NEW ZEALAND Snow Struggles, But Hope is on the Horizon

Mt Hutt in the first week of July, looking like winter at last. Image:: Mt Hutt

New Zealand Season | Kerris McLiver

While Australian resorts recently celebrated one of the best starts to the snow season in over a decade, our kiwi neighbours watched green with envy.

New Zealand’s resorts from north to south have been, if I can quote singer, songwriter Jack Johnson, “sitting, waiting, wishing” for the white stuff to begin to fall.

It has been dubbed the warmest start to winter in over 20 years and has left New Zealand’s usually breathtaking winter white peaks, brown and bare. The last thing a country hit hard in recent months by economic troubles and natural disasters needs.

Despite the lack of cooperation from Mother Nature, remarkably, several of New Zealand’s resorts have been able to open, solely on the efforts of their snowmaking crews, but even snowmaking has been difficult with the record warm temperatures, forcing the guns to stay silent.

Shovelling snow at Mt Ruapehu 6 July as the storm arrives at last. Image:: Mt Ruapehu

“This winter has been the worst start since 1990, May was the warmest on record by far and June was the warmest since 2003. It seems Aussie and NZ never have a good season at the same time,” Mountainwatch’s New Zealand weather forecaster, Ben Taylor said.

Over the decades it has often been the case, when it’s puking snow on Australian resorts it’s raining on New Zealand’s peaks. Except this week, as Aussie resorts are engulfed by yet another solid snow storm it looks like New Zealand’s wishes will finally be answered with a forecast full of the white stuff heading its way.

“Until now the Canterbury region has had the only snowfall of the winter in the South Island of consequence, 30-odd-cm about a week ago. The North Island has feared better and probably has the best skiing of the bunch, but even that is very limited,” Ben Taylor said.

Mt Cook is predicted to receive the bulk of the storm with 253cm forecast for the coming week, 100.6cm of which is expected to fall this Thursday, alone.

Areas with lower predicted snowfalls are expected to receive below zero temps, offering ideal conditions for snowmaking allowing resorts to build upon their existing efforts.

This latest forecast should finally start or at least keep the lifts rolling in New Zealand resorts, much to the relief of businesses and staff who have been finding it tough in recent months.

No snow has meant minimum hours for seasonal staff with some mountain staff having to resort to receiving food packages from Saint John’s.

James Coddington CEO of NZski.ltd said they have been working hard to keep staff morals high due to the lack of snow.

“Since we had to postpone our scheduled openings on our three mountains, we feed our staff daily lunches as well as dinners, we also provided a host of activities to enjoy throughout the week.”

Mr Coddinton added that the forecast has caused “great excitement” among members of the resorts community and visitors.
This excitement seems to have swept across the country and as the grey clouds linger over New Zealand’s mountain peaks, ski and boarding enthusiasts have their fingers crossed Mother Nature will deliver with the goods.

“Basically this storm coming this week is the first for the winter, this is our base builder, all our hopes and dreams are pinned on it,” Ben Taylor said.

Despite the lack of snow, many of the resort communities have remained positive and like Mt Ruapehu local, Rodger Barker, believe “In May it will not stay, in June it’s still too soon, in July it will fall from the sky, snow that is”.

“In July it will fall from the sky. This is what we are counting on.”

Bring on July and snow!

29 June – Cardrona is able to turn on the snowmaking guns but the mountains are looking decidedly green. Image:: Cardrona

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