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Missing snow puts famed New Zealand ski areas on precipice

Mt. Ruapehu, an active volcano that film director Peter Jackson used as a backdrop in "The Lord of the Rings" movies, is seen from near Ohakune, New Zealand, on Sept. 20, 2022. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) Sam Yates, who was laid off in mid-August from his dream job as a ski instructor at Tūroa, poses in Ohakune at the base of Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand on Sept. 20, 2022. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) Ben Wiggins, the managing director at the TCB Ski, Board and Bike shop in Ohakune, near Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand, poses for a photo on Sept. 21, 2022. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) This photo shows the village of Ohakune, near Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand on Sept. 22, 2022, which is affectionately known as New Zealand's carrot capital thanks to its renowned market gardening in the fertile volcanic soil at the base of Mt. Ruapehu. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) Skiers make the most of the very little snow at the Tūroa ski field, on Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand on Sept. 22, 2022. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) Johan Bergman, the ski area manager at the Tūroa ski field, poses fo a photo at Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand on Sept. 21, 2022. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) Teresa Mochan, restaurant manager and shareholder at the Osteria restaurant in Ohakune, New Zealand poses for a photo on Sept. 22, 2022. New Zealand's Turoa ski field is usually a white wonderland at this time of year, its deep snowpack supporting its famed spring skiing. But this season it remains a barren moonscape, with tiny patches of snow poking out between vast fields of jagged volcanic boulders. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) The ski slopes are almost devoid of snow at the Tūroa ski field at Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand on Sept. 21, 2022. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) The learners' slope is almost devoid of snow at the Tūroa ski field on Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand on Sept. 21, 2022. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) The ski slopes are almost devoid of snow at the Tūroa ski field, on Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand on Sept. 22, 2022. A disastrous snow season has left two of New Zealand's largest ski fields on the brink of bankruptcy, with climate change appearing to play a significant role. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)
Missing snow puts famed New Zealand ski areas on precipice