Destination Queenstown and Great South staff are reeling from the news their colleague Graham Budd died suddenly on Friday afternoon while walking on Arrowtown’s Chum Track.
Emergency services said they were called to the two-hour track around 4pm where Mr Budd had been walking with a friend.
Crews were unable revive him.
Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult said Mr Budd was a well-respected member of the Queenstown community where he had lived for many years while working for Destination Queenstown.
He was also a personal friend.
The pair had travelled overseas together on a trade mission trip to China and worked together in Christchurch.
"It was a complete shock.
"The district is going to miss him enormously. He knew a lot of people and there’s certainly a lot of sad faces around.
"He was just a good bloke, very good at what he did.
"For years Destination Queenstown and Graham Budd were synonymous."
Destination Queenstown chairman Richard Thomas said the team and board were deeply saddened to hear the news.
Mr Budd was a part of the team for 12 years, eight as chief executive.
"He was a highly respected and much admired part of the Queenstown community and a highly skilled advocate for the tourism sector."
He achieved many milestones in a period when Queenstown was changing.
Mr Budd moved to Invercargill in February 2020 to work as chief executive of Great South.
Great South chairman Ian Collier said the news had been a great shock to him and the entire team.
"We are absolutely devastated by this news and we are in close contact with Graham’s family at this incredibly difficult time," he said.
Southland Mayor Gary Tong said Mr Budd’s death left a large hole, both professionally and personally.
"Graham was so passionate about doing the best by Southland and he and his team have worked so hard over the past two challenging years to support and help our businesses and people across the province."
Mr Collier said Mr Budd had been actively involved with many key projects across the Southland and Otago regions over many years.
As well as heading Destination Queenstown from 2007-20, Mr Budd served on the boards of Regional Tourism New Zealand, Space Operations NZ and New Zealand Functional Foods.
Southland mayoral forum chairwoman and Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said everyone’s thoughts were with Mr Budd’s family and all the staff at Great South.
Mr Budd is survived by his four adult children.
