Ngā mihi – Thank you!
I feel fortunate to have been given an opportunity to work with the community, conservation, recreation and tourism experts to safeguard this treasured place. Read More
This is my archive
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Updates from Milford Opportunities Board Chair Jenn Bestwick
Community thank you On Saturday 15 June we held a small event in Te Anau to mark the end of this phase of the Milford… Read More
Update from the Board Chair continued… Paul Norris
For the final few months of the project we have been lucky enough to have Te Anau local and Chief Conservation Officer at RealNZ Paul… Read More
Milford Sound Piopiotahi community updates
We visited the community in Piopiotahi in April and May this year to see how the summer had gone and reflect back what we had… Read More
Welcome
Kia ora and welcome to the last edition of the Milford Opportunities Newsletter for Stage 3, Phase 1 of the project. At the… Read More
University of Otago Policy School public lecture on Milford Opportunities
Jenn Bestwick Last month I was invited to deliver a public lecture on the Milford Opportunities Project at the University of Otago’s Tourism Policy… Read More
Engagement update
Engagement & Communications Lead Phil Tisch In the last update we mentioned we were in the process of setting up one-on-one engagements to test… Read More
Welcome to our April newsletter
Kia ora and welcome to the April edition of the Milford Opportunities Newsletter. It’s been a busy few weeks since you last heard… Read More
Director’s update
Kia ora koutou First, a big thank you to all of you who have dropped into the Milford Opportunities Project Hub, talked… Read More
Engagement
Phil Tisch The next two months are going to be busy for the team and crunch time for engagement with our June project… Read More
Workstream updates
Policy & Legislation Silke Radde and Jess Henderson This workstream is focused on understanding the policy and legislative implications arising for the Milford… Read More
Workstream updates continued…
Masterplan illustration Tourism & Visitor Experience Tania Short and Jock Edmondson Feasibility testing of the Milford Opportunities Masterplan needs to consider… Read More
Feasibility testing: cycle trail proposal
One of the proposals in the Milford Opportunities Masterplan is for a Grade 2 cycle trail from Te Rua-o-Te-Moko Fiordland National Park boundary to Ōtāpara… Read More
Milford Sound Piopiotahi community feedback
Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound Piopiotahi Thanks to all those in the Milford Sound community who took the time to listen and feed… Read More
Hub opening hours from 3 January 2024
Milford Opportunities Project Hub summer 2024 opening hours (from 3 January): Monday to Friday (except Thursdays) – 10am to 3pm Thursday – 3pm to… Read More
Director’s message
While some of you take a well-earned break and others are busier than ever over the festive season, thanks to everyone who has… Read More
Milford Opportunities December Newsletter 2023
Kia ora and welcome to our last newsletter of the year. In this edition, we share the first of three feasibility reports into a proposed… Read More
Reflections from a new board member
After a visit to Piopiotahi earlier this month, tourism industry advisor Dave Bamford reflects on his observations and why he is excited about change. Read More
Heritage update
Heritage and Ngāi Tahu Partnership Workstream Lead John Twidle, talks about the importance of his workstream and what’s happening in this space currently. People… Read More
Meet the Team – Experience Design Workstream Lead
Last newsletter we profiled one half of MOP’s experience design team Jock Edmundson. This week we hear from the other half – Experience Design Workstream… Read More
Engagement & Communications update
Phil Tisch and Lizzy Sutcliffe We are refining our planned engagement programme for the coming months to align with feedback, best practice and the views… Read More
Transport & Infrastructure update
Courtney Hart and Tom Hopkins provide a quick look at progress on the many different aspects currently being investigated for the Transport & Infrastructure… Read More
Te Anau Project Hub opening to visitors
The Milford Opportunities Project Hub in Te Anau is opening for public drop-ins in December. While the project has been working from the Te… Read More
Milford Opportunities Newsletter
Kia ora. Welcome to our November Newsletter. In this edition, we hear from new Milford Opportunities Board member Dave Bamford on his recent trip into… Read More
Meet the team – Jock Edmondson
Jock Edmondson recently joined the Milford Opportunities Team as a Visitor Experience Planner. Through this work he is exploring what elements are needed to… Read More
Milford Opportunities Project Newsletter October 2023
Kia ora and welcome to the October Milford opportunities Newsletter. Early this month the Milford Opportunities Unit spent time in Te Anau as… Read More
Recent and upcoming engagement
Key engagement sessions from the last few weeks include a webinar for the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce on 28 September and an open session on… Read More
Feedback from Milford residents
We visited Piopiotahi Milford Sound to talk to residents on 29 August. We heard that Milford Sound’s community is precious and strong and needs… Read More
New board chair and members
Jenn Bestwick, Arihia Bennett and Dave Bamford This month we are celebrating three excellent additions to the Milford Opportunities Ministerial Advisory Board including new board… Read More
Exploring a new Eglinton overnight tramping opportunity
We’ve initiated exploration of a potential overnight tramp put forward by the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) as an alternative to an option included in… Read More
Engagement
Upcoming Milford community update Tuesday 3 October 6.30pm, Blue Duck Café, Milford Sound Piopiotahi We are aware that there are limited opportunities prior to… Read More
Your chance to hear more – Kantar research presentation
There’s an opportunity to hear directly from Kantar when they present on the research next Thursday afternoon at the webinar: Kantar Insights: People’s… Read More
Cabinet paper – Milford Opportunities Project: Initial Policy Decisions
The Milford Opportunities Project is comprised of a Unit and a Ministerial Advisory Board providing advice to a Ministerial Oversight Group (with the Conservation, Transport… Read More
Milford Opportunities welcomes new board chair
Media release 27 September 2023 Milford Opportunities is welcoming a new chair and two new members to join its Ministerial Advisory Board, supporting… Read More
Domestic and international consumer insights
Earlier this month we shared a media release with you on domestic and international consumer insights relating to Piopiotahi Milford Sound and the Milford Opportunities… Read More
Milford Opportunities September 2023 newsletter
Kia ora and welcome to the September Milford Opportunities Newsletter, this World Tourism Day, (which incidentally has an appropriate theme of ‘Tourism & green investments’). Read More
Media release: Research reveals consumer insights on Milford Sound
14 September 2023 New domestic and international research shows people highly value Milford Sound Piopiotahi and expect sustainable, respectful tourism approaches, that preserve its natural… Read More
About the Transport & Infrastructure Team
The Transport & Infrastructure work is being led by Courtney Hart and Tom Hopkins under workstream lead Simon Moran. Tom Hopkins Tom Hopkins… Read More
Researching transport and infrastructure requirements
The Transport & Infrastructure Team have awarded contracts for the first tranche of their work – Assessment of Landscape Values, Assessment of Terrestrial and Aquatic… Read More
Milford Opportunities Newsletter August 2023
Welcome to the August edition of the Milford Opportunities newsletter. We just managed to squeeze it in before the end of the month! It… Read More
Engagement
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve held over 102 hours of engagement sessions mainly focussed on groups and operators based out of Te Anau. Read More
Identifying transport solutions for the Milford Road
Some of you may have seen recent media on our work to test the feasibility of a range of options around on delivering an enhanced… Read More
Why make these recommendations?
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2018 in one day roughly 1,293 vehicles entered Milford Sound Piopiotahi, delivering 5,771 passengers to the boat terminal. Buses… Read More
Community drop-in days
Our next community drop in day is 23 August, we ask if anyone wants to drop in that they get in touch with… Read More
Transport and infrastructure
The first tranche of Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for assessing the feasibility of the energy, environmental values, and walking and cycling components of the masterplan’s… Read More
Frequently asked questions
We have a new FAQ document to support engagement and local interest in the project. This is available as a PDF file on the… Read More
Recent engagement
Over the last six weeks we have had engagement sessions with the Piopiotahi Milford Sound community, recreational climbers and Te Anau-based coach drivers. We… Read More
Feedback continued…
Recreational climbers We are often reminded about the majestic recreation opportunities in Fiordland, including the Darran Mountains as being the climbing pinnacle in… Read More
Welcome
Kia ora, Welcome to our July 2023 newsletter. The team is pleased to share the latest feedback from our engagement with the community,… Read More
Fiordland Business Association
Keen to build the relationship with Milford Opportunities. We are all interested in the ‘how’. What does the masterplan mean to businesses, operators, the community. Read More
Engagement
We are currently working through our engagement programme. The programme is designed to support Stage Three, Phase One – feasibility testing the masterplan’s recommendations,… Read More
Feedback from May engagement sessions
In early May, we held engagement sessions on the Milford Road corridor and Deepwater Basin. We also hosted the Fiordland Business Association at the Te… Read More
Welcome to the June edition of the Milford Opportunities Newsletter
The team is now working at pace with community, recreational users, tourism operators and others to test feasibility and implications of the masterplan proposals. We… Read More
Website updates
The Milford Opportunities Project Establishment Board Terms of Reference are now on our website. These were approved by the Milford Opportunities… Read More
Feedback on the masterplan: tracks and huts
In the March newsletter we reported back on an engagement session looking at the masterplan’s recommendations regarding recreation facilities, tracks and huts, along the Milford… Read More
Upcoming engagement sessions
Our engagement programme is now underway as we look to test the Masterplan’s recommendations. We have a series of engagement sessions planned for the… Read More
Staying in touch over winter
Saturday 15 April was the last day for people to drop by and visit us at the Milford Opportunities Project Hub, in Te Anau… Read More
Acting Board Chair
Following Dr Keith Turner’s retirement last month, we are delighted to have Bill Day stepping into the Board Chair role while we seek a permanent… Read More
Meet the team
The work to test the Milford Opportunities Masterplan’s recommendations requires a broad spectrum of skills and experience across topics including conservation, infrastructure, business, engagement, cultural… Read More
Engaging on the Masterplan – huts and tracks
The Milford Opportunities Unit facilitated the first of many engagement sessions to be held over the coming year looking at the recommendations of the Milford… Read More
Tourism Minister’s visit
Minister Peeni Henare, travelled to Te Anau, as an extension of his visit to Queenstown, to meet local tourism operators. The Milford Opportunities Project… Read More
Milford Opportunities Board Chair to retire
Milford Opportunities Board Chair Dr Keith Turner is to retire at the end of this month after 5 years chairing the project since its inception… Read More
New Te Anau community hub ready to welcome visitors
Great progress has been made on the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) hub in the heart of Te Anau and it is now open! The… Read More
KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE
We know there’s strong interest in the Milford Opportunities Project and we are committed to keeping you up to date with the work via… Read More
Milford Opportunities Hub – open and welcoming visitors
“… Tū te Rakiwhānoa looked at the high, unbroken rock faces that stretched from Tawhiti-tarere (Puyseguer Point) to Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) on the Western side. Read More
ENGAGEMENT GROUPS
We mentioned in our last newsletter that there would be opportunities for you join an Engagement Group. We are not quite ready to set these… Read More
The Master Plan
The Master Plan for the Milford Opportunities Project has been designed to be a living document rather than something that is set in stone. It’s… Read More
Kia ora from the Milford Opportunities Project Team!
We have had a great response from our last newsletter. Thank you so much for your interest in the Milford Opportunities Project. Love the… Read More
Policy and Legislation team
The focus for the last two months has been to establish a Policy and Legislation team. At the same time, we have been working with the Milford… Read More
Commercial Activity
The commercial team are working on designing a commercial strategy which will include an approach to concessions and funding. The team are looking to investigate potential… Read More
Transport and Infrastructure update
The Transport and Infrastructure team has been working to identify the questions that need to be answered in order to test the feasibility of the transport… Read More
Establishing the team
We have been recruiting a team to deliver the next phase of the project and the final members will join us early in the new year. Read More
Community Engagement and the Te Anau Hub
The next stage of the project, as we head into 2023, is really important. We would like as much feedback as possible from you on all aspects of the… Read More
Catching up with the community
Last week, we caught up with some of the residents of Piopiotahi Milford Sound to hear their views on the Master Plan. Those present… Read More
It’s Christmas time and summer holidays are upon us!
This is the time to enjoy family and friends. If you are lucky enough to be having a break sometime over summer, sit back… Read More
Chris Goddard new director for Milford Opportunities
The hard work begins now for stage three of the Milford Opportunities Project with the appointment of director Chris Goddard. Project board chair Dr Keith Turner… Read More
Next steps taken to deliver Milford Opportunities Project
Conservation Minister Poto Williams has announced the new board for stage three of the Milford Opportunities project. The board to take the Milford Opportunities Project… Read More
Milford Opportunities masterplan launched
A more even distribution of visitors going into Milford Sound Piopiotahi is one of the key recommendations being made by the Milford Opportunities Project’s masterplan,… Read More
What’s happening at the moment
Completion of the Milford Opportunities masterplan is the focus for the next three months, as all the work and feedback come together to enable… Read More
Report on October engagement survey
The engagement survey in October 2020 provided respondents with 29 potential master plan ideas to make comment on. These ideas covered the journey from… Read More
Te Anau social impact survey
We know that 2020 has been a tough year for businesses and residents of Te Anau, so the impact of tourism and its importance… Read More
Get involved and take part in our survey
Te Anau is the key town on the Milford Sound Piopiotahi journey. Along with Manapouri, there is potential to develop and cater for increased visitor… Read More
October Public Meeting
We are holding meetings in Te Anau, Milford Sound Piopiotahi, Queenstown and Invercargill so you can come along and talk to the team and ask… Read More
September Newsletter
Here is the September edition of the Milford Opportunities Project E-Newsletter that takes a look at our upcoming October engagement, the results from the July… Read More
Ngāi Tahu Values and Aspirations workstream
Stantec and Boffa Miskell are working through 12 different workstreams, with the Cultural Values and Aspirations workstream focusing on engaging with iwi and local rūnanga… Read More
Increased connectivity in Milford Sound Piopiotahi
Work has started on the new fibre connection for Milford Sound Piopiotahi. Chorus has begun laying the 120 kilometres of fibre, with funding coming from… Read More
Project team update
Stantec, Boffa Miskel, Kauati, Martin Jenkins, Natural Resources Law, Visitor Solutions, Fresh Info, ECPC and Build Media make up the Milford Opportunities project team, led… Read More
Upcoming engagement opportunities
On 5 October the Milford Opportunities Project will be undertaking another nationwide campaign. This will be the final chance for large-scale engagement on this project… Read More
Milford Opportunities Project introduction
The Milford Opportunities Project was established in 2017 following discussions between the Southland District Council and the Department of Conservation. Both parties had identified issues… Read More
Safety upgrade for the Homer Tunnel
In July the Minister of Infrastructure Shane Jones announced the Homer Tunnel was getting a safety upgrade from the ‘shovel ready’ funding. Infrastructure improvements are… Read More
It’s time to get involved
We want to hear from and engage with people and organisations during the preparation of the Milford Opportunities Project masterplan. We have multiple ways… Read More
July nationwide survey
A two-week survey was conducted nationwide in July, focusing on ideas the project had received through earlier public forums and stakeholder engagement. Because… Read More
Milford Opportunities stage two kicks off
Milford Opportunities governance group members are keen to get under way now that the project has received the green light from the Government’s new International… Read More
Milford Opportunities public drop-in sessions – July 2020
Its time to have your say on the future of Milford Sound Piopiotahi. Milford Opportunities Project is holding public drop-in sessions where members of… Read More
Milford Opportunities is online
The Milford Opportunities Project now has a website milfordopportunities.nz which has gone live today. The website contains information about the project, summaries of previous engagement,… Read More
Public invited to share information about Milford
The general public are being asked to share their information and knowledge about Milford-Piopiotahi and the rest of Fiordland, as part of the Milford Opportunities… Read More
New project management team for Milford Opportunities
Opus and Xyst are the new project management team for the Milford Opportunities project. Milford Opportunities governance group chair Dr Keith Turner said the group… Read More
Inaugural meeting of Milford Opportunities Group held
The Milford Opportunities Governance Group began its journey today when it met for the first time in Invercargill. Created as part of the Southland Regional… Read More
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