A heavy dumping of snow has been a blessing in disguise for southern ski fields.
More than 85cm of snow fell on top of Mt Hutt overnight in Canterbury.
Staff have had to keep up with the dumping, trying to dig out their buildings after snow made their office barely visible.
Further downhill snow fell on the alpine pass between Christchurch and Greymouth.
Roading contractors were kept busy on Porters Pass, clearing 20cm of snow.
All the highways were kept open but some motorists were required to fit chains which proved a chore for tourists.
"This is the first time we've used chains, that's why, we don't really know how to make it," one tourist told Newshub.
The race is now on up the mountain to dig the snow dump out and get ski fields open on Tuesday.
Newshub.
