single This River in 2024?

60. Who will the Highlanders play at Rugby Park in Invercargill in a preseason Super Rugby fixture on Waitangi Day?

Answers: 56. John Kelly 57. Eric Roy 58. Night ‘n Day 59. Lachie Hayes 60. Crusaders

61. Where did the yellow Mini Cooper, which was used in the 2017 Pork Pie movie, end up after filming was finished?

62. In what year was the Zero Fees scheme introduced at the Southern Institiute of Technology?

63. What was the name of the 2006 movie directed by Roger Donaldson which told Burt Munro's story?

64. Which Invercargill City Councillor is also the manager of Radio Southland

65. Which Invercargill-based business is the front of the jersey sponsor for the Highlanders?

Answers: 61. Bill Richardson Transport World 62. 2001 63. The World’s Fastest Indian 64. Darren Ludlow 65. SBS Bank

66. Where in Invercargill was track cycling held before the indoor velodrome was built?

67. What is the name of the Invercargill Musical Theatre’s main production at the Civic Theatre in 2024?

68. Which current Invercargill City Councillor played rugby for Southland?

69. What is the name of the main pub in Mataura?

70. Who is the Mayor of Invercargill?

Answers: 66. Kew Bowl 67. Mamma Mia! 68. Grant Dermody 69. The Falls Hotel 70. Nobby Clark

71. What is the name of the secondary school in Te Anau?

72. What is the name of the abandoned golf course at Sandy Point on the outskirts of Invercargill?

73. Where in Southland is former Prime Minister Bill English from?

74. Where in Southland is the oldest permanent settlement?

75. Name the Southland Stags wing who has picked up his first Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders for 2025?

Answers: 71. Fiordland College 72. Oreti Sands Links Golf Course 73. Dipton 74. Riverton/Aparima 75. Michael Manson

76. Who is the long-time Invercargill Tuatara carer who in 2023 finished up in the role after more than 50 years?

77. What was Penny Simmonds’ job before entering Parliament as Invercargill’s MP

78. In what year was Classic Motorcycle Mecca opened in Invercargill? (Multi-choice: 2010, 2013 or 2016)

79. Who will join the Southern Steel as an assistant coach for the 2025 season?

80. Who is the Southland District Mayor?

Answers: 76. Lindsay Hazley 77. Southern Insititute of Technology CEO 78. 2016 79. Liana Leota 80. Rob Scott

81. Street artists converged in which Southland town in February for the South Sea Spray festival?

82. Name the Southland javelin thrower who competed at the Olympic Games this year in Paris?

83. The Menzies Building in Invercargill was an office building, what is it now being transformed into?

84. Who is the chief executive for the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai Point?

85. In what year did Sir Tim Shadbolt first become Invercargill’s mayor?

Answers: 81. Winton 82. Tori Peeters 83. A hotel 84. Chris Blenkiron 85. 1993

86. Who finished second to Nobby Clark in the 2022 Invercargill mayoral election?

87. Who was named the 2024 Southland Sportsperson of the Year?

88. Where in Southland is the Te Hikoi “Southern Journey” Heritage Museum?

89. Comedians Bret McKenzie and Hamish Blake starred in which movie that was filmed in Southland and released in 2012?

90. What is the name of the secondary school in Wyndham, Southland?

Answers: 86. Toni Biddle 87. Corbin Strong 88. Riverton 89. Two Little Boys 90. Menzies College

91. Which Southland rugby club won the Galbraith Shield in 2024?

92. Which former Labour MP is now an Invercargill City Councillor?

93. What did Drummond’s George Begg construct to make a name for himself?

94. Broadcaster Mike Puru was brought up in which Southland town?

95. What is the name of the secondary school in Riverton?

Answers: 91. Star 92. Lesley Soper 93. Race cars 94. Gore 95. Aparima College

96. Reinga Bloxham has departed her role with Southern Steel to take up a coaching job in which Country?

97. Which Southland radio station celebrated its 30th birthday in 2024?

98. Rio Tinto announced this year the smelter at Tiwai Point has struck a power deal and would remain until at least what year?

99. Who is the high-performance gym, situated at the SIT Velodrome in Invercargill, named after?

100. In what year did the Stadium Southland roof collapse following a heavy dumping of snow?

Answers: 96. Wales 97. Hokonui 98. 2044 99. Mike Piper 100. 2010

101. Where in Southland was former prime minister Jenny Shipley born?

102. Southland’s Tom Scully debuted in what major global sporting event in 2018?

103. In what year did Cue TV (formerly Mercury TV, Southland TV) close?

104. Who did the Silver Ferns beat at ILT Stadium Southland in October this year?

105. Which club located on Don St in Invercargill was founded in 1879?

Answers: 101. Gore 102. Tour de France 103. 2015 104. England 105. Invercargill Club

106. The Wallacetown Tavern is also known by what name?

107. The Westpac Chopper Appeal Bike Ride hit which fundraising milestone in May?

108. Prior to his time in Invercargill, where was Sir Tim Shadbolt mayor?

109. Who was named Southland Boys’ High School Dux in 2024 and also reached the 1500m final at the World Junior Athletics Championships?

110. What is the name of the high school based in the picturesque Waimea Valley in Southland?

Answers: 106. The Greenroofs 107. $1 million 108. Waitemata City 109. James McLeay 110. Northern Southland College

111. Where in Southland will you find the Redcliff Cafe?

112. Andrew Wheeler played his 100th game for which Southland sports team in 2024?

113. Triflor NZ grows and exports what from Edendale?

114. Southland Stags coach Matt Saunders made his provincial debut as a 17-year-old in a Ranfurly Shield game playing for what province?

115. Who was second to Tim Shadbolt in the 2010 Invercargill mayoral election?

Answers: 111. Te Anau 112. Southland Sharks 113. Tulips 114. North Otago 115. Suzanne Prentice

116. Craig ‘Wal’ Waddell is a Southland-based radio host for which station?

117. David Hall represented Southland at a senior level in what two sports?

118. Who holds the president’s role at the Invercargill Licensing Trust?

119. Name former All Black Mils Muliaina’s first high school?

120. Where in Southland will you find the Jacobs River Bakehouse?

Answers: 116. The Hits 117. Rugby & Cricket 118. Paddy O’Brien 119. Cargill High School 120. Riverton

121. Who is the deputy mayor of Gore?

122. Southland’s Sammy Murrell was an age-group New Zealand representative in what sport?

123. Sheree Carey is the CEO of which Southland organisation?

124. Which two Invercargill City Councillors have already officially announced their bid for Invercargill Mayor’s job at the 2025 election?

125. Who captained the Southland Stags against the British & Irish Lions in 2005?

Answers: 121. Keith Hovell 122. Football 123. Southland Business Chamber 124. Tom Campbell & Alex Crackett 125. Clarke Dermody

126. Where in Southland will you find the Route 6 Cafe?

127. Eion Crossan kicked four penalties to lead Southland to a 12-7 win over what international rugby team in 1989?

128. Invercargill has a sister city relationship with which Japanese city?

129. In what year was the inaugural Tour of Southland cycle race held? (Multi-choice: 1956, 1966, or 1976).

130. Which two Southland rugby clubs celebrated their 150-year milestones in 2024?

Answers: 126. Lumsden 127. France 128. Kumagaya 129. 1956 130. Blues & Riverton

131. What’s the name of the third-generation family-owned and operated seafood company based at Ythan St in Invercargill?

132. The Donald Gray Cup is contested for in what sport in Southland?

133. Where in Southland will you find the South Sea Hotel?

134. Sandra Edge played what sport for Southland?

135. HWR Richardson Group has been transitioning its heavy transport to what fuel?

Answers: 131. Kings 132. Football 133. Stewart Island 134. Netball 135. Hydrogen

136. Name the Southlander who is the daily cartoonist for the Otago Daily Times

137. Former All Black Les George has what named after him in Southland?

138. Level One Restaurant and Bar can be found as part of what hotel in Southland?

139. Who is the naming rights sponsor for the Southland Stags?

140. Gore’s Jenny Mitchell is an award-winning what?

Answers: 136. Shaun Yeo 137. A rugby ground (Les George Oval) 138. Kelvin Hotel 139. SBS Bank 140. Singer-songwriter

141. Which two schools in Gore merged in 2024?

142. Southland’s Atipa Mabonga works for which back-to-back winning NFL Super Bowl winning organisation?

143. Southland physio Karl McDonald joined which sports team in 2024?

144. Which Southland school had six former pupils compete at the 2012 Olympic Games?

145. Which event will run from February 5 to 9 in Southland?

Answers: 141. Gore High School & Longford Intermediate School 142. Kansas City Chiefs 143. All Blacks 144. James Hargest College 145. Burt Munro Challenge

146. Which political party did Invercargill city councillor Ria Bond previously represent in Parliament?

147. Name the Southland motorcyclist who in 2025 will become the first Kiwi to compete in the FIM Moto3 World Championship?

148. Ray Fife is the community board chair for which Southland town?

149. Southland’s Leicester Rutledge coached what international rugby team?

150. Who played the part of Burt Munro in the World’s Fastest Indian move?

Answers: 146. NZ First 147. Cormac Buchanan 148. Bluff 149. Italy 150. Anthony Hopkins