CD8 Nor'West Express

Just 90 minutes from Christchurch, Mount Hutt is one of New Zealand’s most popular ski resorts. Two surface lifts and three chairlifts used to carry visitors to the highest point of the area at 2,190 meters. By building the country’s first ever 8-seater chairlift, LEITNER is delivering a further quality boost, which means shorter waiting times and the ultimate in operational safety. Running along the course of the old lift, the new ropeway takes around 3,000 people per hour straight up to the popular snow park in two minutes instead of the previous seven. Achieving that meant preparing the ropeway for the particular weather conditions of the South Island’s top winter sports area. Powered by LEITNER DirectDrive, the system was designed specifically for the weather on Mount Hutt, which is often extreme. Premium seats with vibration dampers and the application of a glycol de-icing fluid to the rope as it passes through the station ensure maximum operational safety on days that are windy or especially cold.