About

INTRODUCING TRUESOUTH

Our Story

TrueSouth was founded in 1999 by David Manson, who at the time served as the practice manager for Terralink, a state owned enterprise specialising in surveying and mapping services. Taking the initiative, David acquired the Invercargill branch of Terralink, establishing TrueSouth as an independent company. TrueSouth has a loyal team of highly experienced surveyors and planners that have been with the company since its inception.

Surveying and engineering are well and truly engrained into the family, with both David’s sons, Richard and Hamlin Boyde-Manson, working in senior management roles for TrueSouth.

TrueSouth has recently set up a new branch in Wānaka with a focus on civil engineering, bringing Tim McDougall on as the company’s first Certified Professional Land Development Engineer.
HOW WE WORK

Our Approach

As a family-founded company, we maintain a personalised approach, ensuring we truly understand and cater to our clients’ needs. Despite our small size, we uphold a high standard of professionalism and meticulous attention to detail. We take pride in delivering high-quality outcomes and exceeding expectations in all our projects.

WHAT WE USE

Our Equipment & Software

We have continually upgraded and expanded our equipment and software to keep up with ever-changing technological advances. Our comprehensive range of survey gear includes:

  • Leica TS16 totalstations
  • Leica GS18 GNSS receivers
  • DJI Phantom 4 RTK Survey Drone
  • 12d Model survey and engineering software
  • 12d Synergy data management software
  • Briscad drafting software
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PORTFOLIO

Notable Southern Projects

TrueSouth has extensive experience in a wide variety of survey activities. We offer solutions for challenging and unusual projects.
Distinction & Langlands Hotels

Construction control and set-out

Marine Reserves

Fiordland & Stewart Island hydrographic surveys

Cardrona Distillery

Engineering design for earthworks, access & services

Foveaux Strait

Survey control for hydrographic charting, geodetic control marks & tidal monitoring stations

NZ Aluminium Smelter

Drone mapping & monitoring of Tiwai Point

Major Southland Rivers

Extensive survey capture including profiles and depth soundings

Fiordland National Park

Mapping control for the National Park 1:50000 map series

Manapouri Tailrace Tunnel

Survey control for second tunnel

Rakiura National Park

Boundary definition of 138600 ha on Stewart Island

Velodrome & Stadium Southland

Construction set-out

Invercargill & Manapouri Airports

Aeronautical obstruction surveys

WHO WE ARE
We may be a small team, however our ideas are anything but. Our down-to-earth and friendly approach is matched by our high professionalism, backed by generations of family knowledge and experience. We specialise in surveying, planning, and land development engineering, bringing versatile skills and a strong focus on finding solutions.

TrueSouth are proud members of: