Department of Conservation grants concession to Whakapapa Holdings Limited, securing operations ahead of the 2025 winter season
The future of Whakapapa Ski Area has been confirmed, following the formal approval of a new concession for Whakapapa Holdings Limited (WHL) to operate the mountain.
The Department of Conservation has granted WHL the necessary concession, a key step in the long-running process to secure the future of one of New Zealand’s most significant ski fields. The approval allows WHL to move forward with the final stages of acquiring full ownership of the Whakapapa operation.
“This is the moment the team has been working toward for two and a half years,” said WHL Director Tom Elworthy. “The concession doesn’t just represent progress – it marks a new starting point. It gives us the certainty we’ve been missing, and everything flows from here. Whakapapa has a future – and it starts now.”
The transaction is currently underway and is expected to be completed shortly.
WHL is expected to release further updates soon regarding the 2025 winter season, including information on season passes, opening dates, and planned activities on the mountain.
Whakapapa, located on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, is one of three ski fields on the mountain, along with Turoa and Tukino – and a key part of the local community. The concession approval ends a period of uncertainty for both skifield and the broader tourism industry.
Further details will be announced as the transition progresses.
