Ngāi Tahu takes a seat at the table of one of New Zealand’s most important tourism companies, shifting long-term stewardship of Milford Sound’s core infrastructure.
Sunset Mitre Peak and Milford Sound - credit Douglas Thorne
What’s at stake? Control of critical tourism infrastructure at Piopiotahi Milford Sound and how growth, conservation and visitor experience are balanced.
Background Visitor numbers to Milford more than doubled between 2012 and 2018 and the Crown has been working on new long-term settings through the Milford Opportunities Project and fresh public investment.
Main players Kāi Tahu through Ngāi Tahu Holdings and Papatipu Rūnaka, Milford Sound Tourism Ltd, RealNZ’s Real Group, Skeggs Group, Southland District Council, DOC, central government.
Explainer In the southern tribal regions of Te Waipounamu, the ng sound shifts to k, so Ngāi Tahu becomes Kāi Tahu. Both refer to the same iwi, together they form part of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the iwi-wide structure.
Ngāi Tahu is set to take a direct governance role over one of New Zealand’s most important tourism assets, becoming an equal shareholder in the private company that runs core infrastructure and services at
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Key points
What’s at stake? Control of critical tourism infrastructure at Piopiotahi Milford Sound and how growth, conservation and visitor experience are balanced.
Background Visitor numbers to Milford more than doubled between 2012 and 2018 and the Crown has been working on new long-term settings through the Milford Opportunities Project and fresh public investment.
Main players Kāi Tahu through Ngāi Tahu Holdings and Papatipu Rūnaka, Milford Sound Tourism Ltd, RealNZ’s Real Group, Skeggs Group, Southland District Council, DOC, central government.
Explainer In the southern tribal regions of Te Waipounamu, the ng sound shifts to k, so Ngāi Tahu becomes Kāi Tahu. Both refer to the same iwi, together they form part of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the iwi-wide structure.
