Skifields hope to open next weekend

The South Island's Coronet and Mt Hutt skifields are set to open on Saturday -- with the help of cool weather and snowmaking machines.

Mt Hutt received up to 30cm of new snow on Saturday night, which allowed snowmaking to start, according to nzski.com

It had a 20cm powder base on the lower mountain and 25cm on the upper slopes.

Cool weather was expected for the next few days.

Coronet peak was also expected to open next Saturday but had received only about 5cm snow during the weekend.

"We have snow falling and the temperatures are becoming cold," the website said.

Snowmaking started at the weekend.

- NZPA