However, it was \u201ca blunt instrument\u201d that would not come close to covering infrastructure costs created by \u201chuge numbers of visitors\u201d in a district with only 8000 ratepayers to fund local services through rates.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s certainly positive that the government have stepped up, somewhat, to address the issue,\u201d Kirton said.<\/p>\n
However, with no major source of local income beyond rates, the small ratepayer base would continue to bear the infrastructure costs of a nationally significant tourism destination.<\/p>\n
\u201cSadly, we don’t have any other source of income other than rates, and when you look at the makeup of our community with low-income groups and a relatively high level of deprivation, I think we’ve got a long way to go to address those issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ruapehu district faced major pressures from tourism, including on wastewater, drinking water, roads, parking, waste collection and other services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe [plan for] visitor-levy sharing doesn’t cover anywhere near the costs that we need for our community, when we have such an influx all year round now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve got some serious issues with wastewater, with drinking water.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Turoa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/ski-field-DS2NA7QDEZBWPEESOZSSSCFKNU.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Turoa ski field on Mount Ruapehu, overlooking Mount Taranaki in the distance. (Source: Getty)<\/p>\n
Last month\u2019s water supply emergency in Ohakune \u2013 when a break in the town\u2019s raw water intake pipe left people without water during the height of the ski season \u2013 was an example of the financial strain facing the council.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe incident we had just two or three weeks ago was just what we’re saying \u2013 we couldn’t have that water line connected to the new plant, because we couldn’t afford it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohakune experiences large winter influxes to the two Ruapehu ski fields, while attractions such as the Tongariro Crossing, Whanganui River canoeing, the Tongariro and Whanganui national parks, and cycling bring visitors throughout the year.<\/p>\n
None of that came with the funding to support infrastructure development \u201cthat we desperately need\u201d, Kirton said.<\/p>\n
Ruapehu\u2019s infrastructure burden was unusual because of the district\u2019s relatively small permanent population and dispersed communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a rating base of around 8000 ratepayers and to accommodate their needs in various communities, we have six wastewater treatment plants to address, so it’s a unique situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Chateau](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/chateau-tongariro-WPD474LYDRGE7BXTMRQX52WOFU.jpg\")
<\/p>\n