Ski Resorts in New Zealand Reopen but with Restrictions as Covid-19 is Back
12th August 2020
Last modified on May 20th, 2021
The resorts closed with immediate effect on Wednesday but now feel they can operate under Level 2 restrictions. The new cases are in Auckland on the North Island.
The ski fields of Cardrona, Treble Cone, Mt Hutt and Coronet Peak on the South Island all shut on Wednesday as we reported in the PlanetSKI Coronavirus rolling blog.
They now feel they can reopen under Level Two restrictions.
New Zealand has its first locally-transmitted coronavirus cases in more than 100 days.
The New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said four people had tested positive from the same household.
Tūroa and Whakapapa ski areas on Mt Ruapehu in the North Island were open on Wednesday, but with social distancing and contact tracing conditions in place.
They will be open on Thursday too.
Anyone feeling unwell as asked not to visit the ski areas.
Skiers and snowboarders were asked to make a note of the areas they visited and who they met.
Now the main resorts on the South Island have decided they can open with social distancing and contact tracing rules in place.
Here is a resort spokesperson, Bridget, from Cardrona.
Only one person is allowed on a chairlift unless the others are from the same household.
Hygiene regulations are in force with restaurants limiting the number of people dining.
New Zealand will succeed in ridding the country of the virus, a health expert told the BBC.
Prof Michael Baker, the epidemiologist behind New Zealand’s virus elimination strategy, said it was “a shock” but insisted that “one thing you have to plan for is setbacks”.
Here at PlanetSKI we will be updating this article shortly so do check back….
The Obsidian Big Air, the first of five Winter Games NZ 2020 challenges, continued at Cardrona Alpine Resort on Wednesday after practice days earlier in the week.
It is a replacement for the Winter Games NZ and we previewed it earlier, New ski and snowboard competition to replace Winter Games NZ.
It was decided the event could continue as a private event with fewer than 100 people.
The Obsidian has 21 of the best New Zealand athletes from Olympic medalists through to Freeride World Tour podium winners.
There are three snow sports legends as team leaders with New Zealand’s most well-known snow sports athlete Jossi Wells being joined by one of the most versatile female freeskiers in the world Janina Kuzma and freeride pro Sam Smoothy, as the third Team Captain.
Team Jossi took out the top spot in each of the three categories today, with Nico Porteous, Margaux Hackett and Carlos Garcia Knight’s strong performances.
