Save the Chateau Tongariro Hotel
The Grand Chateau, a.k.a Chateau Tongariro Hotel (1929), Tongariro National Park, New Zealand.
A petition has been set up by Mayor Weston Kirton on behalf of Ruapehu District Council to save the iconic chateau.
The Chateau Tongariro Hotel (1929) was designed by firm Hall & Marchant, by architect Herbert W. Hall in a neo-Georgian style that saw a revival prior to the Depression. A Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place, the building has retained much of its original character despite numerous refurbishments (including an addition) over the years.
In 1990, the Government sold the chateau to a private buyer (Kah New Zealand Ltd.) who after reporting year-on-year losses closed the chateau early last year, handing it to the Department of Conservation after a failed seismic assessment exposed an urgent need for seismic strengthening.
In 2023, the building won an Enduring Architecture Award from Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects. The official award citation reads:
“Tongariro is New Zealand’s oldest national park and a dual World Heritage area. This status acknowledges the park’s importance to Māori cultural and spiritual values.
The Chateau Tongariro Hotel embodies a timeless elegance and is rooted deeply in New Zealand’s heritage. Designed by Timaru-based architect Herbert Hall (1881-1939), the neo-Georgian hotel was constructed of reinforced concrete but designed to resemble a traditional Georgian brick building. The hotel was luxuriously appointed, with panoramic windows, hot and cold running water to all rooms, and tasteful furnishings. Its place in Aotearoa New Zealand’s architectural history is more than a building that’s highly recognisable. The Chateau represents architectural excellence in an era when the country was uncertain about its vernacular but aspired to showcase its wonder.
Built by Fletcher Construction, it was officially opened on 13 November 1929.”
With alleged negotiations currently underway and decisions pending between government officials regarding the landmark building, the message is that swift action must be taken to ensure that the Chateau Tongariro Hotel not only endures but is given a new lease on life.
If you’d like to sign the petition hurry, signatures close 31 August.
