Ruapehu ski fields lays off 130 season staff

Mt Ruapehu is a shell of its usual snow-laden self this winter. One of the warmest, most humid AND wettest winters on record has caused minimal snow fall and retention. As a result, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which operates the Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Areas, yesterday laid off more than 130 of its seasonal staff. Sam Clarkson owns the Skotel Alpine Resort on the Whakapapa side of the mountain and also runs the Edge to Edge ski hire company. He's been through this before ... back in 1998 he experienced what locals called the season from hell.