Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand yesterday pledged $15,000 to the Save Fiordland Campaign preparing to take legal action should concessions be granted for either the Dart Passage Tunnel or the Fiordland Link Experience.
The federation represents more than 15,000 trampers and climbers.
President Robin McNeill said the legal funding was "unprecedented" but the federation had little option.
"While $15,000 was a lot of money, these projects strike at the heart of everything the federation stands for.
"These applications should have already been declined under existing [Department of Conservation] statutory plans, made with full public consultation. That they continue makes a mockery of democracy."
Late last year, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson announced her intention to grant concession applications to both Milford Dart Ltd and Riverstone Holdings Ltd for their respective proposals.
In Parliament last week, Green Party MP Eugenie Sage asked Ms Wilkinson if she had considered making the decision herself, rather than delegating to a manager.
Ms Wilkinson replied she had, but had been advised of a "long-held convention, under successive governments, that concessions under the Conservation Act are normally decided at a departmental level".
"I have delegated this to the level of director-general to ensure a robust process is followed, free from interference, whether political or otherwise, as is the long-followed practice." Mr McNeill said he remained "optimistic" Doc would not grant the concessions, in which case the money would be required to fight likely appeals by the applicants.
He urged all New Zealanders to give to the cause. An estimated $100,000 is required to take a judicial review.
Save Fiordland chairwoman Daphne Taylor, of Te Anau, said the organisation was "nowhere close" to raising the money required, but two fundraisers planned in the next fortnight would boost the coffers.
Those were an art auction on Friday and Saturday at the Te Anau Distinction Hotel and the premiere of a documentary about an "ancient chief of the Vanuatu people", which would be held in the town on October 7.
