News
The Government has ruled out proposals to ban cruise ships and close the airstrip at Milford Sound, instead announcing a $15.2 million investment aimed at upgrading infrastructure and protecting the environment.
The funding is part of the first round of decisions under the Milford Opportunities Project, a long-term strategy to manage tourism sustainably at the iconic Fiordland destination. The decision ends years of uncertainty following a 2021 master plan that had recommended closing the airstrip and restricting cruise ships from entering the inner sound.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said the move would help the tourism sector continue its recovery. "We are supporting the local economy and providing certainty for operators by enabling cruise ships and aircraft to continue to access the fjord, rejecting a previous proposal to ban this," she said.
The original master plan cited safety concerns, low passenger numbers using the airstrip, and the environmental impact of cruise ships as reasons to make changes. Despite this, feedback from tourism operators, particularly around the airstrip’s closure, was strongly opposed, with fears it could damage visitor access and local livelihoods.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced the funding would support several projects, including a new alpine nature walk in Gertrude Valley, improved flood protection for the Cleddau River, a clean-up of the Little Tahiti landfill, and upgraded facilities at Deepwater Basin.
"This iconic UNESCO World Heritage site in Fiordland attracts more than a million visitors a year and pumps about $200 million into the regional economy, creating jobs and boosting incomes," he said.
Of the total investment, $8.2 million will come from the International Visitor Levy, and $7 million will be drawn from the Department of Conservation’s capital works programme.
The Government will also continue working with local iwi, councils, and other stakeholders on the next phase of the Milford Opportunities Project. "These include collaborating on investment opportunities along the Milford corridor, developing a multi-year investment plan for the area, and considering improved planning tools, such as a Special Amenities Area within Fiordland National Park," Potaka said.