Reopening of Mt Ruapehu welcome relief for Central North Island region
Taupō District and Ruapehu Mayors David Trewavas and Don Cameron are calling the reopening of Whakapapa and Tūroa skifields this winter a welcome relief for their tourism sectors, heavily impacted by COVID-19.
The Sky Waka Gondola will also open from Queen’s Birthday weekend.
Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas said Mt Ruapehu is an important attraction for the Central North Island.
“As a tourist destination, we know it is going to be a long road ahead for us. A third of employment in the Taupo District is related to tourism.
“Reopening the ski fields and gondola offers an important opportunity to attract local tourists from all over the country.
“We need to use that to our advantage while our borders remain closed to international tourists. Now, more than ever, we need to see kiwis exploring their own backyard.”
Ruapehu District Mayor Don Cameron said the ski fields and gondola play a vital role in the local economy.
“With every dollar being spent on the mountain rippling through to $5 of spending in the wider economy this will provide a significant financial shot in our regional economic arm,” he said.
“As well as the positive spending impact the opening of the ski areas will provide a lot of local employment opportunities both on and off the mountain.
“The news is already providing a major boost to personal and business confidence with people hoping for some great snow and sunny days.”
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Chief Executive Jono Dean said they are looking forward to welcoming skiers back to the slopes and sightseers back to the Sky Waka.
“At this stage we’re looking at around late June, early July to open the ski fields, however, this will depend on a number of factors, including snowfall,” he said.
“Our operations will be different to what visitors may have previously experienced, and we are working through our facilities and what we will be offering for winter 2020.
“Physical distancing, contact tracing and increased cleaning and sanitation requirements will be in place to ensure the safety of staff and visitors to the ski fields.”
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
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Whether it’s a playhouse, she shed or teenager’s sleepout, a stencil-painted floor in Resene Clockwork Orange will elevate it from meh to wow. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
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