Community Concerns Sink Lake Henry Floating Sauna Project

A company's plans to set up floating saunas on a small Te Anau lake have been rejected by Southland District Council after strong community opposition.

Floating Sauna Ltd had applied for a licence to place two saunas and a changing room on a floating pontoon at Lake Henry, just south of Te Anau township at Ivon Wilson Park.

The proposal faced overwhelming public resistance, with 81% of the 210 people who made submissions objecting to the project.

During Wednesday's council meeting, councillors spent considerable time working through more than 20 key concerns raised by objectors. Less than half of these concerns were supported by council staff, but councillors ultimately agreed many of the community's worries were valid.

The decision came despite the Fiordland Community Board recommending the licence be granted in February 2025, and the company having already secured resource consent in February 2026.

A public notice posted on the council's Facebook page in late February had indicated the organisation intended to grant the licence but was seeking public input.

Community concerns included potential negative effects on the lake's amenity value and environment, water quality issues, commercialisation of the public space, and fears the public would be excluded from parts of the lake.

Those who supported the proposal highlighted the potential for new recreational activities and economic opportunities for the region.

The rejected plan would have seen three 9-square-metre structures sitting on a 79-square-metre floating pontoon, which would have been attached to an existing jetty.

Lake Henry is a small but relatively deep body of water, covering 3.5 hectares with a maximum depth of 15.3 metres, according to Our Lakes Our Future.

The decision represents a significant setback for Floating Sauna Ltd, which had invested time and resources into securing resource consent for the venture.

The overwhelming community opposition suggests local residents were concerned about maintaining public access and the natural character of the popular recreational lake.