Mother Nature’s cruel blow?

Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, June 25th, 2011 - 18 comments
Categories: climate change, economy - Tags: ,

Things are bad for the ski industry:

No snow: Mother Nature’s cruel blow

Unseasonably warm weather is keeping skiers off the slopes and putting pressure on the multimillion-dollar ski industry at popular tourist destinations around New Zealand.

Weather analysts expect snow to fall soon, but none of the main skifields – including Turoa and Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu in the North Island and Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak and the Remarkables in the South Island – are open. …

Ski Areas Association spokesman Miles Davidson said 1.4 million people visited the country’s 25 skifields last year. “It’s huge for the economy, especially in regions like Canterbury, Southern Lakes and Ruapehu.

I’m sure that everyone sympathises, and hopes that the snows come soon. Even so I can’t help but feel that the headline is a little over the top. “Mother Nature’s cruel blow?”. Seems to me there’s a fairly strong case that humanity threw the first punch.

18 comments on “Mother Nature’s cruel blow? ”

  1. Jenny 1

    Global warming…..

    A clear and present danger…..

    For once the Herald tells it like it is…..

    From Australia:
    Life getting harder for many despite mining boom

    Like the North Sea Oil Bonanza which delivered no long term benefits to Scotland or other North Sea countris – The drive by Big Coal for more mines in this country will leave no long lasting social and economic benefit for local communities and businesses.

    On the contrary, increased coal mining will definitely leave terrifying and long lasting environmental risks for generations.

    The only ‘Social Good’. the huge profits to be extracted along with the coal that will be shipped off shore or shovelled into the bank accounts of a few privileged locals.

    The mining lobby are not only proven environmental vandals, but they are also social and economic vandals as well. Their only concern is for the profits accrued to themselves. http://www.campaignformmp.org.nz/Damn the communities where the mines are sited, damn the environment, damn the safety and welfare of the mine workers. Profit is all the mining lobby are concerned with.

    • ‘We’ have been crapping on indigenous people for hundreds of years, in our mad rush to strip all natural resources, like Guano for our farmers, or slaves for the US economy etc, Inca gold, American Indians for their land The Niger Delta is another one, the ‘norm’ is for multi national companies to move into a country and strip mine whatever they want ,,, like Amazon trees, or Texaco in South America leaving massive amounts of carcinogens all over the landscape and throughout the water table, strip mining the oceans. Tin miners for our cell phones.
      So nothing new with coal mining in Australia or New Zealand, it is just happening in our back yard for a change, stripping our land to produce milk for the planet is just another form of mining, which is also turning our country into a cesspool.
      We as part of the rich west have benefited form all this rape and pillage, just like we benefited from the Japanese nuclear power industry (Sony TV anyone?)
      So it is kind of what goes around comes around. We have passively sat and watched or consumed everything the mining companies have done or created, another great example of planet fuckers are baby’s nappies, every maternity ward is in fact a factory to manufacture exploiters … us.
      Maybe it is a case of let he/she without sin cast the first stone.

  2. weka 2

    “I’m sure that everyone sympathises, and hopes that the snows come soon”
     
    I sympathise – I know people that will be hurting in their weekly pay packets if the ski season fails this year – but I don’t hope the snow comes soon. Failure of the ski season this year would be one of the best things for making NZers think about how ridiculously dependent our economy is on things we can’t control like the weather and oil dependent tourism. Over the next 20-50 years it’s likely that that we will have more years of no snow, best we start preparing for that now (we’re also likely to see a collapse of tourism due to peak oil, best we prepare for that too).
     

  3. Colonial Viper 3

    This reinforces Professor Callaghan’s point that we can’t rely on tourism, it generates too little income per employee (I think the figure was around $80K of tourist revenue per tourism sector employee) to ever create many good paying jobs.

    We have to look at creating and supporting industries where $50,000 p.a. and $60,000 p.a. jobs are the usual, not $13/hr and $14/hr jobs.

  4. J Mex 4

    This is a dangerous game to play, Anthony.

    If you want to accept this season as evidence of global warming, then you have to accept the 2008 NZ ski season (one of the best and longest ski seasons in many decades) as evidence against it.

    • NickS 4.1

      This.

      Anyhow, this years problems lie firmly on La Nina which has pushed temperatures up and stopped polar air making it’s way to NZ. Though increases in average winter temps due to climate change isn’t exactly helping either.

      Also, snow fall relies not only on sub zero air temps, as sufficient air moisture is also needed for snow formation. So the slightly drier winter conditions in the south aren’t helping either, as often the big Nor’west events during winter can dump close to 50cm of snow down to 1600m in the right conditions in Arthur’s Pass and the Inland + Seaward Kaikoras. Along with snow fall on the +2000m areas of the Southern Alps, such as the ice fields which feed the glaciers.

      So yeah, this winter’s more a case of multiple weather problems, all of which are probably linked to the current La Nina event, and the ski fields probably wont be opening till late July unless we get a significant southerly front. But with the current weather patterns resulting in highs rolling off Australia and dragging in warm air and so screwing up usual winter weather patterns I don’t expect one anytime soon…

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2

      Actually, as I understand it, they could both be evidence for global warming. Warmer air carries more water resulting in record snow dumps when the conditions are right but, IIRC, the North Island is expected to get drier overall with some places (The Central Plateau being one) being even drier.

    • weka 4.3

      “If you want to accept this season as evidence of global warming, then you have to accept the 2008 NZ ski season (one of the best and longest ski seasons in many decades) as evidence against it.”
       
      Does it matter? We know CC is happening. We know that local weather patterns are something we need to take into account when planning our lives and futures. Who cares if snow or lack of it is a result of CC or something that would have happened anyway. Is it even possible to separate those two things out now? Unless you are a CC scientist or someone trying to rebuke CC deniers, I can’t see the point.

    • r0b 4.4

      If you want to accept this season as evidence of global warming

      Ahh – where did I say that exactly?

      All the post meant to say (with link to the Guardian piece on extreme weather) was that as extreme weather events become more common (and that includes both no snow and excessive snow), we shouldn’t blame “mother nature”, we should blame ourselves.

  5. randal 5

    blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.

  6. aj 6

    We are only 3 weeks into 3 month’s worth of winter. It only takes one decent storm. Having said that, Queenstown may be a great place to buy a house later this year….
    Meantime, those with longer memories recall the bad snow years of the late 60’s and 70’s…

  7. RedLogix 7

    It’s certainly been a weirdly warm winter so far. But what’s really odd is just how warm the nights are… rarely dropping below 9 degC apart from the few nights clear enough to have been frosty.

    You really have to hope that this IS just weather.

  8. Afewknowthetruth 8

    Damn! Does this mean NZ will now have to spend $1 billion trying to win back the Americas Cup to keep tourists amused?

    (Warmer oceans = more likely it will snow. Warmer land = more likely the snow will melt on impact.)

  9. M 9

    ‘Seems to me there’s a fairly strong case that humanity threw the first punch.’

    Very apt – humans thinking they can go to the Mother Nature casino and win. It’s dumbarses like Key and Brownlee who haven’t yet discovered that the house always wins and who keep trotting out the same message of growth that will only serve to hasten our destruction.

  10. millsy 10

    Im more worried about the workers at the skifield. What do people expect them to live on, fresh air?

    • Colonial Viper 10.1

      There is no doubt that we need more jobs in a more diversified economy. And that tourist operations around the country are currently struggling.

  11. nadis 11

    And yet the Australian ski resorts are having one of their best season openings ever.

    I think the sooner both sides of the debate refrained from “it’s really hot/cold today, that proves/disproves AGW” the sooner a proper scientific discussion can take place.

    Anecdotes are great but for every + anecdote someone else has a – one.

    But in that vein I do remember ski season at Whakapapa usually started on Queens Birthday weekend (late 70s/early 80s).

    I write this from the Southern Lakes district and there are lots of seasonal workers (generally visitors to the region) struggling already. Cardrona is providing free lunches to staff next week, NZ Ski has been distributing food parcels.

  12. JonL 12

    It’s still only June, fer chrissakes…..

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T14:37:47+00:00