TUKINO EXPANDING

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 19, 1 October 1985, Page 6

TUKINO EXPANDING

Tukino, smallest of Ruapehu's three skifields, may be expanding under a proposed tenyear plan. At present there are two rope tows, one 460 metres and the other 890 metres on which skiers use nutcrackers to grip the rope. Under the plan the rope tows would be moved higher up the mountain, and in their place two platter lifts would be installed. The higher rope tows would provide for more advanced skiers. Tukino has been operating since 1965. Its site was

chosen because of its proximity to Wellington, and an access road had already been built for the television repeater station. Tukino's mountain manager of seven years, Moka Hayes, says it was also chosen because of the better snow. "The sun rises very early and the wind blows snow over and drops it here — it's also very sheltered." Tukino is a club field with three lodges housing 24 people in each. Aorangi is a Wellington-based club built in 1 966, which has 575 active members. The Desert Alpine Club with about 100 members is based in Auckland, was also built in 1966. The newest club, Christiania, was built in 1975, has 525 members mostly from Hamilton. Of all the Tukino staff, including ski patrol, lift operators and ski instructors, only one person — a Swiss ski instructor — is paid.