Image: Jimmy Johnson | DOC
Majestic Mount Ruapehu reflected in the water as viewed from the Desert Road.
Pure Tūroa Limited to operate Tūroa ski field
Pure Tūroa Limited has been granted a 10-year concession to operate the Tūroa ski-field.

Date:  06 April 2024

Ko Tahuarangi te waka – Tahuarangi is the ancestral vessel

Ko Rangitukutuku te aho – Rangitukutuku is the fishing line

Ko Pikimairawea te matau – Pikimairawea is the hook

Ko Hāhā te Whenua te ika kei rō-wai – Hāhā te whenua is the fish (of Māui) whilst under the ocean

Mai te Kāhui Maunga ki Tangaroa – From the mountain clan to the sea

Ko au te awa ko te awa ko au – I am the river and the river is me

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has announced that Pure Tūroa Limited (PTL) has been granted a 10-year concession to operate the Tūroa ski-field, ensuring the 2024 ski season will go ahead and giving certainty for the future.

This decision follows a four-month concession process run by the Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai, which included iwi engagement and consultation, and public notification and hearings. Feedback from this process was considered by the Minister when granting this concession.

“The 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,” Mr Potaka says. 

“The 10-year concession allows for outstanding Treaty settlement negotiations to unfold and gives greater protection to iwi and hapū interests and responsibilities, including the future park negotiations, whilst ensuring the continued operation of the ski-field.  

“The summits of all maunga in Tongariro National Park are especially important for the iwi and hapū as well as all New Zealanders. That’s why PTL’s concession includes provisions for the Department of Conservation to carry out enhanced monitoring and a three-year review to ensure the field is operating effectively and in a way that benefits everyone,” says Mr Potaka.  

The previous ski field concession held by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) will be surrendered to allow the new PTL concession to come into effect. Whakapapa ski field remains under the ongoing management of RAL’s receivers.

Ita, ita mau tonu.

Ki a Pure Tūroa Limited te whakahaere mō te Papa Retireti o Tūroa  

Ko Tahuarangi te waka

Ko Rangitukutuku te aho

Ko Pikimairawea te matau

Ko Hāhā te Whenua te ika kei rō-wai

Mai te Kāhui Maunga ki Tangaroa

Ko au te awa ko te awa ko au

Kua whakahuatia mai te whakaaetanga e te Minita o Te Papa Atawhai, e Tama Potaka kia riro mā Pure Tūroa Limited (PTL) te tekau tau ki te whakahaere i te papa retireti i raro o Paretetaitonga ki Ruapehu e eke anō ai ia mō te kaupeka retireti o 2024, ka tau hoki te āpōpō.

He mea whai tēnei whakataunga nā ngā mārama e wha i pau ai ki ngā hui, kōrero hoki i kawea e Te Papa Atawhai kia whirinaki ai ki ngā hononga ā iwi, ki ngā pānuitanga me ngā huinga ā hāpori. He mea arotake ēnei tikanga hei whirinakitanga mā te Minita i a ia e whiriwhiri ana te anga whakamua.

“Mā tēnei whakaaetanga e taea ana e te tinimano tāngata te ngāhau, te whai oranga ki te Tongariro National Park - koia tētahi o ngā wāhi taurikura whakaharahara o te motu mō ngā tau kei te heke mai,” hei tā Minita Potaka.

“Ko tā te whakaaetanga tekau tau he whakawātea i te ara tukutuku Tiriti me te whakanui i te haumarutanga ki ngā aronga me ngā māwhaiwhai nui ā ngā hapū me ngā iwi, otirā, ngā whakawhitinga kōrero mō te whenua ki te anamata, ka taea tonutia te whakahaere i te retireti hukapapa.

“He tino whakahirahira te kāpunitanga o ngā pae o te Kāhui Maunga ki te Puku o te Ika ki ngā iwi me ngā hapū ka hono ā whakapapa ki a ia, otirā, ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa Niu Tireni. Koinā ka taea e Te Papa Atawhai te aroturuki i te whakaaetanga a te toru tau kia kite hoki i ngā piki me ngā heke o te papa retireti kia tau ngā hua ki te marea,” hei tā te Minita Potaka.

He mea hauraro te tuku o te whakaaetanga papa retireti ō nanahi i mauria e Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), kia āhei ai te reihana whakaaetanga PTL hou te whakaara ake.

Ka ū tonu te mana whakahaere mō te papa retireti o Whakapapa ki ngā kaihopu o RAL.

Ita, ita mau tonu.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz