Latest news with #CentralNorthIsland
RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Mt Ruapehu ski fields busy over school holidays, despite underwhelming snow season
Whakapapa ski field, Mt Ruapehu, 2023. Photo: Supplied/ Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Mt Ruapehu's ski fields have still been busy over the school holidays, despite a bad start to the season with little snow. This will be Whakapapa's first season under new operator Whakapapa Holdings, while Tūroa is also now being run by a new company, Pure Tūroa , after Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which oversaw both skifields, went into insolvency in 2022. Snow machines were keeping the learners slopes open at Tūroa and Whakapapa skifields after a wet June, which saw twice the amount of rainfall compared to the same time last year. But the chief executives of the new operations are adamant the best skiing is yet to come, and the lack of snow has not put people off. Chief executive at Whakapapa Travis Donoghue said the snow levels were lower than they would have wanted, but it was still early days. "[We've had a] bit of rain throughout June and up until now, probably would've rather had it fall as snow." He said the Happy Valley learners slope had returned to being fully operational on Tuesday, after heavy rain swept across the Central North Island last week. Despite the lack of snow, thousands were coming up just for sight-seeing trips on the Sky Waka gondola, he said. "Particularly these last few days, people have been showing up with gusto." He was confident the million-dollar investment in 10 new snow guns - making "whales of snow" on the upper moutain - was a worthwhile investment, and all that remained was a big dump of snow. "We're ready for it, and there's not much more we can do ... except look forward to it." On the south side of the moutain, Tūroa chief executive Jono Dean said they were tracking well, but still a "good storm or two away" from being able to fully open up. "You'd want to ensure every season starts with 2-3 metres of snow on the ground, and life would be great, but that's not the case every year, and that's something we have to adapt to - and have." He said plenty of people had been enjoying the manufactured snow on the learners slopes, but beyond those, the mountain was "still pretty barren". Like Donoghue, Dean said the season was long at Ruapehu - with the "best spring skiing in the world" to come. Meanwhile the Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton said the area was humming with tourists, with the town of Ohakune "chockablock". "I can only go on what I hear, which is that there are a record number of people coming into the area." Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver MetService meterologist Oscar Shiviti said the average temperature for last month was lower than June 2024, and more days had forecast snow. However, he said rain in temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius did not necessarily result in snow. "Snow can still fall at slightly warmer temperatures, and rain can still occur at slightly colder ones - it all depends on the vertical temperature profile of the atmosphere." He said the temperature between the cloud and the ground determined whether rain would turn to snow. "If the freezing level is low enough and deep enough, falling precipitation has more time to pass through cold air, allowing raindrops to freeze into snowflakes before reaching the ground. "In this case, what starts as rain or snow aloft can reach the surface as snow." In contrast, Shiviti said a shallow freezing level would see the snow melt into rain on its way down. "Sometimes, this creates sleet or freezing rain instead of snow, depending on the exact temperature profile." He said in general, snow was more likely when the air temperature at the surface was 2 degrees C or lower, and if it were raining heavily for a long period of time, which could cool the air further. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
From kōrero to kāinga: Ngāti Rangi celebrates housing milestone
Members of Ngāti Rangi at the site of a new housing development in Ohakune. Photo: Supplied/Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust Central North Island iwi Ngāti Rangi has hit a milestone for their housing development in Ohakune - which they hope will help alleviate a shortage of affordable housing in the region. On Monday Te Kūmete o Paerangi - the commercial board of Ngāti Rangi - joined with TW Group and Egmont Dixon - to turn the sod for the construction of ten new houses. The Ohakune Affordable Housing Programme is funded with the support of Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga - Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Te Kūmete o Paerangi Limited Partnership. The sod turning for the construction of ten new houses to be built in Ohakune. Photo: Supplied/Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust Te Kūmete chairperson Kemp Dryden said the houses will be for the descendants of Ngāti Rangi living in the region and those wanting to return home. The idea for this project goes back even before the signing of Ngāti Rangi's Deed of Settlement in 2018 and the iwi are very happy to finally see it up and running, he said. "E roa ake ngā kōrero, ko tēnei te wā e timata ai te whakatinanatia i ngā kōrero." "We've been talking for a long time, now is the time to make those words into reality." Dryden said the new homes would be affordable rentals aimed at local whānau. Income disparity and housing shortages have meant many whānau have struggled to obtain affordable housing in the region, he said. Housing has been a longstanding issue in Ohakune - sub-standard housing and erratic or transitional housing have prevented whānau from being able to enjoy the quality of life a good home brings with it, he said. "He iti the nama e wātea ana mō tō tātau whānau, ko tērā te raru. Ko ō tātau whānau e toru ngā reanga e noho ana i te kāinga." "The problem is that there are very few houses available to our community. Some families have three generations living in the same house." Dryden said of about 1200 homes in Ohakune, about 800 are Airbnbs or holiday homes. The iwi, local council, central government and the community all need to work together to solve this problem, he said. Members of Ngāti Rangi at the site of a new housing project in Ohakune. Photo: Supplied/Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust The housing development is located around Ohakune, particularly in the Korokio subdivision, named after the stream that runs through the area. "Ko tēnei kaupapa he kainga hou, Rau Korokio ko te puāwaitanga o ēnā moemoeā me ngā whainga o Ngāti Rangi," Dryden said. "This project is about building new homes, and Rau Korokio is the blossoming of the dreams and goals of Ngāti Rangi." The subdivision has a small wetland, which is of great importance to Ngāti Rangi. Providing a unique habitat for native plants, birds and fish, as well as building and weaving materials such as raupo and harakeke, medicines and dyes used for seasoning timber and restoring precious artefacts. Dryden said the main goal is that this project can benefit the whānau of Ngāti Rangi who are looking for a home. English translations provided in this article are not direct quotes. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Budget 2025: Taumarunui rail yard ready for economic rebirth
Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton says the removal of Auckland Transport commuter train carriages from the Taumarunui rail yards clears the way for new opportunity. Photo: LDR/Supplied The removal of the last derelict Auckland Transport train carriage from the Taumarunui rail yards clears the way for new economic development opportunities, the Ruapehu district mayor says. Mayor Weston Kirton says it's a turning point for the central North Island town. "Not only does it address a long-standing concern for the community, but it also opens the door for us to fully explore the economic potential of this strategically important site," Kirton said. More than 50 scrapped carriages were relocated to Taumarunui in 2016 by Auckland Transport while awaiting sale or repurposing. Kirton, a long-time rail enthusiast and active member of the Taumarunui Rail Action Centre, advocated for the carriages to be reused or re-purposed wherever possible. But they were left to deteriorate, creating an eyesore that frustrated locals and limited the potential use of the rail yard area. "It was disappointing to see the carriages deteriorate to the point that some had to be scrapped," he said. "Their poor condition made removal increasingly difficult and costly, requiring major engineering work to move them by rail, while transport by truck was also prohibitively expensive." One of the last Auckland Transport carriages is trucked out of Taumarunui. Photo: LDR/Supplied Kirton said the timing of the final removal was useful, coinciding with the Government's Budget 2025 commitment to investing $461 million into the national rail network. The investment would put the spotlight back on regional freight and infrastructure, Kirton said. "With the new pet food factory in Taumarunui ramping up production, our rail yards could once again play a vital role in enabling efficient, reliable, and low-carbon freight services." Kirton said the Taumarunui rail yards had historically been central to the district's economy, transporting timber, livestock, and agricultural products. "There's real potential for them to do so again in a way that supports modern industry and sustainability." Ruapehu District Council had been working with stakeholders and regional partners such as Accelerate35 to explore how the site could best be used to support long-term economic growth and local employment, Kirton said. "This is an opportunity for Taumarunui to re-establish itself as a key player in regional logistics and rail-enabled development. Council is keen to hear from any businesses or industry who would like to explore this opportunity." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
