John MacDonald: We should be doing this on our highways too

Author: John MacDonald,
Publish Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2026, 12:28pm

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The cold blast brought a welcome dump of snow, including to Mt Hutt. Photo / George Heard

If only the people who run Mt Hutt Ski field were also in charge of our roads up and down the country.

Because I think it’s brilliant what they’ve done after a few muppets turned up there at the weekend and decided the request to use chains on the access road didn’t apply to them.

Which meant, of course, they got stuck.

Not only that. They got stuck and caused something like a two-hour delay for a lot of the other people using the road and wanting to get up the mountain and make the most of the brilliant skiing and snowboarding conditions.

In fact, the delay was so significant that they kept the mountain open for an hour longer than usual at the end of the day to make up for the disruption.

But the reason I think Mt Hutt should be in charge of all our roads is that they actually did something about this situation at the weekend.

The very next day, they brought in an $800 fine for anyone who ignores their request or their instruction to use chains on the access road.

And I’m thinking that, if a ski field can do this, should we be doing the same on public roads? Yes we should.

The council in Queenstown has seen the light on this one and, earlier this year, announced a $750 fine for drivers who don’t use chains when they’re required.

So, if it’s good enough for one council and one ski field to crack down on this, why can’t we apply the same logic everywhere else?

I see absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t. And I see absolutely no reason why we can’t.

Because, in Queenstown for example, it’s going to be the police who enforce the chain rule there.

So the cops could do the exact same thing here in Canterbury and everywhere else.

Because, just like Mt Hutt is finding, people do what they’re told if they know there are consequences if they don‘t.

It was Friday when those clowns went up the access road with no chains and got stuck. And, from Saturday, the new fine was in place and everyone has done what they’ve been told to do since.

Unless we do the same for all drivers on all of our roads, the type of people who think it’s all sweet to drive up a ski field access road without chains will do the same everywhere else.

Because there are so many know-alls out there who either think they’re God’s gift to driving or are so selfish that they don’t give two hoots about inconveniencing other people.

I don’t know which ones are worse. The know-alls or the muppets who don’t think twice about the impact their behaviour has. Not only on other drivers, but the people who have to come to their rescue as well.

And I guarantee that taking a leaf out of Mt Hutt’s book and fining drivers on any roads who don’t use chains when they’re supposed to would make a real difference.

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