Wanaka, New Zealand – Following a return to Lee family ownership on April 1, General Manager Sam Lee has now indicated that there’s not enough time following the transition to get Snow Park NZ up and running for the 2013 ski and snowboard season.

“We can now reveal that the plan for 2013 is that we will not be opening on a regular basis to the public.” Said Sam Lee, General Manager.  “We had hoped we could get on our feet sooner but we needed more time than we have had.”

Best efforts have been hampered by the volume of work and capital required, Lee said. The team have made the decision to pause and get their bearings, and approach the future of Snow Park responsibly to their customers and trading partners.

“We have worked hard to underwrite the season and provide the Snow Park we have all come to know and love, but time has been against us from the start,” said Lee. “This is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make, with the level of functioning assets, I know we cannot provide the world-class terrain we have become known for.”

Snow Park NZ is prepared to stay closed for the 2013 winter as it plans to restructure itself moving forward.

“While this is bad news for the 2013 winter, its about the long-term success of the brand, venue and assets. As a family we are passionate about the industry and Snow Park, but we have to be socially and fiscally responsible to our customers and our partners.”

Lee has not ruled out operating on an ad-hoc basis, and plans for this will be released when there is more certainty about what will be provided. They will still be running their on-site accommodation this winter, and the facilities will also be available for events and functions.