Mackenzie mayor is defending a social media post that urged people to “please consider not visiting” Lake Tekapo during the long Matariki weekend, after heavy snowfall led to major disruption. Multiple outlets report the post was published in response to the weekend’s weather and the resulting travel difficulties and local impacts. The mayor says the message was intended to reflect conditions on the ground during a period when roads and access were affected by snow.
Coverage across outlets focuses on the mayor’s decision to stand by the plea even as it received attention and debate from visitors and tourism stakeholders. The reports note that Lake Tekapo experienced significant snowfall over the holiday period, contributing to what some sources describe as snow chaos. While the outlets differ in phrasing—ranging from “steer clear” to “reconsider” and “not visiting”—they describe the same core action: the mayor publicly highlighted concerns about traveling to Tekapo during the snow event. The reports do not indicate a change in the mayor’s position since the weekend.
