The National Party has promised an independent review of the Department of Conservation's allocation of Milford Sound aircraft landing rights should they be in government after Saturday.
National's conservation spokesman Nick Smith and Otago MP Jacqui Dean made the election promise at a meeting with tourism operators at Wanaka Airport yesterday.
Four representatives from Aspiring Air and Wanaka Helicopters attended and said they would be very pleased to get an independent review.
"It would be better than a Doc review," Aspiring Air chief pilot Carl Thompson said.
The two Wanaka aviation companies recently asked Doc to review the allocation of Milford Sound landing rights after they both missed out, despite a significant history of tourism activities in the area and the provision of specific Milford flight path training to pilots.
The Wakatipu Aero Club, which also trains pilots to fly the tricky and potentially dangerous Milford routes, also missed out.
The two Wanaka companies both received letters from Doc yesterday stating the department's review would cost $690 each.
The landing rights allocation comes into effect in June next year.
The politicians agreed yesterday the allocation process was flawed.
Mrs Deans said the allocation had cut out some of the oldest and most respected tourism companies and that seemed unfair.
Mr Smith said he would not "play favourites", but did have "real concerns about the process".
Aircraft noise was a concern to people enjoying a wilderness experience at Milford and had to be reduced to protect New Zealand's tourism reputation, he said.
His key three concerns were: the allocation system had not recognised operators who had invested in the industry, risking future investment; the system seemed "perversely contrary" to the noise reduction objective; and more recognition needed to be given to aviation safety in Milford to protect the reputation of New Zealand's tourism industry.
Mr Smith would put the allocation process on hold after the election to enable an independent review.