Sheep grazing near Mt Ruapehu, Central North Island

Mt Ruapehu is the highest mountain in the North Island, peaking at 2797 metres above sea level. It is also the hub of the North Island ski scene, boasting three skifields: Whakapapa and Turoa on the western slopes, and the smaller Tukino skifield to the east. The former two are extremely popular during the winter months, when people from all over New Zealand and from overseas travel to the mountain to take advantage of its generous winter snows. It is not uncommon for Ruapehu’s ski fields to have snow bases of over three metres by the end of winter, meaning that skiing is still possible by late spring and even into summer on some occasions.

Ruapehu is also one of New Zealand’s most active volcanoes, being located in the southwestern part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone that extends northeastwards through to the Bay of Plenty and beyond. Eruptions here are relatively frequent as far as volcanoes go, and as recently as 1995 and 1996 Ruapehu belched out steam, rocks and ash in a series of moderate eruptions that lasted for several months. Heavy ashfalls from these eruptions ruined two successive ski seasons, inflicting millions of dollars’ worth of losses on local business which are heavily reliant on the busy ski industry.

Ruapehu’s ash deposits, however, also form rich volcanic soils on the ring plain that surrounds the mountain, supporting a thriving rural economy based on sheep farming and cropping, primarily carrots, the latter of which the nearby small town of Ohakune is well-known for.