Outcome
On 30 April 2025, Director-General Penny Nelson (as the Minister of Conservation’s delegate) announced that Whakapapa Holdings 2024 Limited has been granted a 10-year concession to operate the Whakapapa ski-field.
When making the decision to grant the concession, the Director-General considered information received from iwi consultation and the public notification process. The reasons for the Director-General’s decision are set out in the decision letter.
- Decision letter (PDF, 232K)
- Concession document (PDF, 2,849K)
- Easement (PDF, 549K)
- Lease for house 53 (PDF, 496K)
- Lease for house 54 (PDF, 496K)
- Lease for house 55 (PDF, 496K)
- Lease for house 56 (PDF, 496K)
- Lease for house 57 (PDF, 496K)
- Lease for house 58 (PDF, 497K)
- Deed of surrender (PDF, 1,435K)
- Objection and submission summary report (PDF, 580K)
- Recommendation and decision report (PDF, 2,176K)
This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application for a lease/license/easement concession.
Submissions closed 7 February 2025.
Applicant
Applicant: Whakapapa Holdings 2024 Limited
Location of proposed activity: Whakapapa Ski Area, Tongariro National Park
Concession applied for: Lease,licence and easement
Summary of proposal: The Department has received an application for a concession (lease and licence) by Whakapapa Holdings 2024 Limited to operate the Whakapapa Ski Area for a period of ten years.
Application document (PDF, 11,207K)
The application covers the Tongariro National Park - Whakapapa Ski Area.
Main activities include:
- Lease over buildings with a license for all other land within the current ski area boundary.
- Aircraft use for Helicopters and Drones to support the day-to-day operation of the ski field.
- Filming may be used for advertising purposes within the Whakapapa Ski Area.
- Lease for six accommodation buildings within the Whakapapa Village that are currently occupied by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited.
- Easement for water pipeline from the Waipuna Stream to the Whakapapa ski field.
Submissions received
1. Overview of submissions (XLSX, 230K)
This document contains a comprehensive list of all submissions. Scroll through the list to find a name and respective submission number (WHL-2024-##) and submission.
Open the file and scroll down to locate a name. The submission number (WHL-2024-##) will be listed next to the name.
2. Submission documents (PDF, 20,291K)
This document includes all the attachments submitted along with the submissions listed in the Excel document. It features a table of contents, to look up a name and submission number to find the corresponding attachments.
Open the file and use the table of contents to find a name and submission number. This will guide you to the section containing the attachments.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, email us mtruapehusubmissions@doc.govt.nz.
Hearing audio recordings
Hearings were held in Turangi between 17 and19 February 2025.
- Whakapapa Holdings Limited Hearing - Day 1 Monday 17 February
- Whakapapa Holdings Limited Hearing - Day 2 Tuesday 18 February
- Whakapapa Holdings Limited Hearing - Day 3 Wednesday 19 February
Contact
If you have a question about the application contact Joke Methorst and Lynette Trewavas, Permissions Advisors: mtruapehusubmissions@doc.govt.nz