Just weeks after Mt. Hutt, New Zealand, surprised the New Zealand ski community with its earliest planned opening in 16 years, the Canterbury ski field has been forced to delay operations due to recent poor weather. Warm temperatures, rain, and wind eroded the early-season snow cover in the last couple of weeks. The resort confirmed today, May 26, that it will not open for the King’s Birthday weekend (May 31 to June 2) as hoped, citing unseasonably warm and unsettled conditions.
“Unfortunately, the last few weeks of weather have been very unkind to us and we won’t be able to open for King’s Birthday weekend as we had all hoped,” Mt. Hutt stated in on its website.
The announcement is a sharp turn from the optimism that followed a remarkable 1.2-meter (4-foot) snowfall in early May. That storm positioned Mt. Hutt to begin weekend operations from May 31—its earliest start since 2009—and provided a snow base of 20–75 centimeters (8–30 inches). With temperatures dropping below freezing and snowmaking underway, expectations were high for a strong start to the 2025 season.
The resort now has its sights set on opening the weekend of 7–8 June, but if conditions don’t improve, it will revert to its original full season launch date of 13 June. Seven-day operations are still expected to commence from 14 June, weather permitting.
Located just 90 minutes from Christchurch and known for its reliable snowfall, Mt. Hutt features 40 kilometers (25 miles) of skiable terrain, a vertical drop of 648 meters (,126 feet), and New Zealand’s first eight-seater chairlift. The ski area has won “New Zealand’s Best Ski Resort” multiple times and plays a vital role in the South Island’s winter tourism economy.
The resort acknowledged the disappointment many skiers and snowboarders may feel, but thanked them for their patience and understanding:
“We will provide further updates as conditions change – but in the meantime, thanks for your understanding!”
There is a storm front forecast to make its way across the New Zealand Alps mid-way this weekend, bringing an anticipated 1-2 inches of snow, which is not enough to make a difference. A more significant cold front is expected to move through the week after, bringing possibly up to 10 inches of snow to Mt. Hutt
