Peter Hillary has agreed to become the Founding Patron of the Ruapehu Skifield Stakeholders Association. Peter has a long standing association with the skifields on Mt Ruapehu and is an avid mountaineer and conservationist.
I would be happy to join the RSSA as patron for your efforts to save operations on Mt Ruapehu and indeed Central North Island tourism. The potential loss of the two ski resorts and the closure of the Chateau would be disastrous for the region, not to mention the enjoyment and connection of so many New Zealanders with the great mountain in the heart of the North Island, Mt Ruapehu. Great days on the mountain breed an advocacy for its preservation and for its utility as a great ski/board destination for tens of thousands of passionate mountain people.
Peter Hillary met recently in Auckland with the founding members of the Ruapehu Skifield Stakeholders Association to discuss the importance of the skifields to regional tourism in the Central North Island and the role of the skifields in encouraging New Zealanders to connect with the mountains.
Peter is a regular skier and in 2016 helped rescue an injured skier on Tūroa: NZ Herald: Peter Hillary helps rescue critically injured skier on Mt Ruapehu. He is also a long-standing alpine club member on Mt Ruapehu and a (former) life pass holder.
We are proud of our father's role with opening the chairlift in 1954 and my sister Sarah and I have the RAL shares that Dad held. We are members of Tongariro Ski Club which has lodges at Whakapapa and Ohakune. We bought two RAL life memberships that have been transferred to our two children.
Peter has emphasised the importance of the skifields to the local community and to New Zealand's tourism industry. He highlighted how the skifields serve as a gateway to the majestic natural environment of Mt Ruapehu, allowing visitors to experience the thrill of skiing and snowboarding while immersing themselves in the beauty and wonder of the alpine landscape. As patron of the RSSA he will be involved in guiding and advising the association to prioritise regional tourism, conservation, community engagement and the preservation of access to the alpine environment.
To join the Ruapehu Skifield Stakeholders Association as a member, you can visit the RSSA Membership page.
