Saving winter, one last time - Ruapehu Alpine Lifts gets ‘final’ $7m

Wednesday, 13 March 2024

The Government is giving Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) a final $7 million boost so this year’s ski season at Whakapapa ski field can go ahead, but it’s promising this is the last time.

An additional $3m in equity and loan funding is also going to help the sale of Tūroa ski field to Pure Tūroa, provided Pure Tūroa gets a concession from the Department of Conservation.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said it was the final opportunity for RAL, and Cabinet was signalling “a clear end point”.

“The Government cannot indefinitely sustain the ski fields.

“If no acceptable commercially-led solution can be found within the next year, there will be no additional government funding for RAL’s Whakapapa ski operations.

“The support announced today provides certainty to local operators and communities that the 2024 ski season will run on both sides of the mountain.”

Last month, the mayors of Taupō and Ruapehu called on the Government to step in and pay off Whakapapa ski field’s debt, giving whoever takes it over a clean slate to work with.

The previous Government gave RAL $7m before last year’s election, with then-Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty saying that funding would allow “the process for determining the future of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts until after the election”.

RAL went into voluntary administration in October 2022, owing tens of millions. In the months before, a lack of snow and visitors had led to 130 job losses.