Southland is the most southerly region of New Zealand and includes Stewart Island at the foot of the South Island. Southland's largest urban centre is Invercargill, which has a population of about 50,000.

Publicly funded health care services are provided to a population of over 108,000 people by the Southland District Health Board. Its catchment area includes: Stewart Island, Invercargill City, rural Southland, Gore, Te Anau, Queenstown and Glenorchy. The health board operates two hospitals in the region, Southland Hospital in Invercargill and Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown.

Southland was put firmly on the map of many people's consciousness with the release of the movie, The World's Fastest Indian, as it is the home of land speed record holder, Burt Monro. The sweeping vistas of vast skies, wild beaches, coastal forests and green rural landscapes are unmistakable.