When you’ve finished carving up the slopes and want to explore off-mountain, admire the views, and soak up the ambiance, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the ultimate winter getaway in Ruapehu. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA 1.      A stargazer’s paradise With two national parks side by side, Ruapehu is a natural dark sky area in the Central Plateau. No traffic lights, minimal light pollution, pristine skies, and a vast natural wonderland all around you – Ruapehu is a true stargazer’s paradise. Check out the information panel about stars and planets at the Ohakune Carrot Adve ..read more

This morning at 10am, Pure Tūroa launched its Season Pass sales. The team was absolutely delighted that everything went to plan smoothly, with customers wide and far complementing the process, happy to secure their Season Passes. Jason Beaudry commented, “I got mine, I cannot wait to hit the mountain. If the website is any indication, Pure Tūroa is a smooth operation.” The Pure Tūroa team gathered together to watch the sales come in live on a big-screen. By 10.10am, 1,000 people had already picked up their Season Passes, and by 10.13am sales had reached the one million dollar mark. Cameron Rob ..read more

supplied by Legasea Cameras onboard commercial fishing vessels have exposed the environmental cost of destructive, indiscriminate fishing techniques. Since the installation of cameras on 127 vessels, the volume of reported fish discarded has increased by 46 percent and interactions with protected species, including seabirds and dolphins, is more than double what was previously reported. Around $30 million has been invested in the camera programme so far, and it seems that it is money well spent given that the footage has exposed a greater level of wastage than has been estimated. This level of ..read more

Chasing his dream for greatness, New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde continues to hustle to be the best in the world. In the new documentary ‘Hayden Wilde: Determined for Greatness’ the world-champion triathlete returns to his hometown Whakatāne to tell his story with the people and place that impacted and shaped him into the athlete he is today. New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde is on a journey to be one of the best in the world, and isn’t far from it. The 26-year-old’s determination, resilience and talent has seen him earn two course records, claim a world title, and provide him with the confidence ..read more

Common consumer myths busted The Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) is turning 30 and Consumer NZ is on a mission to bust some of the most common misunderstandings about the Act. “Whether it’s making sure the products you buy last, or getting what you’ve paid for from a service provider, the CGA is about protecting you,” says Gemma Rasmussen, head of advocacy and research at Consumer. Consumer is New Zealand’s only independent tester and advocacy organisation. The not-for-profit has shared the most common misunderstandings that its customer support team and advisors have seen over the last few deca ..read more

  A big part of trail running and dabbling with ultra marathons requires coming to grips with the fueling required to keep you going.  I did a little experiment to test my body’s requirements: Runs up to one hour- nothing required. 1 to 1.5 -water 1.5 to 2 hours,  a gel at 1 hour, water every 30 mins 2-3 hours a gel every 45 mins, water every 20 mins. 3 hours plus gels and water, up to 3 hours and then some real food. Electrolytes become more important in these longer races. The big thing with nutrition is that you need to experiment during training. Never try anything new on r ..read more

The latest release from Camelbak is the Apex Pro running vest. I was sent one to test drive and I had some deep thought on how I would put it through it’s paces.   I usually use a back pack for my distance races with the thought that I can carry more water and not have to waste time topping it up. This tactic did not pay off in the Kepler last December when I ran dry for the last 10k. I was lucky that there was a supermarket set up on the trail that saved me from dehydration. I was keen to try a quality running vest and Camelbak have come to the party. I could easly refill the small bottl ..read more

In the wake of a surprising exit from the 2024 Margaret River Pro, the surfing world is humming with the news: Kelly Slater, the legend, has missed the mid-year cut and found himself technically relegated from the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. But as the sun sets on one chapter, a new dawn emerges, promising adventures beyond the competitive arena. MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 16: Eleven-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater of the United States surfs in Heat 3 of the Elimination Round at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro on April 16, 2024 at Margaret River ..read more

Mt Ruapehu, Monday 15 April 2024: Winter is on at Whakapapa with its 2024 season passes launching today, set to bring even more magic, perks, and the best value skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand.     Supplied by Whakapapa Whakapapa is focused on its mission to provide more kiwi kids with affordable and accessible opportunities to develop their love of snow sports. The 2024 season will see tamariki aged 10 and under ski and snowboard for free with the “purchase” of a child season pass before Wednesday 15 May 2024. Rediscover ..read more

“Reports are coming in of a death on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing,” begins the somber tale. “A 71-year-old is reported to have died after falling, and as a result, a Rāhui has been placed on the track — meaning there will be restricted access to the area,” explains Ngāti Tūwharetoa spokesperson Bubs Smith. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased,” she adds with a heavy heart. Colin Baker, owner of Ruapehu Scenic Shuttles, shares the grim news with a profound sense of regret, saying, “It is with deep regret to inform you of a death on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing this ..read more