Petition for Chateau

Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton intends to petition Parliament this week in an effort to fast-track the reopening of the Chateau Tongariro.

The 95-year-old luxury hotel closed in February last year when owners Kah New Zealand walked away from its lease blaming seismic issues.

The Department of Conservation, which owns the building and the land it stands upon, has had little to say on any prospects of re-opening, telling the King Country News “as the end of lease negotiations are still ongoing, we cannot comment on details related to those negotiations”.

The Chateau does require earthquake strengthening – the cost has not been determined.

Mayor Kirton said it was unacceptable that Doc could not provide more details on the future of a building which previously supplied 30 per cent of Ruapehu’s bed nights.

“Not only are we losing money from the Chateau being shut up like this, there’s the major risk of deterioration, he said, noting that just over $2 million per year had been given as the estimated cost of to maintain the building over 12 months.

“I expect people from all round the country will get behind our petition to fast track the reopening of the Chateau,” Kirton said. “This is an iconic building where generations of New Zealanders spent ski holidays and honeymoons and family occasions. It’s not only people in our district, I suspect many thousands of Kiwis just hate seeing this iconic hotel shut up and deteriorating.”

His petition will go to Conservation Minister, Tama Potaka and emphasise the need to streamline complex concessions needed by any new operator who sought to lease the building from DOC.

“My understanding is that it is the primarily the lack of certainty generated from the complex regulations associated with operating in the National Park which is discouraging investors.

“Obviously if they’re putting up, say $50 to $100 million, they will need certainty as to how long they can operate there to make their investment worthwhile.”