Purpose
100% of our profits from hospitality sales are redirected into providing essential facilities for the region and financial support for community projects.
The Mataura Licensing Trust distributes all profits back to the local community by way of investment into high quality services and much needed facilities, and through financial support of community networks, sports clubs, music events, senior citizens, educational grants and a focus on well-being. We help people and organisations by investing in local community projects where it is most needed and where it will make the most impact. |
Hospitality is an essential part of today's living and fortunately we have an established and well-proven community-focused mechanism to help transform local communities with the power of "giving back". Our local knowledge also helps us to connect to projects which are often operating below the radar, where sometimes even a small amount of money can make a difference to the project’s success or failure.
Key stakeholders have come together to work collaboratively on initiatives that aim to change Southland's drinking culture.
ACC, Healthy Families Invercargill, Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust, Venture Southland, Invercargill City Council, Gore District Council, Southland District Council, Police and Emergency Services, Mataura Licensing Trust, Invercargill Licensing Trust, Invercargill Youth Council, Sport Southland, Rugby Southland, Southern District Health Board, Road Safety Southland, Stopping Violence, Adventure Development, Safe in the South, WellSouth, Health Promotion Agency, Local secondary schools, Local sports clubs, Local event organisers. The success of this initiative relies strongly on community involvement and support. |
Mataura Licensing Trust promotes responsible consumption of alcohol and provides free courtesy coaches as required.
We acknowledge that celebration, entertainment and dining are inseparable partners, so we work closely with communities, authorities and local organisations to achieve the best possible long-term outcomes for all concerned.
We acknowledge that celebration, entertainment and dining are inseparable partners, so we work closely with communities, authorities and local organisations to achieve the best possible long-term outcomes for all concerned.
Trusted Reputation
The Mataura Licensing Trust operates in complete transparency with no hidden costs and a focus to make the most of every dollar for the community.
We offer a single point of contact for a project, plus our Executive Team, Board Members and Management are easily accessible. Our simple, friendly inventive approach has earned us a trusted reputation and firmly established us at the heart of community giving. We work hard to keep our internal costs low and any surplus we make goes back into the local community. |
Licensing Trust Definition
A community focused business whose primary goals are to support the well-being of their local community principally through reinvesting profits generated from their trading activities either in the business and/or in support of community activities, rather than being driven to maximise profits.
The Mataura Licensing Trust is an organisation that has been granted preferential trading rights to operate inside an agreed region of New Zealand in order to invest, build, operate and distribute profits from premises licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages and associated accommodation and hospitality related venues in an area. i.e. "Locals Supporting Locals". |
The uniqueness of licensing trusts revolves around:
In addition, there is an inherent responsibility to efficiently operate commercial businesses profitably.
- A responsibility to enhance the well-being of their defined community
- The distribution of (surplus) profits back to their communities
- The provision of good, ‘model’ facilities for the sale of alcohol, the provision of accommodation and meals, and gaming
- Accountability to the communities who own them.
In addition, there is an inherent responsibility to efficiently operate commercial businesses profitably.
History
Since 1955, the Mataura Licensing Trust has been investing in its community, returning profits to its customers and creating jobs.
It has been instrumental in future-proofing sporting amenities, as well as supporting the arts, education and destination events, all of which directly or indirectly bolster the local economy. Gore’s multi-sports complex is the flagship of its endeavours, a venue featuring the latest water-turf technology for hockey, a four-court event centre, a short-course Olympic ice skating rink and a two-pool aquatic centre established in partnership with local Government and sports groups. The complex has hosted national tournaments and events, such as the Young Farmer of the Year. (Source Wikipedia). |
Future
The Mataura Licensing Trust is "an idea whose time has come (again)".
Many small towns in New Zealand are finding it difficult to retain young families, plus the centralisation of business operations into large cities is creating a shortage of surplus funds for local investment and new opportunities. The Gore region is renowned for its first class amenities including accommodation, restaurants, theatre, community events and sports facilities. Despite being a population of only 12,000 people, Gore is proud to boast some of the finest up-to-date facilities in New Zealand. |
The Mataura Licensing Trust poured more than one million dollars into the community through grants in the last financial year, the latest provisional report shows.
MLT president Horace McAuley said in the report on the financial year ending March 31, 2019, the MLT had granted $19 million to the community in the past 17 years.
Mr McAuley said several exciting projects were under way in the Gore district that would benefit the trust’s businesses in the coming year and the board looked forward to the Southern Field Days early next year. “The trust is in good heart.”
Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said "the Mataura Licensing Trust pouring funds into the community was 'incredibly significant'.
"The funds had given people and organisations the opportunity to develop and prosper". Mr Hicks said, “In my view we’d be all the poorer if we didn’t have it,”
MLT president Horace McAuley said in the report on the financial year ending March 31, 2019, the MLT had granted $19 million to the community in the past 17 years.
Mr McAuley said several exciting projects were under way in the Gore district that would benefit the trust’s businesses in the coming year and the board looked forward to the Southern Field Days early next year. “The trust is in good heart.”
Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said "the Mataura Licensing Trust pouring funds into the community was 'incredibly significant'.
"The funds had given people and organisations the opportunity to develop and prosper". Mr Hicks said, “In my view we’d be all the poorer if we didn’t have it,”