Chateau Tongariro revival decision may not be made before the election, documents reveal

Author: Azaria Howell,
Publish Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2026, 5:00am

Chateau Tongariro Hotel was designed by Timaru-based architect Herbert Hall.

It’s unclear if a decision on the future of Chateau Tongariro will happen before the election, with officials saying iwi had ‘deliberately paused’ talks on the future of the site.

The chateau, located near Mount Ruapehu, has sat empty since closing in early 2023 due to seismic concerns.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says iwi feedback has helped inform the advice he has received and a hui with iwi was held early last month.

In late June, a Department of Conservation (DOC) official sent an email to another official, revealing more details behind the potential timeframe to make an announcement about the chateau.

“In short, the Minister could announce he’s ‘invited an application’ prior to 7 November but it depends on the respondent completing appropriate due diligence in time,” the official said, noting more detailed advice would be provided in mid-July.

Four bullet points, listed under the question “Can we please see an alternative timeframe that enables decisions to be taken before the election?”, have been fully redacted.

A status report to Potaka in late April said engagement with iwi was occurring “within a sensitive Treaty settlement context”.

“DOC officials have made a number of attempts to establish appropriate engagement forums. However, these have not progressed, reflecting a deliberate pause by iwi rather than a lack of interest.

“We remain ready to engage and will continue to seek opportunities to progress engagement when iwi consider the timing appropriate.”

This was sent prior to a hui with iwi which took place on July 6.

Another status report, prior to the meeting, said the hui would cover three potential options: “a commercial lease; ‘mothballing’ (full closure and shut down of the building); and demolition”.

It said if Potaka told DOC to explore a concession to lease with the lead respondent, it would provide a second briefing on commercial viability in late September or early October.

Officials said iwi “may choose not to engage if they feel the Crown is not approaching the process in good faith, for example by addressing wider interests in the area”.

It warned “a lack of meaningful engagement could create reputational and legal risk for the Crown”.

DOC asset management director Shan Baththana told Newstalk ZB the agency was continuing to engage with iwi.
Potaka said “no final decision has been made on the future of Chateau Tongariro and all long-term options are currently under consideration”.

Newstalk ZB has requested another yet-to-be-released briefing to the minister under the Official Information Act on long-term options for the chateau.

Azaria Howell is a multimedia reporter working from Parliament’s press gallery. She joined NZME in 2022 and became a Newstalk ZB political reporter in late 2024, with a keen interest in public service agency reform and government spending.