A crucial tourism project is facing delays as it struggles to find a project leader.
File pic Photo: 123RF
The Milford Opportunities Project began in 2017 following concerns about rapidly growing visitor numbers in Milford Sound.
For the past five months, the project has been searching for a suitable director to help those involved in the project create and implement a business plan.
Governance chair Dr Keith Turner said they got close to appointing a leader twice but they did not progress to a final agreement.
"I am a bit frustrated as I had wanted to hit the ground running at the beginning of this year," Turner said.
"However, it is crucial we have the right person in the position so we are continuing the search."
They were facing a three-to-five-month slowdown as they couldn't progress at pace without a director, he said.
The project's masterplan was launched in Te Anau in July last year and made recommendations to the government.
Stage three involves a detailed business plan to detail how those recommendations will become a reality.
"I know this will not be the news people in Fiordland and, in particular, the tourism operators are wanting to hear as I know they are really keen for more certainty on the project and for it to move forward quickly," he said.
At the launch, Turner said he felt they have come up with something innovative and challenging and it would change the way tourism interacted with the environment and conservation.
"I feel we have done that and now the hard work of decision-making on how to implement it begins," he said at the launch.
Numbers to Piopiotahi peaked in 2019 with 870,000 visitors, up from 430,000 in 2013.
Tourists on the route into Milford Sound before the Covid-19 pandemic began. Photo: RNZ Insight / Belinda McCammon
In May last year, the project received a $15 million boost as part of the government's $200m Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan.
The funding was aimed at helping the project move to its next phase, which requires detailed planning, community consultation, consenting, and preparation for new infrastructure.