Slow Start to the Winter at Mt. Hutt, NZ, Gives Way to a Record-Breaking Weekend

The holiday weekend delivered big time for Mt. Hutt. 2026 is already off to a rollercoaster start in New Zealand. This June was the warmest on record, bringing abysmal early-season conditions reminiscent of those seen in 2025. Many Kiwi ski fields, including Mt. Hutt, were forced to push back opening dates by weeks due to lack of coverage. On June 27, thanks to cooler temperatures that allowed for snowmaking, Mt. Hutt was able to open in a limited capacity, although terrain offerings at the time were still quite scarce.

• Related: New Zealand’s Ski Season Off to a Slow Start as Resorts Delay Openings Amid Lack of Snow

However, this would all change during the first couple of days of July, when a huge storm brought much-needed snow to the region. Between Wednesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 2, the South Island was thrashed by a Tasman Sea low-pressure system, bringing high winds and lots of snow. When it was all said and done, Mt. Hutt received nearly a meter (39 inches) of fresh snow in just over 24 hours, allowing it to open roughly 95% of its terrain.

Mt. Hutt’s massive snowfall, however, was met with equally massive crowds. The storm coincided perfectly with the Matariki (Māori New Year) holiday, giving Kiwis the perfect reason to spend their long weekend at the ski field. Friday, July 3, marked Mt. Hutt’s busiest day in a decade, as over 10,000 skiers and riders flocked to the slopes throughout the long weekend.

The mass celebration of relished early-season snow, however, did not come without its drawbacks. With crowds came lift lines, as visitors were forced to wait far longer than average to get a taste of the powder. Additionally, access to Mt. Hutt became increasingly challenging, as major delays were caused by drivers who got stuck on the way up after ignoring chain restrictions. Nevertheless, despite the crowds, excitement was still in the air. As 15-year-old skier Archie Watt told Newstalk ZB, “The conditions, sunny day, fresh tracks, amazing view, [and] nice snow meant the vibes were great.”

While Mt. Hutt has not yet fully recovered from its unusually late opening, the new snow is an encouraging sign as the resort heads into midwinter. Solid early-season snow provides not only holiday powder, but a much-needed base layer, important for keeping the slopes open into mid-October. It remains to be seen whether the Matariki snowstorm will be followed by others bringing favorable accumulation to the region, but Kiwi skiers are hoping this was just a taste of what’s in store for the rest of 2026.

• Related: SnowBrains Forecast: 10-20 cm for NZ through Friday