The Chateau Tongariro Hotel was mothballed in February 2023.
The petition to save the Chateau Tongariro Hotel has gained more than 8000 signatures – and there are still four weeks to go.
Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton launched the petition last month to urge government to take more interest in the 95-year-old building that was closed more than two years ago.
At the end of the month he plans to present it to Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.
“What we want for the Government is a roadmap on how to resolve all this. The first thing to stop is deterioration, which is urgent because the roof is leaking.”
He also hopes the Government can help to resolve the ongoing legal dispute between owners, the Department of Conservation, and the previous owners, KAH International. It is understood it relates to maintenance work.
From there, Kirton hopes the Government will be spurred into action to smooth the way for a new investor to be granted a concession to run the Chateau.
“Iwi must be part of this. I’d like to think we have iwi on our side in dealing with some of the outstanding issues that they might have. I think they will be significant stakeholders with any plan that goes forward.
“We have had meetings with local iwi and we want to keep that process going, rather than trying to keep them outside the tent.
“This is not a call out for the Government to take the Chateau on and pay for everything; its a matter of the Government, as the owner, finding a suitable investor to grant the concessions to run the business.”
Kirton concedes such an investor will need deep pockets to remedy earthquake strengthening and upgrade the facilities to return the venue to high-end use.
“I know one investor who has both the wherewithal and the interest in heritage buildings and DOC has a list of people interested in it.
“Though I am no expert in these matters, I would think the amount of expenditure required would mean the lease period offered to such an investor would have to be substantial. It’s probably going to have to be more like 30, 60 or 100 years.
“But iwi are key in all this; they will have to be happy with the arrangement long-term. They may become partial owners, or it could well be that they lease it, or get concessions for it.
“The main thing is that we get the hotel reinstated and providing top-end accommodation again just as soon as possible.
“And let’s not forget that there are other buildings there – staff accommodation and utility buildings which come with it. These is quite a village up there around the Chateau.”
Kirton regards the hotel, which in better days employed 70 staff and generated $10 millon a year for the Central North Island economy, as a national treasure.
