It's been a tough year for Mt Hutt skifield, with three deaths, an avalanche and now 1200 skiers trapped overnight in bad weather.

Many of the skiers enjoyed their night on Mt Hutt, including a quiz, hot food, and "spooning" - while at least two now have a coffee date.

About 1200 skiers - including several hundred schoolchildren - remain trapped on Mt Hutt this morning after gales of over 200km/h closed the only road off the mountain.

Around 1200 mountaingoers are still trapped at Mt Hutt skifield, with conditions still too dangerous to leave.

A skier caught in an avalanche on Mt Hutt has described how he fought to stay on top of the snow.

An avalanche closed Mt Hutt today but the mountain has now reopened and though some skiers were partially buried, no one was hurt.

Harris Mountains Heli-Ski operate in New Zealand's stunning Southern Alps surrounding the international resort towns of Queenstown and Wanaka and into the Mount Cook National Park region.

For further information see heliski.co.nz.

Doug Sherring fulfils a lifelong ambition on Wanaka's pristine backcountry slopes.

Donna McIntyre and family pack their ski gear and head for the Remarkables and Coronet Peak.

Donna McIntyre's family give their verdicts on their trip to the snow.

Head to the slopes with family in tow.

Mount Hutt ski-field will not be changing its policy towards skiing off piste after two deaths this season.

Police are investigating the death of a woman at Mount Hutt ski field in Canterbury this afternoon.