NZSKI has banned foot passengers from using its chairlifts in the wake of an incident at Coronet Peak last season in which an Auckland couple were injured.
The woman's leg was broken in four places. There had been fears her leg would have to be amputated, but doctors managed to save it.
The ban will come into effect this season and will be across all three of NZSki's skifields - Coronet Peak and the Remarkables, both in Queenstown, and Mt Hutt, in Canterbury.
The exception will be commercial paragliders on Coronet Peak, who will continue to be able to use a chairlift for themselves and their gear.
Before the ban, sightseeing passengers and those on the way to the tubing park at the Remarkables could board certain lifts - the Express at Coronet Peak, Alta and Shadow at the Remarkables and the Express six-seater at Mt Hutt - without skis or a snowboard.
NZSki chief executive James Coddington said in light of last year's incident the company had reviewed its foot passenger procedure.
Additionally, the tubing park had been moved down beside the learner slopes at the Remarkables.
Tubers would no longer have to use the chairlift and Mr Coddington said the likely effect would be an increase in the popularity of the tubing park.
He said last year staff had tried the area for tubing and found the gradients were suited to the activity.
With the move, the number of tubing lanes will be reduced from three to two.
Mr Coddington said internationally, it was rare for skifields to allow foot passengers on chairlifts.
''It has a detrimental effect on skiers and snowboarders,'' he said, as lift staff were forced to stop the lift for foot passengers to load and disembark.
In Queenstown District Court on Monday, NZSki defended charges under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
Information supplied to the Otago Daily Times from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said the incident on August 2, 2012 involved two people falling from a chairlift on Coronet Peak, causing injuries to both.
The first charge NZSki faces is failing to take all practicable steps to ensure no hazards arose (namely, a fall from heights) to people who had paid to undertake an activity and the second relates to an employer failing to ensure the safety of people who were not employees.
The victims were granted final name suppression and the case has been adjourned until April 22 for a status hearing.
