He's used to the ski season being subject to weather and snowfall.
"We deal with mother nature on a yearly basis, but having to deal with a pandemic is something else. It's heartbreaking because there's nothing you can do about it."
Stu Robinson owns Kings Hotel and is the chairman of the Ohakune Events Charitable Trust. Photo / Bevan Conley
Ohakune had planned a spring event, the Ohakune Blues & Roots Festival, for October 2. It was to be run by Audiology Touring, the organiser of the Ohakune Mardi Gras.
However, the festival has been postponed until next year, due to uncertainties about Covid-19 alert levels.
The Ruapehu district is now in alert level 3, with everyone staying home. Businesses can open for only contactless delivery, and people have been urged to shop locally.
"There's a number of really good venues around," Robinson said.
"Those that open will be sharing a relatively small pie, but something is better than nothing."
August and September are the best months of skiing on Ruapehu. Two-thirds of Ohakune's visitor business happens in those months, and Robinson is still hopeful about the season.
Skiing may continue until Labour Weekend, Covid-19 restrictions may ease further, and this time last year it had surprisingly high numbers of domestic visitors.
Jono Dean is the chief executive of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts. Photo / Supplied
The 600 staff working for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) on Mt Ruapehu "stopped dead" when the lockdown hit, chief executive Jono Dean said.
He had to sign up those who were willing for the Government's wage subsidy to keep the seven-days-a-week business going.
"This particular period of the year is really our peak season," Dean said.
"There's nowhere better in New Zealand to be skiing."
Auckland is a major source of visitors to Ruapehu, and a lot depends on its alert level. Skiing is permitted in level 2, but numbers on the mountain must be down 30-40 per cent to allow for social distancing.
The mountain can host 5500 on a good day. Under level 2 it's 2500 to 3000 at most, Dean said.
He's getting indications people are pretty keen to come.
The good snow was still there, Visit Ruapehu general manager Jo Kennedy said, and things had been looking really good until the lockdown hit.
"The whole mountain was open, on both sides, Tukino too. Everyone was expecting massive weekend bookings."
Since then everyone has been "basically shut".
"No one is complaining about it. It's just a little bit sad really," she said.
Like the operators, she's hoping Auckland will be in level 2 for the October 2-17 school holiday, and that skiing will continue until Labour Weekend.
