Coat of Arms

The shield is supported by a pair of takahe, once thought to be extinct but rediscovered in Fiordland in 1948. The crown is the emblem of government. The wavy bars behind the ram’s head are taken from the Arms of the House of Drummond, which is associated with Invercargill’s namesake, Captain William Cargill.

The foliage represents Southland beech and the motto, Pro Communi Utilitate, translates as “For the Benefit of the Community”. The design also features a ram’s head and two sheaves of wheat to represent Southland’s farming traditions. The ship represents export activity.