AusLeisure

Whakapapa Holdings Limited (WHL) will be the new operator of the North Island’s Whakapapa ski field on Mount Ruapehu after the Department of Conservation (DOC) granted a 10-year concession for the site.

The concession is the latest development for the ski field amid concerns about its commercially viability following the collapse of ski operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL).

Department of Conservation Director-General Penny Nelson confirmed at the end of last month that the decade-long concession would allow WHL to run the ski field along six buildings in Whakapapa village for staff accommodation and a water pipeline easement.  

In a statement Nelson advised “DOC will be closely monitoring the ski field activity to ensure everything is running smoothly.

“Giving the rights to use such valuable public conservation land is something I considered carefully, taking into account the feedback through the concession process, including from iwi engagement, public notification and hearings.

“We understand it’s been a long road to get here and want to thank everyone for their patience.”

Uncertainty has surrounded the ski field following RAL’s insolvency in October 2022, after which it received several instalments of Crown funding to keep the ski field operating.

As reported by the NZ Herald, “WHL had effectively morphed from RAL, this time with the backing of The South Island Office - an investment group led by ski industry veteran Tom Elworthy that also specialised in property development and restoration”.

WHL Chief Executive Travis Donoghue told the Herald that he is confident that the business would not need Government support in the future.

With the concession granted, WHL is now moving quickly to prepare for the upcoming winter season.

Donoghue said snow sports enthusiasts would hear more in the coming days and would begin selling season passes as early as next week, before opening the ski field from 30th May.

He confirmed last year’s offer for free season passes for children 10 years and under would be in place in 2025.

He added that “improved snowmaking” will be important for the ski field, noting any long-term development would be decided alongside stakeholders.

A condition of the concession requires WHL to produce a “forward-looking” development plan after five years.

Donoghue pointed to the 28% increase in “first-time snow touchers” at Whakapapa in 2024 compared to 2023 as a driver behind the desire to turn the North Island ski field into “New Zealand’s alpine playground”, noting “skiing and snowboarding is absolutely going to be at the front of our priority, we‘re not gonna turn back on that rich legacy.

“But we‘ve got an opportunity now to create more experiences that sit between that, passive and active, and possibly turn that first-time snow seeker from a sightseer into a skier, but also host and entertain them.”

DOC will be closely monitoring the ski field activity to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Images: Mt Ruapehu (top, credit: Department of Conservation) and Whakapapa skiing (below, credit: Tommy Pyatt).

Related Articles

3rd April 2025 - NZSki expands ‘Superpass’ to include access to 10 ski resorts across New Zealand

19th April 2024 - Mount Ruapehu ski area operators launch season passes

19th January 2024 - Future of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts set to head back to Court

3rd October 2023 - New Zealand Government to back Ruapehu Alpine Lifts operations with further $7.35 million

18th July 2023 - Last-Minute New Zealand Government bail-out enables Mt Ruapehu skifields to operate for winter

20th June 2023 - ‘Worst-case scenario’ set to see liquidation of Mount Ruapehu ski fields operator

19th June 2023 - Ski Areas Association NZ supports Mt Ruapehu’s future

14th June 2023 - Whakapapa Holdings ‘delighted’ at Mount Ruapehu opportunity

13th June 2023 - New Zealand Cabinet backs twin bids to operate Ruapehu Alpine Lifts

8th June 2023 - New companies to operate Mt Ruapehu’s ski fields

11th April 2023 - South Island’s Cardrona and Treble Cone ski areas to address capacity challenges

15th October 2022 - New Zealand’s Ruapehu Alpine Lifts enters voluntary administration

25th August 2022 - Coronet Peak marks 75 Years of Good Times

1st April 2022 - NZSki deploys quirky marketing campaign to showcase its three mountains

6th July 2021 - Fine weather marks start of Winter Season at Mt Ruapehu

20th May 2021 - North Island’s Happy Valley ski area on track for Queen’s Birthday Weekend opening

7th April 2021 - NZSki welcomes Australians back to New Zealand slopes this winter

18th September 2020 - Mt Hutt installs New Zealand’s first eight-seater chairlift  

15th May 2020 - New Zealand ski fields look to post-Coronavirus snow season operations

4th December 2019 - Significant fall in New Zealand skiing and snowboarding injuries attributed to risk management and education

22nd July 2019 - New Zealand’s Mt Ruapehu ski season benefits from $25 million gondola lifts

6th March 2018 - New Zealand ski areas report record visitation during 2017 winter season

26th July 2014 - Major investment boosts New Zealand ski industry

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.