Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said in an advisory at 9.40pm on Monday that State Highway 1 was closed between Rangipo and Waiouru, but that was lifted at ...
The Whakapapa, Tūroa and Tukino skifields are all closed due to high winds. The company said those hoping to use the skifields should check later on Tuesday whether they could be opened on Wednesday. Snow had stopped falling on the Desert Rd as of 9am on Tuesday and the clouds were breaking up over the Central Plateau at that time as well. "The weather system bringing that snow is on the way out," Corrigan said. MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan said there had been heavy snow for much of the Central Plateau and its surrounding high country. The Desert Rd has reopened after being closed overnight, but the Mt Ruapehu skifields remain shut due to high winds.
Both sides of Mt Ruapehu were closed on Tuesday, but should be open later this week as fine weather is forecast.
“All of our eggs are in the tourism basket, and this is being challenged by climate change. “It's a great news story that it's been snowing ... Ruapehu District Council Waimarino/Waiouru Community Board member John Chapman lives on the Tūroa side of the mountain and said the snow was good news for local businesses who relied on the mountain for their incomes. “Due to the weather, we are yet to get up higher at Tūroa to review.” Tūroa ski area manager Johan Bergman said the Tūroa side of the mountain received up to 30cm of snow overnight. [closed down due to a lack of snow last month](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300669151/more-than-130-staff-made-redundant-at-mt-ruapehu--troa-skifield-closed) resulting in the loss of more than 130 jobs on the mountain.