Ski parties invited to join field

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK

Up to five Turoa Ski Resort bidders will begin due diligence next week to consider buying the ski field.

The ANZ Bank put the financially troubled Mt Ruapehu ski resort into receivership in March following two poor ski seasons and problems caused by the Mt Ruapehu eruptions.

PricewaterhouseCoopers receiver Gary Traveller said several New Zealand parties had registered indicative bids during the past six weeks and a reduced number of parties would be invited to begin due diligence next week.

Several overseas parties are also expected to register their interest in the ski field during the next two weeks via Trade New Zealand, which has been working on behalf on PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr Traveller said snow-making equipment worth $500,000 would be installed this month. Turoa is due to open on June 23 depending on snow levels. Although he would not say how many season passes had been sold to date he said sales had been "well in excess of expectations."

The sale of the North Island ski field is expected to be completed by July.