16 Aug 2018

Avalanche-damaged chairlift out of action for season

9:42 am on 16 August 2018

A chairlift damaged by an avalanche at the Turoa skifield has been deemed unsafe and is unlikely to run again this season.

A Ruapehu chairlift after the avalanche

Ruapehu chairlift after the avalanche Photo: SnowHQ

Access to the skifield's upper slopes on Mt Ruapehu was cut when an avalanche hit the High Noon Express chairlift on 6 August.

No one was injured.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts chief executive Ross Copland said a 250m section of cable needed replacing and parts had to be sent from Europe.

The upper mountain of the Whakapapa and Turoa skifields were closed after the avalanche.