A South Island tourist operator is furious over tourism cash going to big organisations but missing those in need.

The Auditor-General's found a $290 million fund announced in May 2020 lacked clarity and transparency.

Tourism Minister Stuart Nash, who didn't hold the job at the time, maintains there was great uncertainty and decisions had to be made quickly.

But Fiordland Jet co-owner Chris Adams told Andrew Dickens it's outrageous.

“It shows that it doesn’t pay to be honest. I was brought up to be honest, and a lot of these guys and companies and including the politicians that brought this out and signed the money off obviously weren’t brought up that way.”

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