Luckily, The Remarkables had a good dumping of snow on Friday.
Her mother said it was sad Sophia had to be the "sacrificial lamb" to open everyone's eyes that change had to happen.
"I was terrified and couldn't move... I thought I was going to die."
A 13-year-old boy has since been charged with murder.
Enere McLaren-Taana, 16, died from stab wounds in Dunedin Hospital on Thursday.
An advocate for homeless people in Queenstown says she is worried the resort town will see an influx of hundreds of people sleeping in tents this winter.
Hawkeswood Mining has applied to operate a gold mine along the banks of the Mata-Au Clutha River.
"It would be good to swap the tourists and send those criminals back overseas."
The Phoenix Dam is so old it's no longer safe and is being decommissioned.
