It's only six weeks until the start of the New Zealand snow season. There has been a ton of development work in the country's resorts ahead of the winter fun and games. Here's around up of what's going on:

New lift for Mt Ruapehu
MT Ruapehu is opening its new 1.4km High Noon lift this season. The lift, situated on the Turoa ski area, will transport 3,200 people an hour and will provide the biggest uphill capacity in the whole of Australasia. It's part of a five-year $NZD 60 million development programme which also includes the construction of a new retail and café area.

Snow making everywhere!
Turoa and Whapapapa are installing 25 new snow guns and constructing a new 50 million litre reservoir to help them create three times more new snow than in previous seasons.

Cardrona has unveiled a $2NZD million snow making system to cover the main basin, terrain parks and halfpipes.

Treble Cone is improving its facilities while the Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt and Roundhill are all also installing new equipment. 

Coronet Peak is adding two new Kassbohrer PB600 grooming machines to its fleet and both The Remarkables and Mt Hutt have each purchased a new Pisten Bully 600.

More room for beginners at Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak is doubling the size of its beginners ski area and adding a second conveyor carpet lift and four new snowmaking guns.

New terrain park for the Remarkables
The Remarkables are building a new Up & Go Terrain Park in the Sugar Bowl – twice the size of their previous offering. They're being assisted by one of the world's top terrain park designers – Frank Wells of Snow Park Technologies USA – to create the new set up. The park will have two 30 metre wide benched jump and rail lines.

New accommodation for Snow Park NZ
The freestylers haven near Wanaka – Snow Park NZ – is opening new on-mountain accommodation this season. There'll be apartment and bunk style accommodation for up to 76 guests.

The current proposed dates for the 2007 season are:

Coronet Peak
9 June – 7 October

Snow Park NZ
22 June – 30 September

Cardrona
22 June – 7 October

The Remarkables
23 June – 7 October

Treble Cone
26 June – 30 September