A sprinkling of snow has finally allowed Mount Cheeseman ski field to open after long delays

It's a mild four degrees on the range about an hour and a half from Christchurch -- with spring-like snow conditions.

Mountain manager Sam Timbrell says fresh snow finally arrived in flurries from last weekend and through the week.

Timbrell says last year was tough... with no international staff or tourists to hit the slopes.

He says to add to injury, there was no snow in July - and then consistently high temperatures in August - until it finally cooled down in September.