Mt Ruapehu’s Sky Waka - opening a boost for tourism
Mt Ruapehu’s Sky Waka gondola opens today and is expected to be a ‘game changer’ for tourism in the central North Island.
The gondola travels 1.8km from the top of the Bruce base area to the Knoll Ridge Chalet and at peak times is expected to carry 2400 people per hour. In June 2018, council chose to buy $1 million of investment bonds in the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts project, which attracted funding from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, Ruapehu District Council and iwi.
Mayor David Trewavas said the investment had not had an impact on rates, as it came from the TEL fund, which has a diverse investment portfolio including property, bank deposits, shares and bonds.
“Not only is this a good, sound investment, it is a game changer for the tourism industry here. The gondola brings a whole new dynamic to Mt Ruapehu, making it an all-year-round destination, with something spectacular for families and visitors in the summer months, as well as skiers in the winter. We have a really good relationship with our neighbour Ruapehu District Council and it was a fantastic collaborative effort with all involved working together for a great outcome.”
-TAUPŌ DISTRICT COUNCIL
Lisa was born in Auckland at the start of the 1970s, living in a small campsite community on the North Shore called Browns Bay. She spent a significant part of her life with her grandparents, often hanging out at the beaches. Lisa has many happy memories from those days at Browns Bay beach, where fish were plentiful on the point and the ocean was rich in seaweed. She played in the water for hours, going home totally “sun-kissed.” “An adorable time to grow up,” Lisa tells me.
Lisa enjoyed many sports; she was a keen tennis player and netballer, playing in the top teams for her age right up until the family moved to Wellington. Lisa was fifteen years old, which unfortunately marked the end of her sporting career. Local teams were well established in Wellington, and her attention was drawn elsewhere.