Ski season's been all white thanks to Aussie taxpayers

New figures reveal this winter's ski season was the best ever - thanks in part to snowball affect of Australians spending their recession-beating handout.

The season closes today with the final run at Turoa skifield, and operators across the country thanking Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd for giving each of his taxpayers $1100 to spend.

"We're all writing to Kevin Rudd to see if he'll do it again next winter," said James Helmore, general manager of Lake Wanaka Tourism.

Figures released today by the Ski Areas Association of New Zealand reveal 1.5 million sets of skis and boards were recorded on our slopes, the highest annual figure.

Executive director Miles Davidson said separate government and industry campaigns in Australia had helped promote New Zealand's 15 commercial ski areas and 11 club fields.

A colder start to winter brought early snow and drew the public to the mountains. The warm August brought fears of an early melt - dispelled by a bitter September and October which kept the season going.

Ruapehu Aline Lifts marketing manager Mike Smith said the central North Island fields had recorded massive visitor numbers, with Turoa more popular after arson devastated some facilities at the Whakapapa field.

The company was having to pay an extra $2 million to rebuild them after an insurance cap prevented full cover for the $10 million damage.

However, the skifield was expected to be fully operational by next season, when the start of international flights to Rotorua was expected to bring a fresh surge of Aussies.

At Mt Lyford, near Kaikoura, operator Doug Simpson said "staycations" - Kiwis holidaying from home - had also dispelled fears fuelled by the recession.

"We were really worried ... but didn't need to be. There is no recession on Mt Lyford."