If clear skies, solid crowds and decent snow weren’t enough, Cardrona Alpine Resort also had Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on-site waxing lyrical about the skifield for the 2020 ski season open day today (Friday June 26).

The months of uncertainty over whether the 2020 ski season would go ahead made the open day even cheerier than usual. 

A crowd of 400-odd people formed ahead of the prime minister’s arrival at 11.30am, which was celebrated with a traditional Māori welcome, a kapa haka performance by Mount Aspiring College students and a waiata from children at the new Wanaka primary school Te Kura O Take Kārara. 

The PM speaking at Cardrona (43 sec)

Tourism minister Kelvin Davis, mayor Jim Boult, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and chief executive Mike Theelen also attended.

Open day saw busy trails at Cardrona. PHOTO: Minnie Gilmour

The prime minister admitted it was her first time at Cardrona and that she wasn’t a skier, but promised she’d be back again to try skiing when there were fewer cameras pointed her way.

“My message is I will be back, and my message to New Zealanders is come here,” Jacinda said. "To every Kiwi that may be watching this, come and visit your backyard because you are so blessed to have it.”

Plenty of people took the opportunity to try to get a photo with the PM. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Jacinda pointed out the “enormous effort” it had taken to have Cardrona operating this year. 

“To anyone who has been part of that effort, I thank you.”

Abby, Sally, Bodhi (3), and Lillian (5) Jackways, walking up the access road in the morning, were “so excited” and proud to be there on opening day. PHOTO: Wanaka App

The Prime Minister’s trip to the snow was followed by a visit to Queenstown, where she and Kelvin Davis announced a central government partnership with Queenstown which will help unlock around $300 million of projects and create about 320 direct jobs. 

The government will contribute $85 million, to the Queenstown town centre project ($35M) and stage one of the Queenstown arterials programme ($50M). 

The sun came out for open day. PHOTO: Minnie Gilmour

The funding does not appear to specifically benefit Wanaka or other parts of the district.

Kelvin Davis and conservation minister Eugenie Sage also announced $25M of support to tourism operators affected by COVID-19 this afternoon. 

A young MAC student meeting the PM after the kapa haka performance. PHOTO: Wanaka App

The package will see tourism concession fees normally charged by the Department of Conservation, including management and monitoring fees, waived for the period March 1, 2020 until the end of June 2021.

Cardrona Alpine Resort communications executive Jen Houltham said almost 2,000 people took to the mountain for open day. 

“It was a fantastic opening day for us,” she said.

Treble Cone will open tomorrow (Saturday June 27). The Snow Farm opened last Saturday (June 20).