TUROA SKIFIELD CLOSURE

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 21, 25 October 1983, Page 1

TUROA SKIFIELD CLOSURE

"Very disappointing. A hasty decision. I'm getting madder by the minute. A great shame. A pity that at least otherconcerned parties didn't have a chance for.any input." These are just a few of the comments from skiers, businessmen, Turoa staff and Tongariro National Park Rangers to the decision by AH1 Turoa's ^^rianager Tony Wright to ^Jpose Turoa Skifield for the season on October 10. While the public at large were aware that the North Island ski season had been one of the worst on record, many thousands of skiers were still able to enjoy the facilities operated on both sides of the mountain. Perhaps the greatest confusion arose because less than two weeks before the closure AHI Turoa had given public assurances that the skifield would remain open until 3 1 October. And in fact one of the terms of the licence under which AHI Turoa operate the skifield is that the company must operate the and tows continuously. from 1 June to 31 October unless weather conditions or lack of snow, or mairitenance work prevent such operations. So while the skifield can be, and has been, closed temporarily for the above reasons, under the term of its licence the company should have kept the facilities operating whenever possible until 31 October. Mr Wright said that the decision to close the skifield was his personal decision. Following a week of warm rains especially over the preceding weekend, it meant that only one lift — the High Noon T-bar could operate — "A run that most skiers can do in only 1 'A minutes" said Mr Wright. "Furthermore, we felt the snow conditions had deteriorated to an unsafe condition. During the ski

alliance course run specially . on Wednesday 12 October, two skiers suffered potentially dangerous accidents. One, an instruetor slid over 300 metres down the mountain, the other which could have been fatal happened to our assistant ski school director." "Viewed in its totality this season was a bad one by anyone's standards"said Mr Wright. "As soon as the school holidays were over our patronage plummetted. We were running at 50% of our normal figures for this time of the year and the week prior to closing was our worst ever. We were 80% down on the same week last year. Obviously the standard of the snow and prevailing weather conditions were unacceptable to a major section of the skiing public. I could not see any chance of improvement in the figures because of skiers resignation to the conditions particularly with only one limited lift operating." "There was a major economic factor in our decision to close" he said. "We were operating in an extreme loss situation. 1 couldn't jeopardise the company's future sby continuing those losses to the end of October." "I believe my company was fully justified in it's action" said Mr Wright. "As for season's pass holders, they take a chance too" explained Mr Wright. "We sell the pass at a discounted 18 day rate and the skier knows he has no comeback or guarantee if he can't fully utilise that tickeL Ironically though, many of the skiers affected most by the closure were locals who traditionally look to the last few weeks of the season to catch up on their skiing after busy months catering for other skiers needs. There has been talk of a public meeting to air grievances. to page 4

TUROA SKIFIELD CLOSURE - from p 1

Mike Wiggins, owner of Junction Ski Shop said he was disappointed that the skifield had been closed so abruptly. "While I understand the reasons why they closed, I feel it's a poor show that other businesses weren't at least consulted and given a chance for input" said Mr Wiggins. "My business and all the others that provide ancillary support to skiers needs are equally a part of the whole team that makes Turoa a popular, viable skifield." Surely accommodation houses could have given AHI Turoa some indication of booking levels that could have justified staying open weekends only until the end of the licence period. To my knowledge none were consulted."

Other business people echoed the same views. Generally it was felt that the decision was a very arbitrary one with no thought given to the flow-on effect in the community. AHI Turoa's Tony Wright refutes those comments. "It was a difficult decision to make but I still reserve the right to take whatever action is necessary to preserve the business that I'm entrusted to operate." It's ironic that people who participated in the ski alliance course on 12 October rated the skiing as probably the best of the season. Park rangers confirmed this. If the licence conditions prove unworkable then changes should be sought. Perhaps provision should be made for discussion between interested parties such as -AHI Turoa, Tongariro National Park Board, businessmen and skiers when situations such as those put forward by Tony Wright do exist. In the meantime an agreement does exist between the two parties and surely its conditions should be met good or bad.