Skifield operator NZSki remains confident it can keep Coronet Peak and the Remarkables topped up with snow-making, but that is dependent on temperatures, at least overnight, remaining cold.
Coronet Peak ski area manager Nigel Kerr said it had been "blessed since Queen's Birthday [weekend] with some reasonable and ongoing snow-making conditions".
From opening on June 15 for sightseeing only, in one week he noted enough snow was made to open three chairlifts from top to bottom.
A lot more snow had been made than this time year, and the skifield was taking every opportunity to make snow.
"There's been quite a few nights where we thought, `nah, we won't get any snow-making', but we've actually got snow-making away.
"We won't give up."
Over the hill in Wanaka, things were a bit tougher for the Treble Cone team.
Richard Birkby, brand and marketing manager, said they were doing all they could to help staff while the mountain remained closed, including feeding them.
"We are putting on a programme of activities to keep people entertained, and in a good head space, and we'll keep doing that activity schedule until we are open again."
He was keeping fingers crossed for snow this weekend.
"Accommodation is something they provide themselves, so when they get a contract they are expected to provide their own accommodation.
"At the moment they have been paid for the shifts that they've done but until they start work again they are waiting.
"For three weeks we have been running a fairly full crew up there, getting the restaurant ready, snow-making, the grooming team working with the new cats that have arrived, lift maintenance. That period finished on Monday."
The staff were told during their induction there might be a stand-down period due to lack of snow.
By Philip Chandler
