There are few destinations in Aotearoa New Zealand more picturesque – and more photographed by international visitors to New Zealand – than Piopiotahi – otherwise known as Milford Sound.
Over the past few months, a team of scientists and academics from three universities across Australasia has been working on a series of detailed, interrelated reports and research. These elements have come together into a master report, addressing the cruise tourism component of the Milford Opportunities Project.
Third party scientific research around the impacts of cruise tourism is hard to find. It exists, but in small pockets of niche work around the world. This project took a multidisciplinary approach to the impacts of cruise on one of the jewels in the New Zealand tourism crown.
Piopiotahi Milford Sound has long been recognised as Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic visitor attraction. Situated in Fiordland National Park with Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage status, it is recognised that management of access to, and the planning and management of recreation and tourism in Piopiotahi Milford Sound must protect and enhance its World Heritage Status and be aligned with cultural and conservation values. This is a multifaceted challenge that involves conservation management, safeguarding indigenous ecosystems, and protecting natural and cultural landscapes, while providing world class visitor experiences that are consistent with conservation.
yBC was asked to help with the production of the report: transforming multiple, impressive and detailed pieces of work into one full, final report for the team to share publicly. We worked with professors and leading scientists from Griffith University (Brisbane, Queensland), the University of Otago and the University of Queensland.
Our approach was to take typically word- and data-heavy research reports, and “bring them to life” with strong imagery and striking design. Which is exactly what we did. Some example pages are included in the gallery below, and when this report is made available to the public, we’ll share a link.
