Saturday, 7 May 2016
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited (RAL) announced today that Dave Mazey has resigned from the company following 30 years of dedicated service to stewardship of the mountain and an ongoing commitment to improving the RAL offering.
RAL Chair, Murray Gribben, said: “Arguably Dave’s most significant recent contribution has been his guidance of the licence approval processes that has set the company up for the next 30 years, however, along the way there have been many other significant achievements including the acquisition of Turoa, developments at Turoa such as the High Noon Express and base area café.”
Over this time there has also been a huge amount of change for the industry itself, particularly with regard to the regulatory, technology and sustainability environment and Dave has guided the company through this change.
Dave Mazey has agreed to continue in his current role until a suitable replacement is appointed. The process of appointing a new CEO will begin next month with a national and international search.
“The Board is delighted Dave has agreed to continue as a consultant to RAL, once a replacement is found, to complete some significant infrastructure projects in the short to medium term and manage the licence renewal process for Turoa. This will allow us to tap into the wealth of knowledge and expertise he offers in managing the purchasing and installation of key mountain infrastructure and his very strong relationships with local iwi.
“He will by staying on to guide the execution of the current upgrade programme which includes: the consenting and installation of three new lifts at Whakapapa, a quad chairlift to replace the Waterfall T Bar; gondola out of the base area; an express chairlift at Knoll Ridge to replace the Valley & Knoll Ridge T Bars; increased snowmaking capacity; and a new café at Turoa,” Murray Gribben said.
Dave Mazey will also continue to work with Ngati Rangi, Uenuku and the Department of Conservation to ensure the renewal of the Turoa licence. He will also represent RAL as a Director on the governance group overseeing the partnership agreement with Ngati Tuwharetoa with respect to Whakapapa. His relationships and mana with local iwi will be invaluable in assisting RAL to strengthen the existing ties with iwi whilst we focus on preserving and protecting the cultural values and environment within the National Park.
“Dave leaves the company in excellent shape, and the focus of the board will continue to be a strategy to ensure financial resilience through the diversification of our earnings from provision of new infrastructure and a tourism focus.”
“The Board is committed to investment and making New Zealand’s best ski field even better. We have clear aims and aspirations for the ski area: a high quality tourism product that cements its place as New Zealand’s most visited ski areas,” Murray Gribben said. “We are also delighted to announce the appointment of Michelle Trapski as a Director and Debbie Birch as an advisor to the Board”.
– See more at: http://www.mtruapehu.com/winter/blog-detail/index.cfm/2016/05/dave-mazey-ral-chief-executive-calls-it-a-day-after-30-years/#sthash.NvQTIJ0v.dpuf