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Turoa

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Coordinates: 39°18′16″S 175°31′38″E / 39.30456°S 175.52731°E / -39.30456; 175.52731
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For people named Turoa, see Turoa (name).
Tūroa Skifield
LocationMt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
Coordinates39°18′16″S 175°31′38″E / 39.30456°S 175.52731°E / -39.30456; 175.52731
Top elevation2,322m
Base elevation1,623m
Skiable area1,235 acres (500 ha)
Trails34 named
Lift system8 lifts: 5 chairs (1 Detachable Sixpack, 2 Quads, 2 Triple), 2 Platter lifts, 1 Magic carpet
WebsiteMt Ruapehu - Tūroa
Base of Tūroa skifield in winter

Turoa (or Tūroa[a]) is a skifield on the south western side of Mount Ruapehu, the highest mountain in the North Island of New Zealand, in Tongariro National Park. The area has been used for skiing since before the completion of the Mountain Road; however, the first lifts opened in 1978. Turoa was owned by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts from 2000, a company that also owned the nearby Whakapapa skifield, also on Mt. Ruapehu. After liquidation of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts in 2023, the field was purchased by Pure Turoa. The field has been operated by Pure Turoa since April 2024.

Features

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There are two beginner areas, and many intermediate and advanced trails. The upper field is a mix of natural pipes, steep drops, fast plains, and easier slopes, along with several terrain parks. The lower field contains the field's single narrow beginner trail, Clarry's Track, and a few other intermediate trails.[3] They also serve as access to the base area from the upper mountain, and are often crowded.[4]: 25  The field is 496 hectares (1,230 acres) and has about a 690 metres (2,260 feet) vertical drop from the top chair to the skifield base.[5]: 5 

On a good day, it is possible to hike to the top of the mountain with skis or snowboard in hand, view the Crater Lake, and then ski back down to the field, or to Whakapapa. Also on a clear day Mount Taranaki can be seen.

Access

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The skifield is reached via the Mountain Road from the town of Ohakune. The Mountain Road was built by locals from Ohakune, mostly during weekends after they formed the Mountain Road Association in 1952.[4]: 19  [6] Their aim was to open Ruapehu's southern slopes for skiing, partly as a replacement industry for the decline in logging which had sustained the town for the previous decades.[citation needed] The now renamed Ministry of Works helped with the road on one occasion by 'misplacing' a culvert destined for another roading project.[citation needed] The 17 kilometre road was opened in 1963, reached Turoa by 1967 and became a legal road in 1973.[6] It winds up through spectacular native forest before breaking out above the tree line and finishes at a complex of carparks below the bottom chairlift.[4]: 19–20 

History

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The High Noon Express

In 1995, skiers were evacuated from the skifield when a small volcanic eruption occurred at the crater lake, ejecting rocks, ash and steam.[7]

In 2007, a high speed six-seater chairlift, the High Noon Express was installed, replacing an existing T-bar to the top of the skifield. The lift had several faults after being installed, such as cable derailments. In winter of 2010, two pylons on the lift collapsed, and the lift was redesigned with 15 new shorter pylons instead of 10 higher pylons in the original design and was open 2011 season. The redesign required relocating an older fixed grip quad chair which previously passed under the lift.[8]

There was an accidental diesel spill in 2013 and after this the number of tanks and total storage was reduced. [4]: 26 

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts

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In 2022 following a poor snow season attributed largely to climate change,[9] Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, the parent company of both Whakapapa and Turoa skifields, entered voluntary administration in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy.[10] The company is a not-for-profit business that was established by members of ski clubs in 1953.[10] In August 2022, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts laid off 130 workers[11] and its total debt climbed to over NZ$30 million. The financial situation of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts deteriorated rapidly following disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to secure additional funds from investors or the New Zealand government initially failed.[10]

However, in December 2022, the government provided a $6 million loan to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, to help ensure that both Ruapehu skifields could operate in winter 2023. This was in addition to $15 million provided in 2018 from the Provincial Growth Fund.[12]

Pure Turoa

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After the liquidation of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts in 2023, the ski area was purchased by Pure Turoa in March 2024. A ten year Department of Conservation concession was obtained by May 2024,[1] and the ski area reopened for the 2024 season in June.[13][14]

The concession required that the Nga Wai Heke quad chairlift was removed. The concession granting process was later identified as having flawed engagement with the Iwi. An outstanding issue is if managed retreat in relation to skifield activities is appropriate.[2]

As of 2023 the Tūroa and Whakapapa Ski Areas on Mount Ruapehu were the only commercial ski areas within the North Island of New Zealand.[15]: 11 

Lifts

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There are three proposed ski lifts at Turoa, which are due to be complete before 2030. A new Quad express set to be positioned west of the high noon express, to give better access to where the old Jumbo T-Bar used to operate near. The existing Giant fixed grip chairlift is set to be replaced by a new detachable quad express. A gondola is planned to be constructed on Turoa, replacing both the Parklane and Movenpick chairs, starting at the base area and terminating at the location of the top station of the Movenpick chair with a mid station allowing for access to the Wintergarden beginners area.[16]

Lift Name Type Ride Time Capacity and Speed Starting Elevation Vertical Rise
High Noon Express Six seater detachable chairlift 6 min 3200 people per hour, 5 m/s 1924m 398m [17]
Movenpick Chair Quad chairlift 15 min 2000 people per hour, 2 m/s 1620m 307m
Giant Chair Triple chairlift 12 min 1200 people per hour, 2.5 m/s 1747m 310m
Parklane Chair Triple chairlift 7 min 1200 people per hour, 2 m/s 1620m 136m
Alpine Meadow Platter Platter lift 2 min 720 people per hour 1600m 12m
Wintergarden Platter Platter lift 2 min 720 people per hour 1760m 20m
Alpine Meadow Carpet Lift Magic Carpet 2 min 360 people per hour 1605m 10m

The comfortable capacity of the skifield as of 2023 was 4,800 skiers per day, having been higher in the past and after proposed upgrades will reduce to 4,500 skiers per day.[15]: 15 

Notes

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  1. ^ As of July 2024 Patutokotoko had not agreed to allow the rights of the name Tūroa to be commercialised.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Potaka, Tama. "Concession applications in respect of Turoa ski area" (PDF). Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b Howell, Azaria (8 July 2024). "Government considering new marae and cultural hub in Ruapehu after 'flawed' engagement with iwi". Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Pure Tūroa Limited Tūroa Ski Area, Mt Ruapehu Application for Licence and Lease Proposal Outline and Environmental Impact Assessment. Form 1a :Appendix 1 License and Lease Area Plans" (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai). 8 December 2023. pp. 1–13. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Pure Tūroa Limited Tūroa Ski Area, Mt Ruapehu Application for Licence and Lease Proposal Outline and Environmental Impact Assessment. Form 1a:Appendix 9 Draft Indicative Development Plan" (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai). 8 December 2023. pp. 1–32. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Pure Tūroa Limited Tūroa Ski Area, Mt Ruapehu Application for Licence and Lease Proposal Outline and Environmental Impact Assessment. Form 1a:Appendix 3 Assessment of Landscape and Visual Effects -LA4" (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai). 8 December 2023. pp. 1–25. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Ohakune Mountain Road". Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Skiers Flee Eruption in New Zealand". Los Angeles Times. 24 September 1995. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  8. ^ Donoghue, Tim (1 March 2011). "Turoa's High Noon chairlift gets rebuild". Stuff. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  9. ^ Morrison, Tina (12 October 2022). "Ruapehu ski field crisis a climate change 'wake-up call'". Stuff. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "Troubled Ruapehu skifields operator put into administration, owing millions to govt, iwi and bank". Newsroom. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Third of staff laid off at major New Zealand ski field as warm winter leaves slopes barren". the Guardian. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Govt gives extra boost to keep Ruapehu skifields running". RNZ. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Pure Tūroa celebrates 'electric' first season". New Zealand Herald. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Green light for Pure Turoa questions remain over Whakapapa's". RNZ. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Pure Tūroa Limited Tūroa Ski Area, Mt Ruapehu Application for Licence and Lease Proposal Outline and Environmental Impact Assessment. Form 1a :Appendix 2 Cheal Consultants Policy Assessment dated December 2023" (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai). 8 December 2023. pp. 1–54. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  16. ^ Louisson, Simon (3 April 2007). "New Zealand: We have lift-off at Turoa". NZ Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  17. ^ Louisson, Simon (2 April 2007). "New Zealand: We have lift-off at Turoa". NZ Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
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