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Tūroa Ski Area and the alpine town of Ohakune are set to welcome thousands of visitors for a magical Matariki long weekend, celebrating the Māori New Year with fresh snowmaking, cultural experiences, and winter fun for the whole whānau.
This year’s celebrations begin with the official Matariki mā Puanga broadcast live from Tirorangi Marae in Ohakune from 5.45am on Friday, June 20. Featuring the traditional hautapu ceremony, the Māori New Year event will be broadcast nationwide on Whakaata Māori, TVNZ 1, TVNZ+, Sky Open, PasifikaTV, RNZ, Stuff, Iwi Radio, and www.matariki.net.nz
More than 2000 visitors are expected to visit Tūroa Ski Area across the Matariki long weekend for sightseeing, snow play, and family-friendly alpine adventures. The Tūroa team are excited to announce that after some good snowmaking opportunities this week, guests can test their ski legs on the Alpine Meadow from Saturday, June 21, for early season beginner skiing and riding.
“This Matariki, we’re proud to offer a place where people can come together, reconnect, and create new memories on the maunga,” says Tūroa CEO Jono Dean.
“Tūroa provides the perfect backdrop for whānau and friends to come together, whether they are touching snow for the first time or returning as part of a winter tradition, we invite everyone to celebrate the season with us.”
Sightseeing, Freddie’s Tasting Room and retail at Tūroa’s Ohakune HQ will be open for the Matariki public holiday on Friday, with the first lifts turning for skiing and snowboarders on the Alpine Meadow on Saturday. The ski area will commence seven day operations from Saturday, June 28, and will progressively open lifts and terrain as conditions permit.
For early risers, the Ruapehu region offers some of New Zealand’s clearest skies for stargazing. Matariki, the star cluster heralding the Māori New Year, is best viewed just before dawn, making Tūroa Ski Area and Ohakune the perfect place for a reflective start to the long weekend.
