Tāwhiri, Waiouru

02/05/2023

Rotokura - magical, even on a grey day

13/04/2023

https://facebook.com/events/s/anzac-day-2023/156559850340788/

12/11/2022

6.20pm; better than expected 🙂

05/10/2022

Springtime in Waiouru

17/09/2022

11.30am; cloud piercer

11/09/2022

https://www.facebook.com/276946669056595/posts/5936338063117399/?sfnsn=mo

08/09/2022

30/08/2022

https://www.facebook.com/42322565416/posts/10166390296475417/

“Ka mahi te tawa uho ki te riri”

“Well done, you whose courage is like the heart of a tawa tree”

- Whakatauki / Māori proverb

9 days closed
376 hours of grooming
1053 km travelled
510 hectares ground covered

And the result? Tomorrow, the team at Tūroa will open the High Noon Express.

We said we needed 20-30cm - we haven’t had that. But our groomers and snowmakers have made the impossible, possible, pushing snow from everywhere and anywhere, and firing up the snow guns as soon as temperatures cooled.

We expect to see the High Noon open in the morning. The team are aiming for 10am, although acknowledge there is a lot to do in setup, so please bear with them, and keep an eye on the report for latest.

Access is via the Movenpick, with access to Little Bowl, Snowbird, and Upper Freeway. The Alpine Café and Giant Café will also open.

https://www.mtruapehu.com/turoa/report

The dream lives! - what a mighty team you are.

📷 : Bendy

24/08/2022

Sad news from the mountain

It's all about the High Noon from here.

As seen on the webcams, and as noted on our report page, Tūroa has been significantly impacted by the unseasonal weather of the last two weeks, and really, all season. The seasonal influence of La Nina has hit hard, as we've received well below our all-time average in snowfall this season. This has affected our operations, our people, and our community.

As a result of reviewing our operations, and considering our nearing halfway point in the season, a decision has been made at Tūroa to focus our attention on the High Noon Express, and at this stage, the High Noon only. At a higher elevation, the highest of any lift in New Zealand, this terrain has a greater chance of snow accumulation to that of other lifts.

The High Noon is not currently operational, requiring a minimum of 20-30cm to get going again, and when we get that, it will be our focus. Until then, sadly, Tūroa will remain temporarily closed.

With fewer facilities operational, the ski area management teams have had to rationalise their efforts heading into the second half of our winter. This review has, very unfortunately, impacted our people. In the next week, we will say goodbye to around a third of our total team of 405 people, and the largest impact of that will be seen at Tūroa.

In these heart breaking times - both seeing the maunga as it is, and also having to say goodbye to our colleagues - we remain grateful for the empathy and support our off and online community has shown us.

It doesn't end here, not even close. We will await the snow, of which there is some in forecast, and continue to look to opportunities to rebuild. Our operational teams are committed to working tirelessly with that they have.

Kia kaha.

📷 : Sticky, taken this morning.