Ski field workers around the country are on reduced hours while the wait continues for a significant snow fall.
Lisa Farrell and Joe McGuire from Waikato admiring the view at Mount Hutt on the opening day last month. Photo: SUPPLIED/Bindy Egden
Many fields have had to close or delay opening, because of the lack of snow.
Operators say they are making the welfare of their staff a priority.
NZ Ski, which owns Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mount Hutt, said staff were warned in advance it could be a late season.
Treble Cone near Wanaka has been closed since the start of the season due to poor snow conditions.
Yesterday the Mount Ruapehu skifields announced they were delaying their opening.
Mount Hutt has been one of the areas to suffer from rain and warm temperatures and its general manager James Urquhart said the conditions were affecting staff.
"Some of our staff have been on not as many hours as they'd wish to be on at this stage, but they're still all working and still surviving OK which is great and that's our priority with our staff."