The Minister of Conservation has announced her intention to grant a 20-year concession to the company, which runs a jet-boating and associated guided walk business in and around the Dart River Valley and the Mount Aspiring National Park.
The business was bought in 1996 by Shotover Jet Ltd, now Ngai Tahu Tourism. In 2006, the business integrated Dart Wilderness Adventures, which is the funyak, or inflatable kayak, side of the business.
Ngai Tahu Tourism southern regional general manager David Kennedy said home for the business was the "small, picturesque frontier town of Glenorchy" and passengers were transported by coach from Queenstown to Glenorchy before journeying a further 37km up the Dart River Valley by means of a combination of jet-boat and coach.
Mr Kennedy said legend was "a Maori god carved out a mighty mountain range with an adze and laid bare a legendary source of pounamu - New Zealand greenstone".
"The ancestors of the Ngai Tahu were the first people to journey here, following Te Awa Whakatipu [the Dart River], and discovered the place, naming it Te Koroka [home to the most precious possession of all]."
The business incorporated World Heritage wilderness, jet-boating and Maori heritage.
After the release of the the first of The Hobbit movies at the end of this year, it was expected a large number of tourists would travel into the area with the intention of seeing The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit scenery.
"Last time, it was thousands, so we are expecting huge demand as well this time," Mr Kennedy said The business was the only operator on the Dart River and allowed visitors on the Wilderness Safari to walk among beech forest "unchanged for 80 million years".
"Specialist guides bring to life the variety of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife within this unique area, as well the captivating stories of the original Maori and early pioneers."
Those on the Funyak Safari experienced both jet-boating and an inflatable canoe and also saw The Lord of the Rings scenery, Mr Kennedy said.
The Department of Conservation was advertising the intention at present, and if a hearing was required, it would probably be during the week of November 19-23.
