The ski season starts in July, but Ruapehu Alpine Lifts' future remains on thin ice.
The company has four potential Kiwi buyers after going into voluntary administration, driven by pandemic disruptions and poor snow.
Administrator John Fisk has outlined the other alternatives.
"Possibly going into liquidation, announcing closing or going into some sort of hibernation. But all of those have costs to them."
He says it's optimistic to believe they could open for this year's ski season, but says a number of businesses rely on it.
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