Dangerous conditions near Queenstown as avalanche warning issuedJOHN BISSET/FAIRFAX NZ An avalanche warning has been issued for the mountains around Queenstown and Wanaka. The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council has issued an avalanche warning for the mountains around Queenstown and Wanaka. Wanaka Mountain Safety Council avalanche forecaster Steve Howells said conditions were "dangerous" in back-country areas around skifields and skiing was only suitable in those areas for people with avalanche training and the right equipment. Meanwhile, State Highway 6 had reopened at Devil's Staircase, near Queenstown, after rock fall blocked the southbound lane on Sunday evening. The Avalanche Advisory website's danger advisory scale was at a warning level three on Monday, which equated to "considerable" danger for areas above 2000 metres on the mountains around Queenstown and above 1000m on Wanaka's mountains.

Source: Stuff July 17, 2016 21:00 UTC