Ruapehu District Council is celebrating the successful submission of their Parliamentary Petition to Save the Chateau Tongariro Hotel, which was formally presented to Parliament yesterday (16-Sept-25) by Rangitīkei MP Suze Redmayne.

Mayor Weston Kirton thanked MP Redmayne for her support and the 15,469 people from across New Zealand and overseas who signed the petition.

He also acknowledged Ruapehu iwi Uenuku Chair Aiden Gilbert and the Members of Parliament who showed their support for the Chateau petition including the Minister for Conservation Hon. Tama Potaka, Barbara Kuriger MP for Taranaki-King Country, and Carl Bates MP for Whanganui.

“This petition is a major milestone in the journey to restore the Chateau,” said Mayor Kirton.

“The widespread support shows how deeply people care about saving this iconic building and ensuring it remains the heart of Whakapapa and supporting the regional economy.

Everywhere I go, someone shares a story or memory connected to this remarkable place,” he said.

Mayor Kirton noted that the petition has brought forward credible investors with the expertise and financial capacity ready to undertake the full restoration of the Chateau and the revitalisation of Whakapapa Village.

“All we need now is a clear Government pathway to resolve any regulatory hurdles or other issues so investors can get on with the job and unlock the opportunities a restored Chateau offers,” he said.

Before its closure, the Chateau generated around $10 million a year in direct economic benefit to the Ruapehu District and the central North Island.

“Restoration of the Chateau aligns with the Government's tourism development goals by driving high-value visitor growth, creating regional jobs with training opportunities, and preserving New Zealand’s cultural heritage,” Mayor Kirton said.

“The public support is clear, the investors are ready, and the benefits are national.

We now look forward to Government providing the leadership and clear pathway needed to make this vision a reality,” he said.

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