Pay more, play longer at Ruapehu

Mt Ruapehu.

Mt Ruapehu will charge season pass holders $20 a day to ride the lifts following Labour Weekend after pushing out its projected closing date for Turoa.

Mt Ruapehu Alpine Lifts said at the weekend it would keep two lifts on the Turoa side open after October 27 as part of its Snovember season.

But because it was outside usual winter operational dates, season pass holders would have to pay extra after previous November openings ran at a loss.

Pass holders will pay $20 a day for adults and $10 for youth during Snovember, which runs from October 28 to November 9.

Day passes for non-season pass holders have been cut from $70 to $49 for an adult and from $42 to $29 for youth, as only the Movenpick and High Noon Express chairs will be working between 10am and 4pm. The beginner area will be closed.

Snowboarder Jeremy Corner, who has been working as a bar manager in Ohakune during winter, said being charged potentially another $260 for 13 days on top of the $493.58, including the cost of a new card and credit card fee, he had already paid for a 2014 season pass was "wrong".

"They've never charged before for extending the season.

"It's always been ... a season pass that went to the end of the season," said the 32-year-old.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts customer relations manager Annah Dowsett defended the move and said charging the fee to season pass holders was the only way it could afford to keep the mountain open in November.