Eric Ferguson
Taupō office
37 Motutaiko Street
[FYI request #34060 email]
Taupō, 3330
doc.govt.nz
Ref: OIAD-6175
20 April 2026
Tēnā koe Eric
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation, received on 13 March 2026, in
which you asked for:
“A copy of all letters and emails sent or received by the Department of Conservation to
or from Whakapapa Holdings (Whakapapa Ski Area) and Pure Turoa (Turoa Ski Area)
between 1 December 2025 and 13 March 2026”.
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982.
On 24 March 2026 we emailed you requesting clarification of your request by Friday 27 March
2026, however we received no response.
On 13 April 2026 we extended the timeframe to respond to your request to 21 April 2026 due to
the consultation necessary to make a decision on the request.
The documents you have requested are listed in the attached Appendices. Please see
Appendix 1 for in scope information relating to Pure Turoa Ltd and
Appendix 2 for information
relating to Whakapapa Holdings Ltd (WHL). Please note that item 18 in Appendix 2 refers to a
general email circulated to multiple parties with an interest in the area and should not be read as
relating specifically to WHL’s activities.
I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed above, subject to
information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official
Information Act, as applicable:
personal contact details of officials, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of
natural persons, including deceased people,
information, under section 9(2)(k) – to prevent the disclosure or use of official information
for improper gain or improper advantage.
Please note, some of the information has been redacted as it is out of scope of your request.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the
Official Information Act and determined there are no public interests that outweigh the grounds
for withholding.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an Ombudsman
as provided by section 28(3) of the Official Information Act.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached documents may
be published on the Department’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Damian Coutts
Director Regional Operations
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
2
Appendix 1 – Schedule of documents – Pure Turoa Limited
Item Date
Document description
Decision
1.
08 December
Email: RE_ PTL & DOC End of Winter
Released in part
2025
Beginning of Summer Operations
Meeting
2.
23 February 2026 Email: RE_ Snomax
Released in part
3.
23 February 2026 Email: RE_ Snomax
Released in part
4.
02 March 2026
Email: DOC_PTL Operations
Released in part
Meeting(s)
5.
10 March 2026
Email: RE_ DOC_PTL Operations Hui
Released in part
3
Appendix 2 – Schedule of documents – Whakapapa Holdings Ltd
Item Date
Document description
Decision
1.
02 December
Email: Re_ Request for discussion on
Released in part
2025
Village Transport
2.
8 December 2025 Email: Re_ TONGARIRO FIRE
Released in part
UPDATE - 8 DECEMBER 2025
3.
09 December
Email: RE_ 10_00 AM - Department of
Released in part
2025
Conservation - Tongariro National Park
Fire Update
4.
18 December
Email: Far West T-Bar site ad Dogs in
Released in part
2025
the TNP
5.
18 December
Email: Re_ Ruapehu District Council -
Released in part
2025
Code of Compliance Certificate
reminder for Whakapapa Skifield
project
6.
18 December
Email: RRIR Project
Released in part
2025
7.
09 January 2026
Email: RE Works Approvals
Released in part
8.
09 January 2026
Email: RE_ Works Approvals
Released in part
9.
14 January 2026
Email: RE_ Bruce Road Works
Released in part
10.
14 January 2026
Email: RE_ Bruce Road Works
Released in part
11.
15 January 2026
Email: RE_ Application Tussock
Released in part
Tavern by Whakapapa Holdings 2024
Ltd and Nga Puia 2023 Ltd
12.
22 January 2026
Email: Village Transport
Released in part
13.
27 January 2026
Email: FW_ Bruce Road Reseal works - Released in part
27 January - 31 March 2026
14.
29 January 2026
Email: Iwikau Ski Club Grease Trap
Released in part
Cleaning - Tomorrow
15.
31 January 2026
Email: Re_ Iwikau - Bruce Road Loop - Released in part
Millings for Ski Club lodge Areas
16.
02 February 2026 Email: RE_ Village Transport
Released in part
17.
11 February 2026 Email: RE_ Whakapapa Stakeholder
Released in part
Meeting
18.
12 February 2026 Email: FW_ UPDATE OF DIESEL
Released in part
SPILL BRUCE ROAD_ TONGARIRO
NATIONAL PARK
19.
13 February 2026 Email: RE_ SMP
Released in part
20.
14 February 2026 Email: Echo avalanche dog training
Released in part
notification
21.
19 February 2026 Email: Guest Comms
Released in part
4
22.
20 February 2026 Email: RE_ Notification of Search dog
training - Whakapapa February 19th,
20th
23.
20 February 2026 Email: FW_ Off the Grid filming
Released in part
24.
20 February 2026 Email: Dog training
Released in part
25.
20 February 2026 Email: RE_ Catch Up – Welcome
Released in part
Haere ra sign
26.
24 February 2026 Email: RE_ Burst gasket on the
Released in part
watermain located in the Villas 1-5
carpark, Ngauruhoe Terrace
27.
26 February 2026 Email: Reconsideration of redundant
Released in part
infrastructure - Schuss Haus and West
Ridge
28.
2 March 2026
Email: Joint Venture Agreement
Released in part
29.
09 March 2026
Email: RE_ Reconsideration of
Released in part
redundant infrastructure - Schuss Haus
and West Ridge
30.
10 March 2026
Email: DOC_WHL
Released in part
5
