This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application from:
Application details
Applicant: Milford Power Holdings Limited
Concession applied for: Lease
Location of proposed activity: Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound
Summary of proposal: The Department has received a lease application from Milford Power Holdings Limited to install a Battery Energy Storage System in Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound.
The Battery Energy Storage System will be contained in one shipping container of dimensions 6.1 m Length, 2.44 m width and 2.9 m height. This is the lease area.
The applicant is seeking exclusive use as the Battery Energy Storage System must be secure in an enclosure and can only be operated by registered electricians.
They are seeking a lease term of 25 years.
Application documents:
- Application form 1a – Applicant information (PDF, 322K)
- Application form 3b – Private Structures (PDF, 116K)
- Location map and images (PDF, 656K)
- Site plan (PDF, 4,367K)
How to make a submission
Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.
Submissions closed 26 November 2025.
1. Prepare your submission
Record what you think in the submission form.
Any person or organisation wishing to be heard at a possible hearing in support of their submission must request an opportunity to appear before the Director-General. This request must be included in your submission.
2. Send us your submission
Send your submission by email or post. You'll get a confirmation email or letter when a submission has been received.
Email: DNSubmissions@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: 120182-OTH – Milford Power Holdings Limited
Post:
Director-General
Department of Conservation
Ōtepoti/Dunedin Service Centre
PO Box 5244, Dunedin 9054
Attention: Emma Jackson, Permissions Advisor
Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, state this in writing when making your submission.
What happens next
After submissions close:
- DOC will analyse and consider all submissions and comments on the application.
- A hearing will be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you will be contacted by DOC regarding this.
- DOC will analyse and consider information raised at the hearing if a hearing occurred.
- DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
- The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.
Hearing details
If a hearing is required, it is likely to occur in the New Year in 2026.
Decision
No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.
DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications
The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.
Contact
If you have a question about the application or the submission process you can contact Emma Jackson, Permissions Advisor.
Email: DNSubmissions@doc.govt.nz