New Access To Ruapehu

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30072, 5 March 1963, Page 18

New Access To Ruapehu

“Th* Pr*ss“ Special Service WANGANUI, March 3. The snowfields on the south - western slopes of Mount Ruapehu were opened to skiers yesterday when the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) officially opened the new Ohakune mountain road.

The road is-the product of a community project which began in 1910 when the Ohakune Alpine Club carved a track from Ohakune Junction to the Blyth Hut. Local people failed to convince successive Governments that the area was worth opening up, but in 1952 the Ohakune Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce received permission from the Tongariro National Park Board to put a road through from the junction to Blyth Hut.

The original route was altered by the Ohakune Mountain Road Association; now it ends at the 80ft high Mangawhero Falls, some nine miles from the junction. A mobile ski-tow has already been installed by Ohakune interests. The* national park board has plan* for establishing an alpine village 700 ft above the present road junction, and the board is now conducting a two-year

survey of anew conditions above the mountain road. The opening of the road brings to an end the battle which this small community has had to convince others that the scheme was worthwhile. A grant of £2500 was received from Golden Kiwi profits, but before this, the 1700 people of Ohakune had contributed £12,000 —£7 a head—in cash, materials and voluntary labour. Finance was boosted some years ago when Mr Goosman inspected the road and contributed £5 to the association. It was invested on one of Mr Goosman’s racehorses—at his suggestion—and increased the association’s funds. Help came from other sources, too. The Army called in its engineers to bridge two

Addington Workshops Choir Members of the Addington Workshops Male Voice Choir were complimented on the choir’s activities by the founder and patron, Dr. V. Griffiths, at the annual meeting. Dr. Griffiths emphasised the need for more members. The conductor (Mr C. Martin) reported that he had prepared some new songs for this year. The new secretary of the W.E.A., Mr N. A. Parsloe, gave a short address. Officers elected were: chairman, Mr J. Noonan; secretary, Mr H. Chapman.

mountain streams, and assistance was received from the National Roods Board and the Ministry of Works.

The road has been described as one of th* most beautiful forest roads in New Zealand.

The nearest ski-field is only one mile and a half from the end of the mountain road.

A village area near the Mangawhera Falls catering for youth organisations and with provision for carparking, sewerage and water is visualised, with a village for skiers at the 7000 ft level The new road ensures access to the slopes for this season's ski-ing.