Ski staff seek aid from Work and Income

Skifield workers have turned to Work and Income New Zealand for financial assistance as they struggle to make ends meet while their employers remain closed.

Work and Income southern regional commissioner John Allen said Queenstown-based staff had dealt with about 100 skifield workers from both Queenstown and Wanaka.

"Work and Income staff have been working closely with skifields to ensure that ski staff unable to work are getting the support they are entitled to."

Mr Allen was unable to specify the exact amount of taxpayer money paid out to assist those skifield staff who have been left out of work, due to a lack of snow.

The support available to the affected skifield workers was based on their individual circumstances and could include assistance to pay for rent and food, he said.

Queenstown skifield Coronet Peak shut their slopes last Monday and stood down all their non-core staff without pay.

The skifield managed to open for five days after its June 7 season start, before warm temperatures made snow-making impossible and kept the mountain closed until yesterday.

Coronet Peak has run an employee programme in the interim, which has provided barbecue lunches, day trips, and activities for affected staff, CEO James Coddington said.

Snow Park general manager Sam Lee said the company had been in touch with Winz and about 20 of its 70 full-time staff were exploring their options for financial assistance.

The freestyle terrain park had planned to open on June 13, but a burst of unseasonable weather had melted snow and made conditions impossible to operate in, he said.

Work and Income spokes-woman Kathy Gibbs said the department was unable to provide definitive totals as to how many skifield workers had claimed an "emergency hardship benefit".

Ms Gibbs said Work and Income eligibility criteria ruled out any skifield staff seeking assistance who were not New Zealand residents.