New companies to operate Mt Ruapehu's ski fields

The New Zealand Government is reported to have accepted two bids to manage Mt Ruapehu's ski fields ensuring that operations at the Whakapapa and Tūroa ski fields on the North Island will continue during the 2023 winter season.

With former operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited (RAL) having entered voluntary administration last October after the worst ski season in decades, the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation (MBIE), the company’s largest creditor has since provided over $10 million to continue operations at the ski fields.

However, it declined to provide support directly to RAL, taking away any opportunity for the company to come back from its $45 million loss.

Instead, MBIE opened a bidding process for companies who wish to take over the ski area management earlier this year.

From bidders who came forward it has been reported that MBIE has accepted two of these offers - from Pure Tūroa, a company funded by developers Cam Robertson and Greg Hickman, who would manage the Tūroa ski field, and a private equity company with connections to former RAL Chief Executive Dave Mazey, who would manage the Whakapapa ski field.

However, if split into two separate entities this might create an access challenge as Mt Ruapehu's ski lifts are currently set up to be run on one ski pass.

Since opening early in the last century, the ski area has gone through many iterations and has seen many crowdfunding efforts. Its first lift was financed by selling lifetime passes to shareholders back in 1953 and was opened in 1954 by Sir Edmund Hillary.

In 2006 and 2016 the Tūroa and Whakapapa ski fields offered further lifetime passes for $3,950 and upwards, to help finance new infrastructure, including a new chairlift at Whakapapa and snow making facilities.

Media reports in recent days suggest that a Māori ‘chief’ is opposed to concessions being offered to the new ski field operators.

MBIE is understood to be ready to formalise agreements with the new operators of the Whakapapa and Tūroa ski fields as of 20th June.

Image: Snowboarding at Mt Ruapehu's Whakapapa ski field (top, credit: Mt Ruapehu/Tommy Pyatt) and Sir Edmund Hillary [seated] opening the No 1 Chair Lift at Mt Ruapehu in 1954 (below, credit: Ruapehu Skifields Stakeholders Association website).