Mt Ruapheu ski season opens earlier than ever before

It's the earliest a North Island ski field has ever opened; it's blanketed in snow and ready for Kiwis to hit the slopes.

Whakapapa's Happy Valley ski area is the first field to open this winter season, a whole month before its usual scheduled opening day.

The valley's early opening has been aided by its purchasing of the country's only Techno Alpin SF210 All-Weather Snowmaking System.

It's allowed the ski area to make sufficient snow to open its Double Happy Chairlift for Queen's Birthday Weekend, in spite of recent rain and warm temperatures.

Mt Ruapehu marketing manager Matt McIvor said their opening day was a success, with bright blue skies and 100 per cent visibility.

"I can still see people heading out for a ski... It's definitely a good turn out for the first day, people aren't used to skiing this early in New Zealand."

McIvor said it would take awhile for people to realise Happy Valley was open to the public, but seeing a healthy crowd today was "just awesome".

At 2.30pm 826 people had walked through the lift gates to enjoy the snow.

He added it was a good opportunity for beginner slope riders to learn before the field got busier later in the year.

The field usually looks pretty bare at this time of year, McIvor said.

"If we didn't have this piece of technology we definitely wouldn't be able to do it".

Newly purchased carpet lifts are also set to open when conditions allow.

The Valley's "Snow Factory" also blasted a snow pile into the Happy Plaza for guests who weren't skiing or snowboarding, so they could get their first touch of snow for winter 2017.

Mt Ruapehu chief executive Ross Copland said he was "extremely proud" of the work his team had done to transform the valley to open over the long weekend.

Copland said it was a unique opportunity for locals and visitors to ski and snowboard over Queen's Birthday Weekend.