Who should be Southland District's next mayor?

With locals due to go to the polls in early October, we've asked the six candidates for their opinions on the major issues facing the district. We're running the answers over the weeks leading up to the election.

This week, we asked: How should tourism be managed across Southland, in particular Fiordland and Stewart Island? What do you think of the Milford Opportunities project?

Here are the answers, in alphabetical order:

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Wendy Joy Baker

Age: 55

Occupation: Valuable Volunteer; Previous: Sports Coordinator; EBOP Regional Council Officer; Contracts Manager; Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator; Research Technician.

How should tourism be managed across Southland, in particular Fiordland and Stewart Island? What do you think of the Milford Opportunities project?

Great South is the agency whom this question should appropriately be answered by.

A Council should encourage tourism across ALL areas of Southland I feel. That's fair.

Each area/town of Southland is a unique and special place and should be promoted to ensure that every area gets tourists visiting and supporting local businesses and enjoying Southland as a whole.

Fiordland and Stewart Island are lovely but already get a lot of promotion.

I see from SDC Annual Report 2020-21 that Milford Opportunities Project masterplan recommendations included a permit system whereby international Visitors pay a fee for permit to visit Milford Sound ( which would help to fund improved infrastructure). That seems fair.

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Don Byars

Age: 53

Occupation: Father, Southland District Councillor, Urban farmer

How should tourism be managed across Southland, in particular Fiordland and Stewart Island? What do you think of the Milford Opportunities project?

I am a big fan of tourism, having studied aspects of the industry many years ago as part of a commerce degree. Travel gives us an opportunity to experience new places, people and cultures. Local food, crafts and arts form a big part of why people travel. I believe there is an opportunity for the people of Southland to utilise community land to start developing a more diverse food landscape. The benefits of doing so would extend far beyond saving millions of dollars on mowing grass and reducing a reliance on long lines of transport for our food, but also include an increasing attractiveness of our region for visitors.

I believe the Milford Opportunities Project, as currently proposed, is wonderful. It aims to protect the Fiordland and Milford environment while managing and enhancing the visitor experience. The proposal is to do this in a way that makes travel to Milford safer and more enjoyable for everyone. The ideas currently proposed, I believe, will deepen the visitor experience to the region. In addition, the people of Te Anau will benefit considerably through the proposed changes. as the nature of a visit to Milford changes. The current day trip from Queenstown and subsequent rush through Te Anau will be replaced with a more leisurely approach and opportunity to spend time in Te Anau.

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Kirsty Pickett (previously Macnicol)

Age: 51

Occupation: Business owner, former journalist

How should tourism be managed across Southland, in particular Fiordland and Stewart Island? What do you think of the Milford Opportunities project?

It’s critically important that we get the best return for our tourism investment. Levies can be a fair and effective way of doing this, but we need to be sure we don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Likewise, if visitor levels are imposed by government, we need to fight to ensure Southland gets its fair share, so ratepayers aren’t lumbered with maintaining infrastructure that benefits visitors more than locals.

I am cautiously optimistic about the Milford Opportunities Project, and I want to ensure there is a strong local voice in the process.

I want to take a closer look at Te Anau Airport and how we can better utilise this facility and maximise its earning potential.

I support Great South’s vision to shape and grow Southland’s reputation as a preferred visitor destination and I want to support our local operators as they grapple with the challenges of employment, immigration, staff housing, and minimising their environmental footprint.

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Rob Scott

Age: 42

Occupation: Small Business Owner & District Councillor

How should tourism be managed across Southland, in particular Fiordland and Stewart Island? What do you think of the Milford Opportunities project?

Tourism across Southland needs to be managed collaboratively and proactively. Whilst Fiordland and Stewart Island are two of our bigger tourism spaces, it’s important not to leave out other key areas like the Catlins, Tuatapere and other ventures in our towns. I’ve been involved in developing the Southland Destination Strategy in 2019 which has proven very successful. We have a very capable Regional Tourism Operator in Great South. We need to ensure that council is aware of the priorities and needs of the sector.

I drove SDC’s first successful application to the Tourism Infrastructure Fund. It’s important that we ensure that we are accessing these funds so that ratepayers aren’t footing the bill for visitors who pay a levy when they enter the country.

The Milford Opportunities Project could go either way. It could be a huge success and blueprint model for Fiordland, but there is potential for the opposite. With this project, as mayor, I will be ensuring that the community's voice is not lost, with it being run and funded by central government. There are some contentious issues being scoped, and it is important that a sound process is followed and the community comes along on the journey.

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Gary Ian Tong

Age: 63

Occupation: Full time Mayor

How should tourism be managed across Southland, in particular Fiordland and Stewart Island? What do you think of the Milford Opportunities project?

Tourism, or more correctly visitors to our wonderful region are already “managed” very, very well through our team at Great South. The connections and Mana they have nationally and internationally is testament to the understanding they have. Murihiku Southland has many national and international icons, some are listed as bucket list destinations. What we have to watch is the financial, cultural and environmental pressures these places come under at times HOWEVER while at the same time realising the importance of growth - ie. The Tuatapere Hump Track as a Great Walk.

My way of addressing this has been to listen, to hear and to understand… Then to advocate, stay proud and support our many communities over the largest geographical region in New Zealand.

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• Candidate Geoff Young did not provide an answer to the first topic by the deadline.