About the project
The Milford Opportunities Project was created to help manage the number of visitors at Piopiotahi and along the Milford Road. Its goal was to protect this special World Heritage Area, known as the final work of Tū Te Rakiwhānoa.
The project focused on:
- adding a fee for international visitors to support conservation and facilities
- making visits more enjoyable
- honouring the importance of Milford Sound to Ngāi Tahu
- keeping visitors safe.
In 2021, the team gave the government a plan for tourism that could pay for itself. In June 2024, they shared a business case that tested how well the plan could work.
Who was involved
Many groups worked together on the Milford Opportunities Project. These included:
- Ngāi Tahu
- Department of Conservation
- Southland District Council
- Environment Southland
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Ministry of Transport
- Waka Kotahi.
The project was led by a group of ministers from Conservation, Tourism and Hospitality, and Transport. They were supported by an independent board and a team to carry out the work.
The project did a lot of research and talked to many people. They worked with conservation and recreation groups, tourism businesses, local communities, and other experts to shape their ideas.
Stages of the project
Stage 1
Establishing context, vision and objectives (completed in September 2018).
Stage 1 reports and documents
September-October 2018 engagement summary (PDF, 48K)
A summary of the first round of public meetings to introduce the project and get ideas.
Gap analysis summary document (PDF, 2,001K)
A summary of the research done to understand what material is available now about Milford Sound Piopiotahi, the corridor, Te Anau and the region.
August 2018 Phase 1 gap analysis (PDF, 4,045K)
The full report on the gap analysis research.
Stage 2
Consultation, engagement and research to develop a Milford Opportunities masterplan (launched in July 2021).
Stage 2 reports and documents
Masterplan
Milford Opportunities Project masterplan (full resolution file, PDF 29,131K) | (low resolution file, PDF 7,822K)
- The full masterplan – this is a large document and may take longer to download.
Milford Opportunities Project masterplan summary (PDF, 2,649K)
- A summary of the key concepts and aspects of the masterplan.
Milford Opportunities Project masterplan launch video
Technical reports
Reports to support the work of the masterplan.
- Conservation impact analysis report (PDF, 27,651K)
- Governance, management and legislation report (PDF, 13,080K)
- Hazards and visitor risk review report (PDF, 49,455K)
- Infrastructure assessment report (PDF, 18,042K)
- Land analysis report (PDF, 15,156K)
- Mana whenua aspirations and values report (PDF, 8,333K)
- Te Anau Basin study (PDF, 7,820K)
- Tourism report (PDF, 11,445K)
- Transport and access report (PDF, 7,489K)
- Communications and engagement report (PDF, 37,069K)
Masterplan reviews
New Zealand and international reviews of the material in the masterplan.
- Peer review of masterplan – AR & Associates, April 2021 (PDF, 246K)
- Peer review of masterplan – Sklenar, March 2021 (PDF, 245K)
- Peer review of masterplan – Festarini, March 2021 (PDF, 109K)
Rebranding report
Milford Opportunities Project name change considerations, January 2021 (PDF, 5,862K)
- A report into the future naming of the area.
Engagement summaries
October 2020 engagement summary (PDF, 1,365K)
- A summary of the nationwide engagement survey which asked questions about a short list of options.
July 2020 engagement summary (PDF, 286K)
- A summary of the nationwide engagement survey which asked questions about a long list of ideas given to the team from previous engagement.
November-December 2019 engagement summary (PDF, 154K)
- A summary from the meetings that were held to update stakeholders about the beginning of stage two.
Terms of reference
Milford Opportunities Project terms of reference for stage two (PDF, 312K)
- Sets out the terms of reference for stage two after receiving the government funding for it.
Stage 3
Testing the feasibility of the masterplan’s recommendations (June 2022 to June 2024). A feasibility business case with options was delivered to ministers in June 2024.
Stage 3 documents and reports
Business case
Milford Opportunities Project business case (PDF, 53,450K)
- Full business case.
Milford Opportunities Project business case summaries (PDF, 1,101K)
- Summaries from the business case.
Brochure
Milford Opportunities Project brochure (PDF, 9,257K)
- Brochure outlining the Milford Opportunities Project Board’s recommended option.
Technical reports (supporting the business case)
The Milford Opportunities Project business case was informed by just under 50 technical reports on a wide range of relevant topics including impact assessments, natural hazards and consumer insights.
If you cannot see the report you are looking for, it may be released shortly. Check back at a later date.
Aerodrome
- Criticality of Milford Sound Piopiotahi fixed wing aerodrome for emergency response operations (PDF, 1,144K)
- Milford Sound Piopiotahi heliport feasibility assessment final report, 9 May 2024 (PDF, 15,975K)
Environmental
- Indicative statutory planning assessment report – management planning, 10 June 2024 (PDF, 8,226K)
- Milford Opportunities stage 3 landscape feasibility advice, 28 March 2024 (PDF, 8,480K)
- Milford Opportunities Project RMA statutory assessment, June 2024 (PDF, 2,454K)
- Milford Opportunities Project RMA statutory assessment: likelihood matrix, June 2024 (PDF, 862K)
- Milford Opportunities Project stage 3 preliminary assessment of environmental effects, 2 May 2024 (PDF, 94,252K)
- Cruise tourism in Aotearoa New Zealand: Impacts and management with reference to Milford Sound Piopiotahi, June 2024 (PDF, 17,700K)
Heritage
Infrastructure
- Te Huakaue Knobs Flat preliminary site investigation (PDF, 9,757K)
- Three Waters infrastructure condition and future state assessments (PDF, 5,766K)
- Transport and infrastructure stream – engineering feasibility assessment (Stage 3) stage 2 review of cost estimates (PDF, 858K)
- Vertical infrastructure design considerations and feasibility (PDF, 4,113K)
- Additional hydropower potential (PDF, 4,575K)
- Alternative energy supply options (PDF, 1,974K)
- Carbon assessment Appendix H (XLSX, 278K)
- Carbon assessment (PDF, 1,713K)
- Contaminated sites assessment (PDF, 4,117K)
- Energy assessment recommendations (PDF, 3,345K)
- Engineering feasibility report (PDF, 11,840K)
- Existing hydropower potential (PDF, 4,575K)
- Geotechnical feasibility (PDF, 7,886K)
- High level HAIL assessment of nodes MOP (PDF, 721K)
- Infrastructure energy demand (PDF, 1,144K)
- Low-zero transport carbon emission feasibility study (PDF, 3,607K)
- Memorandum: Milford Opportunities Project – WSP estimate summary spreadsheet (PDF, 749K)
Natural hazards
- Natural hazard assessment part B: basic risk assessment - updated risk assessment – supplementary memo report (PDF, 766K)
- Natural hazard assessment part B: basic risk assessment (PDF, 5,869K)
- Preliminary climate change risk assessment: Appendix A (XLSX, 278K)
- Preliminary climate change risk assessment (PDF, 2,561K)
- Milford Opportunities Project natural hazard assessment: Part A preliminary screening analysis, 26 March 2024 (PDF, 7,341K)
Transport
- Milford Sound Piopiotahi park and ride design report feasibility study, 14 May 2024 (PDF, 12,992K)
- Transport and permit system: technology to manage access to Milford Sound summary report, April 2024 (PDF,1,421K)
Visitor experience
- Milford Opportunities Project walking and cycling experiences report, April 2024 (PDF, 22,307K)
- Walking and cycling experiences report: cost estimate workings, April 2024 (XLSX, 187K)
- Milford Opportunities: critical structures for walking and cycling: construction feasibility, 3 April 2024 (PDF, 12,926K)
- Impact assessment Te Anau Downs to Cascade Creek Trail - addendum, 18 June 2024 (PDF 1,785K)
- Impact assessment Te Anau Downs to Cascade Creek Trail: final report, 29 November 2023 (PDF, 5,798K)
Cabinet material, ministerial briefings and memos
Cabinet material and other documents
- Cabinet paper and initial policy decisions related to the Milford opportunities Project.
2023 project and ministerial briefings and memos
- Official Information Act responses and material proactively released related to the Milford Opportunities Project.
Kantar consumer insights
Kantar Milford Opportunities research summary infographic (PDF, 657K)
- This one-page infographic summarises the Kantar domestic and international consumer insights on Milford Sound Piopiotahi and the Milford Opportunities Masterplan.
Kantar domestic insights on Piopiotahi and the Milford Opportunities masterplan (PDF, 14,066K)
- This research, undertaken by Kantar, shows domestic consumer insights on Milford Sound Piopiotahi and the Milford Opportunities Masterplan.
- This research, undertaken by Kantar, shows international consumer insights on Milford Sound Piopiotahi and the Milford Opportunities Masterplan.
Establishment board terms of reference
Milford Opportunities Project establishment board terms of reference (PDF 1,057K)
- These terms of reference apply to the Milford Opportunities Establishment Board. They were approved by the Milford Opportunities Ministerial Group on 3 May 2023.
Group engagement session feedback documents
Milford Sound Piopiotahi community engagement session, 22 May 2024 (PDF, 798K)
- Community engagement meeting notes, 22 May 2024.
Milford Sound Piopiotahi community engagement session, 9 April 2024 (PDF, 636K)
- Community engagement meeting notes, 9 April 2024.
NZDA Southland branch members feedback, December 2023 (PDF, 774K)
- Feedback recorded from New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) Southland branch engagement session, 7 December 2023.
Milford Sound Piopiotahi community engagement session, November 2023 (PDF, 844K)
- Community engagement meeting notes and feedback, 22 November 2023.
Fiordland Business Association engagement, August 2023 (PDF, 1,072K)
- Feedback and meeting notes from a meeting with the Fiordland Business Association, 28 August 2023.
Milford Sound Piopiotahi community engagement session, August 2023, (PDF, 864K)
- Feedback and meeting notes from Milford Sound residents engagement session on 29 August 2023.
Professional coach drivers engagement, June 2023 (PDF, 953K)
- Notes from an engagement session with Te Anau Based Coach Drivers on 20 June 2023.
Milford Sound Piopiotahi community engagement session, June 2023 (PDF, 800K)
- Notes from an engagement session with the community on 7 June 2023.
Milford corridor engagement, May 2023 (PDF, 467K)
- Engagement session on 4 May 2023 looking at the proposals in the master plan for the Milford Road corridor including the international access fee, more experiences and managing access.
Deepwater Basin engagement, May 2023 (PDF, 1,050K)
- Notes from an engagement session on proposals in the master plan for Deepwater Basin in Milford Sound Piopiotahi on 3 May 2023.
Fiordland Business Association engagement, May 2023 (PDF, 945K)
- Fiordland Business Association engagement session notes, 2 May 2023.
Track and hut engagement, March 2023 (PDF, 1,031K)
- Notes from an engagement session on the huts and walking tracks proposed in the masterplan on 2 March 2023.
Government’s response
The Milford Opportunities Project informed government decisions including:
- $6.4 million in funding to improve visitor experiences and share more cultural stories. This includes new pou whenua.
- $1.8 million in funding for a two-year plan (2025–2027) to support change. This includes plans for new infrastructure, better safety, and a revenue strategy.
- Law changes started in 2024 to improve how tourism concessions are managed and to explore charging for access to top visitor sites.
- Keeping the Milford aerodrome open.
- Cruise ships can still visit the fjord, but their impact will be reduced over time.
- The road to Milford Sound stays open, with better safety and traffic controls.
- Milford Sound Piopiotahi stays part of Fiordland National Park, with plans to improve how it’s managed.
Read the joint Ministerial media release 4 June 2025
Government’s response documents
Summary of response
Department of Conservation summary of response and next steps (PDF, 351K)
Cabinet material
Cabinet paper - Milford Opportunities Project Government response (PDF, 788K)