The Government has begun a formal process to help restore the historic Chateau Tongariro hotel in Whakapapa Village, Tongariro National Park.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said private operators are now being invited to submit plans to restore and run the long-closed building. The process opened on 18 March and will continue until 20 April. This shows the Government would rather see the famous hotel restored than demolished.
Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton welcomed the move and called it a win. He said the local community and many people across New Zealand wanted the landmark to be saved. He also said there was already strong interest from investors in New Zealand and overseas. Some possible investors, he said, were very eager to get involved.
The Chateau Tongariro has been closed since February 2023, when the former operator shut the hotel. Since then, the building has fallen into poorer condition. Potaka said restoring it could help bring more visitors to the area and support local businesses and tourism. He added that any plan must respect conservation values, mana whenua hopes, and the special character of the national park.
The cost of restoring the heritage building is expected to be high. Kirton said building a new five-star hotel could cost about $100 million, and fixing a heritage building could cost even more. A panel will assess the proposals after the closing date. Even then, applicants must still meet Department of Conservation rules on the environment, heritage and the law.
