Community
ILT Stadium Southland and its general manager Jo Hutton are both finalists at the 2026 Entertainment Venues Association New Zealand Awards.
The Invercargill facility has been nominated for Medium Venue of the Year. Hutton has been nominated for Team Leader of the Year. The awards recognise excellence across venue and event management in New Zealand and will be decided at a ceremony in Christchurch on December 2.
Hutton said the nominations highlight ILT Stadium Southland's continued commitment to delivering world-class sport, entertainment, and community events to the Southland region. "We are so proud of what ILT Stadium Southland does for our community day-in and day-out and both these finalist nods are the definition of a team effort," she said.
Stadium Southland Limited board chair Karen Poff said Hutton's nomination was well earned. "We are incredibly proud to see Jo recognised as a finalist for Team Leader of the Year. Her leadership, energy and genuine commitment to our people and our community have played a huge part in the continued success of ILT Stadium Southland."
Hutton spoke to what drives the venue's ongoing appeal. "Our team loves our Stadium and so does our community. We celebrated our 25th birthday last year but you walk in and it still feels like a new venue because, through the support of our generous funders and incredible community, we continually invest back into it."
She also pointed to how the venue has evolved. "We've always been recognised as a premier indoor sporting venue, but today we've really grown into so much more. We are truly multi-purpose, and that is our biggest strength," Hutton said.
That reach now covers school groups, community sport, corporate meetings, conferences and recreational programmes. Approximately 555,000 people came through the doors last year.
VMA Team Leader of the Year 2026 finalists:
- Gerry Keating – The Globe Theatre
- Amanda West – Bay Venues
- Jo Hutton – ILT Stadium Southland
24/7 Software Medium Venue of the Year 2026 finalists:
- BNZ Theatre (Hamilton)
- Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre (Christchurch)
- ILT Stadium Southland (Invercargill)