Industry News
On Saturday, April 6, the Department of Conservation announced that it has granted Pure Tลซroa Limited a 10-year concession to operate the Tลซroa ski field in New Zealand. The previous operator at Mount Ruapehu, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), was forced to file for voluntary bankruptcy in June 2023 following a poor season and two years of Covid-19-related closures. RAL had been operating the Tลซroa resort as well as the adjacent Whakapapa resort at Mount Ruapehu on the North Island for the last 70 years.
- Related: Twin Ski Areas at Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand, Saved But Could be Split into 2 Separate Ski Resortsย
RAL was established in 1953 when the company sold lifetime lift passes in order to raise funds for the installation of a ski lift. The resortโs first lift was opened in 1954 by none other than Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest together with Sherpa Tensing Norgay. In the years since the company kept running into financial problems, most recently in 2006 and 2016 when it sold more lifetime passes. After several crowdfunding efforts and government bail-outs, the New Zealand government refused to keep funding RALโs operations, forcing it into voluntary administration. At the time, RAL had losses of NZD 45 million (USD 27 million).
Pure Tลซroa Limited, a company founded by developers Cam Robertson and Greg Hickman, will purchase the operations for a symbolic NZD 1 and will also take on the massive debt burden left behind. Pure Tลซroa will only manage the Tลซroa ski field. It is unclear what exactly will happen to the Whakapapa ski area but they will be operated as separate ski fields. Pure Tลซroa is aiming to develop a model together with Whakapapa Holdings Limited and with operators in the South Island to develop a season pass model that will provide a level of reciprocal access to these fields. Under this model, Tลซroa skiers and boarders would have the ability to access a few days at Whakapapa as well as ski fields on the South Island.
The concession will run for 10 years, giving the ability for the new operator to plan for the foreseeable future. โThe concession means the public can continue to enjoy the recreational benefits available in the Tongariro National Park – one of the most majestic places in the country – for years to come,โ said Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, underlining the importance of preserving and promoting the park’s natural beauty while supporting responsible tourism and outdoor activities.
Cameron Robertson and Greg Hickman shared their excitement with Mount Ruapehu visitors, stating: โWe are absolutely thrilled that weโre finally here and that we can start communicating with everyone about the upcoming season at Tลซroa.ย We couldnโt have done this without the support of the local community that depends so heavily on a successful Tลซroa ski operation. The support weโve had has been amazing. A massive thank you to everyone that has been involved, especially the crew on the mountain, and those that have supported our vision from the beginning.โ
