When the country comes to ski and snowboard on Ruapehu or tramp on Tongariro, they get there via roads currently fully funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
But Ruapehu District Council say a change in funding structure could see it have to look for alternative funding for assets which are enjoyed by the whole country.
NZTA is reviewing its Funding Assistance Rate (FAR) which determines how much government subsidises district councils to maintain its roading network.
Presently NZTA fund 100 per cent of the maintenance for "special-purpose roads" which include the Ohakune Mountain Rd and the Bruce Rd to Whakapapa, which Ruapehu and the Department of Conservation are responsible for.
Ruapehu chief executive Peter Till believes the FAR for special purpose roads could drop to the same level as the districts other roading at 63 per cent. He said it would mean an additional $200,000 a year would have to be found.