TNP Ski School decision defended

Waimarino Bulletin, Issue 4, 12 August 1988, Page 6

TNP Ski School decision defended

I am compelled to reply to the recent Bulletin story concerning the Department of; Conservation refusal to give Sam Clarkson a licence to carry out ski instruction on the Whakapapa skifield. It is rather unfortunate that the Editor h a s published the story without reference back to the Department. I am quoted in the story but only by reference to a letter sent to Mr Clarkson some six months ago. This quote deals with p single aspect of the licence application: To give Mr Clarkson's complaint a balanced consideration it would seem appropriate t o seek comment from the Department. The practice of having a single concessionaire is common to most skifields throughout the world. A company is given a lease or licence to operate all skifield facilities within a specific area. This is certainly the case at Turoa and other larger South Island skifields. -There are very good reasons for this policy.

A skifield company is required to make a large investment to develop a skifield and then to manage it. This includes the construction of carparks, toilets, buildings in addition to lift facilities and maintenance requirements include sewage disposal, rubbish disposal, snow clearing, snow grooming, ski patrol. A considerable proportion of the revenue from any skifield relates to activities other than the provision of uphill lifts. In some instances it is known that this accounts for 40% of the revenue. It thus seems only fair that a skifield company who is funding the various facilities and services has the opportunity to earn revenue from the same services. Skifield competition is provided by rivalry between the various skifields. Unified management is also preferred to ensure a coordinated development of the many facilities on a skifield. There

must be a sensitive balancing of carrying capacities for roads, car-parks, toilets, cafeterias, ski patrol, ski instruction etc. At Whakapapa there has not been until the present time unified skifield management or a single concessionaire and the Crown has historically provided many of the services. However, in recent years this has been rectified and Ruapheu Alpine Lifts provide new capital developments and are responsible for funding the various services on the skifield either directly or indirectly through a skifield servicing levy to the Crown. The presence of the Tourist Hotel Corporation as the operators of Ski School is a result of a Cabinet Directive (in the absence of RAL operating ski school) and in recognition of this situation THC contribute towards the levy referred to above. As licensor the Department is also concerned with the safety

standard and professional qualifications of Ski School. The existing service meets these requirements. Competition exists between Whakapapa and Turoa. There seems little reason why Mr Clarkson should be able to arrive at Whakapapa and take commercial advantage of the many services provided and funded by other organisations. Would he be prepared to pay the costs of operating a chair-lift or T Bar? I note that Mr Clarkson is unemployed but know that there have been various jobs available on the skifield in recent weeks. If he holds the relevant professional qualifications I would be surprised if he could not gain employment as a ski instructor on one of the fields in New Zealand. If Mr Clarkson chooses to teach his own family to ski he is not operating a trade or business in the National Park and therefore does not require a

licence.

Paul

Green

District Conservator