Ruapehu District Council’s Parliamentary Petition to Save the Chateau, which gathered 15,469 signatures, will be formally handed to Rangitīkei MP, Suze Redmayne on the steps of Parliament tomorrow by Mayor, Weston Kirton, before being presented to the House.
Mayor Kirton (pictured) thanked all who signed the petition, saying the response reflected the depth of public feeling for one of New Zealand’s most iconic heritage buildings and its importance to the national tourism economy.
“The level of public support shows how much the Chateau means to New Zealanders – as an architectural treasure, a cornerstone of our tourism story, and a vital driver of regional growth.”
Mayor Kirton noted that, before its closure, the Chateau generated around $10 million a year in direct economic benefit, provided dozens of local jobs and training opportunities, and represented one-third of all high-end accommodation in the Ruapehu district.
Its restoration, he said, would revive those benefits and create new ones.
“Credible private investors are ready to restore the Chateau and revitalise the wider Whakapapa Village,” he said.
“This project will create employment and training pathways, attract higher-spending visitors, strengthen businesses throughout the central North Island, and celebrate our unique cultural heritage.
It aligns perfectly with Government goals for regional development, high-value tourism, and heritage preservation – and it may not require any taxpayer funding.”
Mayor Kirton called on Government to seize the opportunity.
“We now need clear leadership from Government to remove any regulatory or other barriers and provide a pathway for investors to move quickly,” he said.
“This is a low-risk, high-reward project that will safeguard an irreplaceable national treasure and deliver lasting benefits for Ruapehu and for all of Aotearoa.”
