Season passes for the mountains went on sale on Monday, with Queenstown early-bird passes that give access to Coronet Peak and the Remarkables skifields retailing for $880, up $90 on last year.
NZSki general manager sales and marketing Craig Douglas said NZSki had worked to keep price rises to a minimum, but "providing and developing world class ski facilities doesn't come cheap".
The rise comes on the back of a raft of developments at both of the Queenstown skifields to be completed for the start of the 2011 season.
Coronet Peak Ski Area manager Hamish McCrostie yesterday said a new beginners' trail was completed and work was continuing on widening and flattening the bottom of the Big Easy trail.
"We also have three new snow guns going up the lower Big Easy here and three more pits in which we'll put mobile guns on up in the new 3B trail," he said.
There will also be a "magic carpet" lift providing access to the beginners' area from just above the creche.
The Otago Daily Times last month reported that Remarkables Ski Area manager Ross Lawrence was seeking permission to create two new trails and modify two existing trails in time for this season.
Mr Lawrence confirmed yesterday consent was granted and work was under way.
In addition to the proposed track work, about 12 new snow cannons are to be installed, subject to NZSki board approval.
NZSki general manager sales and marketing Craig Douglas yesterday said the new pricing for the season passes was influenced by a number of factors, not just the ongoing development.
"Even to stand still there's a cost rise anyway - there's the cost each season to operate the skifields, irrespective of the ongoing developments that are going on to improve this area to attract more visitors ... GST is part of it, and that's a pretty straightforward cost into the business that we have to wear, and we have to pass that on."
A Facebook page called We want Doc to revoke NZSki's concessions, was set up on Monday in reaction to the increase in price of the season passes.
Page creator Mark Moran, of Queenstown, said on the page that consideration should be made as to whether the Doc land was being used for the public good of New Zealanders.
"I see it as locals are effectively being slowly shut out of access to our skifields in favour of higher returns from day pass/week pass sales to Australians ... It is about a large company which has become successful through support from the community, turning its back on that community in favour of profits," Mr Moran said.
Mr Douglas said the site was somebody's obvious reaction in thinking that the pricing was too high, but he could not understand how anyone could come to that conclusion.
The Queenstown early-bird passes are only available to residents of Southland and Otago or those who held a season pass last year.
"All our guests are important and valued, however, the locals early-bird sale is about benefiting local people and our most loyal mountain visitors," Mr Douglas said on Monday in a press release.
Yesterday, he also said that all NZSki developments had not been officially released yet, so the public did not necessarily see where the money was going.
"Developments don't necessarily happen in a single year. It takes many years of work and we may have to incur a cost up front which may not be visible for years."
Word on the street:
NZSki "locals only" season passes
• Hannah Wilson, England
"I'm not going to be here long enough to get one, but I think, if people are here for the purpose of skiing, they have to be prepared to pay what it's worth. But a lot of people I have spoken to have been struggling financially, so the increase may be a bit too much for people."
• Tessa Tyler-Todd, London
"As a backpacker who is a bit cash-strapped, it would have to be really worth it to buyers and the added price would be a turn-off. It would just come down to if you really wanted it."
• Matthew Shallcrass, Queenstown
"I don't think I'll get one as I'm not the biggest skier, but I think that, with development, labour and the GST increase, with all these costs, I think at some stage that has to be passed on to the consumer."
• Gary McGill, Queenstown
"I'm going to buy one. It's quite expensive for what it is. I have had seasons in France and Canada and what we get for our money there is a lot better than here, but I think people have to remember where they are in the world ... It's good that you can pay it in three installments."
