Ski Fields

The increasing popularity of snowmaking is helping the ski industry but there are risks as well as benefits.

The community-led group says RAL staff have been given final notice and asset seizures started.

The government has appointed two insolvency practitioners from Calibre Partners as the receivers of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.

“We’re looking at a situation where we’re almost exactly the same position we were in last year,” warns RAL liquidator John Fisk.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts is marking its 70th platinum anniversary on Friday 1 September with a $70 adult weekday pass.

More than 450 athletes from 30 countries will converge on Wānaka and Queenstown for the 2023 Winter Games beginning on Friday.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts is discounting its Long Weekend access pass to encourage more visitors to spend longer at the ski fields.

The Lake Ōhau Lodge and a concession for the Ōhau Snow Fields in Mackenzie Country are now up for sale.

A decent dump of snow will allow Mt Ruapehu’s ski fields to open more of their lifts this weekend.

A small number of operators and regional tourism organisations have been listed as creditors of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.

Snow conditions at Whakapapa and Tūroa ski fields are contributing to a strong finish to the July school holidays.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts is urging visitors to the Whakapapa and Tūroa ski fields to book online or call into Torpedo7 to pick up their passes this season.

More than 120 commercial vehicles including buses and taxis have been checked for roadworthiness around the southern ski fields over the weekend.

It hasn’t been an ideal opening but the operator is focused on moving season passes in compressed two-week campaign.

Season passes for Whakapapa and Tūroa ski fields on Mt Ruapehu are slated to be available from 1pm today for a two-week period.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa joins Whakapapa Holdings and Pure Tūroa in the race for RAL’s ski assets.

It was high noon at the watershed meeting on Tuesday, with creditors managing to shoot themselves in the foot.

A liquidation process will begin today with a sale of RAL’s ski operations still possible.

Creditors meet today for a vital vote on the future of RAL’s ski operations.

The Ski Areas Association New Zealand [SAANZ] has expressed its support for a solution that ensures both Whakapapa and Tūroa ski areas can operate this season and beyond.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts’ voluntary administrators have recommended the liquidation of the operator and the sale of its two ski fields to the preferred bidders.

But the bidding process is criticised for creating “a false sense of urgency” to push a deal through.

Wages have been the biggest expense and their own bill racks up too as a solution is sought.

A bidder for one of Ruapehu’s ski fields plans a capital raise of up to $12m and a USX listing to help fund the operation.

NZSki’s Mt Hutt will host a four-day celebration this August to mark 50 years of ski field operations.

The group behind a community effort to take ownership of Ruapehu’s ski fields has unveiled its proposed structure.

A community-based group bidding to take over Ruapehu Alpine Lifts’ ski operations has put the call out for support.

The bid hopes to raise funding from RAL life pass holders, ski club members and the local community.

The warming climate and changing weather patterns pose “a great risk” to the viability of ski fields and glacier tourism.

A new survey aims to gauge whether Ruapehu lifepass holders would be willing to pay $1,000 for a one-time ‘settlement fee’ to reactivate their pass if a new entity or a revived Ruapehu Alpine Lifts is established.

Cardrona and Treble Cone are aiming to cut visitor numbers during peak periods.

A new entity owned by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts life pass members and Sky Waka bondholders was the government’s preferred solution to save skiing at Mt Ruapehu after the operator went into voluntary administration.

But the voluntary administrators say season pass promotion is on hold due to uncertainty over the future of ski at Mt Ruapehu.

The operator’s troubles underscore the volatility of commercial ski businesses as climate change accelerates.

There’s clear weather ahead following snow on its ski fields but the future of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts appears as murky as ever.

Coronet Peak’s 75th anniversary celebrations are underway this week as the ski field puts a five-day festival of music, events, fashion and ski events for the public.

More than 90% of commercial passenger vehicles inspected at the country’s major ski destinations have been compliant, say police and Waka Kotahi.

NZSki has opened its Coronet Peak ski field near Queenstown with five of its eight lifts operating.

More than 1.5 metres of snow blanketed parts of Queenstown over the weekend, marking an “epic” ski season ahead for the Southern Lakes ski fields, says Destination Queenstown.

RealNZ’s ski experiences are encouraging the industry to take a closer look at how they promote gender inclusion in skiing and sport.

Operating on an active volcano has presented both challenges and opportunities for the company.

Southern operators will be pleased with snow this week and more to come over the weekend – just in time for widespread ski field openings.

The operator also secures critical worker exemption for 275 skilled staff, helping to meet staffing challenges.

SOUTH launches a new ski product designed to attract Australian visitors.

Cardrona and Treble Cone have teamed up with Wānaka Backpackers Bothy to provide mountain staff accommodation for the 2022 winter ski season.

Employers will be required to pay at least the median wage of $27 an hour for the roles.

Queenstown’s Coronet Peak will celebrate its 75th anniversary with events including a night ski party with fireworks, a retro day, ski race, gala dinner and an alumni après ski function.

A man had to be rescued at Mount Ruapehu on the weekend after sustaining serious injuries following a fall on ice and rocks.

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