10/12/2024
“Māku te ra e tō ana; kei a koe te urunga ake o te rā”
“Let mine be the setting sun; yours is the dawning of a new day"
- Whakataukī, Māori proverb
Today we share a second and monumental step into winter 2025 – a likely new owner of Whakapapa, Mt Ruapehu.
Cabinet yesterday pledged to support Whakapapa Holdings Limited (WHL) in its endeavour to purchase Whakapapa ahead of the 2025 winter season. Kānoa - the regional economic development unit - said that this gives “certainty to the local communities and businesses in the district that Whakapapa will open in 2025”.
An interminable 791 days have passed since voluntary administrators were appointed to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts. This update, by far, the best news that Whakapapa's community has received in this time. CE Travis Donoghue said that today brought elation to the entire Whakapapa team, who carry excitement to join WHL in a renewed future for the ski area.
A condition of the purchase of Whakapapa remains the need to obtain a concession to operate from the Minister of Conservation. Expect a fourth step into winter 2025 to be announced on this in due course.
And yes, we missed a third step! We expect to be in a position to share Whakapapa's 2025 winter product and pricing ahead of Christmas 🎄
