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A30 world news
Diabierna 7 OctOber 2022

Missing snow puts famed New Zealand ski areas on precipice

(AP) — New Zealand’s company and located on op- ski areas. Set up 70 years ago
Tūroa ski area is usually posite sides of Mount Ruape- by ski enthusiasts, the com-
a white wonderland at hu. Should they be forced to pany operates as a nonprof-
this time of year, its deep close permanently, it would it. It’s exempt from paying
snowpack supporting its leave North Island, where company tax and is required
famed spring skiing. This more than three-quarters of to put any profits back into
season, it’s largely a bar- the nation’s 5 million people enhancing the ski areas.
ren moonscape, with tiny live, without any major ski
patches of snow poking areas. The National Institute of
out between vast fields of Water and Atmospheric Re-
jagged volcanic boulders. Even in New Zealand’s search found New Zealand’s
cooler South Island, climate average winter temperature
The ski area was forced to change is raising questions hit a new a record this year of
close for the season this about the future of skiing and almost 10 degrees Celsius (50
week, three weeks earlier snowboarding. The sports Fahrenheit).
than planned. have long been important
for attracting foreign tour- It was also the wettest winter
Rain repeatedly washed away ist dollars to New Zealand on record. The agency con-
the snow, and the ski area’s and form part of the nation’s cluded that climate change
50 snowmaking machines identity as an outdoor adven- was a major contributor to
proved no match against ture destination. both the extra warmth and
balmy temperatures. Climate the rain.
change appears to be a signif- At Tūroa this season, work-
icant factor, after New Zea- ers in snow-grooming ma- Professor James Renwick, a
land experienced its warmest chines spent thousands of climate scientist at the Victo- Ski areas in some countries the Rings” movies. The fer-
winter on record — for the hours pushing what snow ria University of Wellington, have increased revenues by tile volcanic soil at its base has
third year in a row. there was onto trails, allow- said that as temperatures in- opening their chairlifts to allowed market gardening to
ing expert skiers and snow- crease in New Zealand, ski- mountain bikers during the flourish, including in the vil-
The disastrous snow season boarders to take the chairlifts ing will become more unten- summer. But the ski areas on lage of Ohakune, which is
comes after the previous two to the top of the ski area for able. Mount Ruapehu can’t be- affectionately known as the
seasons were severely dis- limited runs. But there was cause they are in a national nation’s carrot capital.
rupted by COVID-19, leav- little on offer for beginners Some ski areas may even park and don’t have permis-
ing Tūroa and its sister ski or intermediates. benefit, at least initially, from sion. But Ohakune also relies on
area Whakapapa on the brink the extra precipitation driven the ski business.
of bankruptcy. But the poor season is put- by climate change if it’s cold Mount Ruapehu is stunning,
The two ski areas, which are ting severe financial pressure enough to fall as snow, Ren- an active volcano that film di- Others are hoping increased
among New Zealand’s larg- on Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, the wick added. rector Peter Jackson used as summer activity might make
est, are owned by the same company which owns both a backdrop in “The Lord of up for the skiing shortfall.

New S. Korea gov’t seeks to abolish gender equality ministry

(AP) — South Korea’s policies in a highly competi- women continue to face sys- public attention from several
new conservative govern- tive job market. Yoon said it temic discrimination. Lee said he has informed foreign policy missteps, in-
ment said Thursday it was time to launch an agency the Democratic Party of the cluding controversial com-
will push to abolish a gen- with a more comprehensive Interior and Safety Minister restructuring plans and that ments by Yoon caught on a
der equality ministry and role, saying women in South Lee Sang-min told a televised opposition party officials ex- hot mic in the United States.
create a new agency with Korea no longer face struc- briefing Thursday that gov- pressed concerns that they It said it will take strong steps
broader responsibilities, tural barriers to success. ernment policies for women would scale back the current to prevent the plans from be-
one of President Yoon Suk must be about equal rights role of the gender equality coming law.
Yeol’s campaign promises Prospects for his govern- for both men and women, ministry. Lee said under the
that roiled March’s hotly ment’s plan to scrap the min- unlike the current approach planned reorganization, the Despite gradual improve-
contested election. istry are unclear because it that focuses on resolving in- roles and tasks assigned to the ments in women’s rights,
requires approval from the equalities facing women. ministry would be conducted South Korea still has the
During the campaign, Yoon National Assembly, which is more effectively. worst gender pay gap in the
faced criticism that his vow to controlled by liberal lawmak- Lee credited the gender developed world, and wom-
scrap the Ministry of Gender ers. A women’s committee in equality ministry for efforts Lee Soo Jin, a spokesperson en remain significantly un-
Equality and Family was an the main liberal opposition to address discrimination for the Democratic Party, derrepresented in corporate
appeal to young male voters Democratic Party has vowed against women. But he said expressed regret over what boardrooms and high-profile
who oppose gender equality to thwart the plan, saying the ministry is limited in its she called the government’s government offices.
ability to handle broader ur- failure to address concerns
gent issues including gender raised by her party regarding The Yoon government and
and generational conflicts, a the restructuring plans. Elev- the Democratic Party have
shrinking population and so- en opposition members of been on a collision course on
cial problems for the elderly. the assembly’s committee on a number of issues including
gender equality, mostly from government pushes to inves-
Lee said the ministry’s duties the Democratic Party, issued tigate past incidents allegedly
would be shifted to the Min- a joint statement urging the involving the Democratic
istry of Health and Welfare government to withdraw the Party chief and other previ-
and the Ministry of Employ- plan to scrap the ministry. ous government officials.
ment and Labor. He said the Last week, the Democratic
government wants to estab- Earlier this week, a women’s Party, which has a major-
lish a new agency in charge committee in the Democratic ity in the National Assembly,
of population, family and Party issued a statement ac- passed a motion calling for
gender equality issues under cusing the Yoon government the dismissal of Yoon’s for-
the Ministry of Health and of attempting to use the re- eign minister, but the presi-
Welfare. structuring plans to divert dent refused to accept it.q