The Te Anau Tartan Festival is set to make a lasting mark on the Fiordland community, after donating $10,000 to the newly established Southland Foundation Fiordland Fund, following the festival’s final curtain call.

The much-loved Easter event has since 2013 attracted thousands to the Fiordland tourist town to celebrate their Scottish heritage and community spirit.

Tartan Festival audiences were treated to some world class performances - including two sell-out shows by the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand (pictured). Photo: Chris Watson/Profocus

However a struggle to find new members and volunteers eventually forced the festival committee - many of whom have been involved since its inception - to make the difficult decision, earlier this year, to wind down operations.

In doing so, they chose to direct surplus funds to the Fiordland Fund, ensuring the festival’s legacy lives on through future community initiatives.

Committee spokeswoman Kirsty Pickett said it had been an incredible journey bringing the Tartan Festival to life each time and the committee had been so grateful for all the community support.

“As the festival wraps up, we wanted to ensure its legacy continued to benefit Fiordland, offering a sustainable way to support our area for generations to come.”

The Southland Foundation's new Fiordland Fund was the perfect fit, Pickett said.

Launched in June 2024 with seed funding from Neil and Jocelyn Hodges, the Fiordland Fund is designed to provide ongoing financial support for local projects through contestable grants once the endowment reaches a sustainable level.

“Knowing the Tartan Festival’s contribution will be maintained and grown for the benefit of our local community has enabled us to wrap things up on a really positive note,” Pickett added.

“It’s not the end of an era, but rather the start of an exciting new one.”

"We also hope this expands awareness of the Fiordland Fund and encourages other groups and individuals to also contribute so it can reach critical mass and start financially supporting the local community as soon as possible.”

The traditional scamble for a lolly always attracted a crowd at the Te Anau Tartan Festival. Photo: Southland App

Southland Foundation Development Manager Rachel Cockburn welcomed the donation.

“This $10,000 gift from such a cherished local event supports our efforts to build a permanent fund for Fiordland."

"It's a wonderful example of community spirit.”

Cameron Davies, Chair of the Te Anau Community Events Charitable Trust, echoed the sentiment.

“We’re proud to have been part of an event that brought so much to the community."

"It’s rewarding to know the festival’s impact will continue through the new Fiordland-focused endowment fund.”

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Southland Foundation.

A young competitor gets a helping hand in the 2023 'Toss the Caber' have-a-go field event that the Tartan Festival had become famous for. Photo: Supplied