Poster, 'Winter Sports'

This poster is an excellent example of graphic design by New Zealand artist Marcus King, who was well-known as a poster artist for the Tourist and Publicity Department.

The opening of the North Island main trunk railway in 1908 had provided a major boost to New Zealand's fledgling tourist industry, including opening up the central North Island’s Tongariro National Park, which became a popular holiday area in the 1920s.

This poster celebrates skiing on Mount Ruapehu at a time when it was hitting its stride as a new sport in New Zealand. Skiing had begun on Ruapehu in 1913. The easiest slopes on lower Scoria Flat were the most suitable terrain for ski enthusiasts in the early years because skiing technique had not yet developed.

From the Whakapapa huts to the skiing grounds it was a walk of about 6km up a track carrying ski gear and all the other needs for the day. Only the fit and the adventurous climbed with their skis beyond. Despite the drawbacks of basic equipment and having to walk for every run, the new sport of skiing was regarded as great fun.

Competitive skiing began in the mid 1920s. In the 1930s, skiers from overseas (primarily Australia and Europe) demonstrated new techniques which had a significant impact on Ruapehu skiing. Despite the lack of formal instruction throughout most of the 1930s, the standard of skiing on Ruapehu improved all the time. More skiing was being done higher up on the steeper slopes above Scoria Flat where the snow lay on the ground for longer.