Mount Hutt in Canterbury is opening some of its slopes on Monday - the first ski area in the country to do so this season.
The ski field was expected to open on 11 June.
Ski area manager, David Wilson, says it means about half of their 220 staff will finally get to start work.
He says snowmakers have been operating 24/7 since Friday.
Mr Wilson says the Magic Carpet area and half of the main Broadway trail will be opened on Monday.
He says the other trails don't yet have sufficient snow coverage to open - but he's hopeful more snow will be coming their way by midweek.
