Cold blasts fuel bumper snow season 

Source: NZ SkiThe Remarkables

New Zealand skifields have had their best season ever, with a record 1.5 million visits to the slopes around the country.

A combination of good conditions and more Australians - reportedly here spending their $1100 tax payout meant to help stimulate their own economy - saw last year's record of 1.4m visits easily topped.

Australians made up 32% of skifield visits, up from 30% last year.

Increased government spending on tourism promotion in Australia helped draw them across, Ski Areas Association of New Zealand executive director Miles Davidson says.

The country's 15 commercial and 11 club fields are delighted the 1.5 million mark had been broken, he says.

"They haven't just scraped through, they have smashed it."

The season wasn't any longer than normal, but it got off to a good start with cold weather early, all ski areas open and all terrain and all lifts open, Davidson says.

The early cold weather got people thinking about snow sports and got the domestic season kick-started.

Colder temperatures mean more snow and also make snow making easier.

"The industry has invested a lot of money in snow making since 1990 and that investment is gearing the industry to deliver," Davidson says.