Tama Potaka: Conservation Minister on the future plans for Tongariro Chateau

The Conservation Minister says any decision around the closed Tongariro Chateau won't be taken lightly. 

Budget 2025 labelled the heritage-listed site in the shadow of Mount Ruapehu a 'fiscal risk'.

All options are on the table, including demolition. 

Tama Potaka says it's an iconic building and very important to the area. 

He says a decision on its future will be made in due course. 

"It's definitely not years - we need to be a Government of action, we've taken action around a couple of those concessions in that beautiful part of the world."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hither duplicy Ellens.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Eighteen past five. Now, the government apparently is considering demolishing
the chateau and tong at ed or. It's not the
only option that they're considering, but it is a bit
of a fiscal risk for the government. Doc is currently
in charge of the Shadow Tama Pawtucker is the Minister
of Conservation and with us.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Now, Hey, Tamma, Hey, Childy, Heather, hell, Diggy and Mackay very.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Good, thank you very much, love with my life, heym
Are you serious about demolishing it or are you just
spitballing ideas here?

Speaker 1 (00:28):
No spitballing ideas. Look, we've carried out an expression of
interest process to obtain some market feedback on the chateau
and taking a lease on the chateau. We'll received some
feedback and obviously gathering some advice before I take them
outaphords to cabinet.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
If you were to say chances of demolishing it out
of one hundred percent fifty.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, I'm not going to be an estimat today. It
is an option. But all of us know this is
an iconic and majestic building. It's something that really defines
that part of the world along with our mountains, our mona,
so that would not be a decision would be taken
right way. Again, we're looking for options, but we've got
a bit of interest as well.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yeah, now Wiston Curtain, who's the mayor in that part
of the world, reckons there is some serious buyers. Is
this true?

Speaker 1 (01:11):
I think there's people who have put their hands up,
are genuine And one thing that was really great was
a decision was made around the Skifield. Fuck a Pappa
and that's on the go. Now Twodles on the go,
Fuck Pupas on the go, and now the chateau is
something to be considered and progressed.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
So so how do you rate the chances of its selling?

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Oh, well, I'm not praiding the changes at the moment.
That's advice that I'll continue to receive advice on from
my team and other agencies, and we'll get to something
I can take to cabinet.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
How long do you think before we actually get a
decision here one way or the other.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Well, it's definitely not is hither we need to be
a government of action. We've taken action around a couple
of those concessions and that beautiful part of the World
Tutor and fuck a pupa ski fields and then of
course with tens of the chateau. Don't forget it's not
just one building. There's about twenty five billions down there
that are part of the precinct. And you might recall
when we're all young and going down there, it was
a great place. At the moment, it's the shadow of

(02:02):
its former self and we need to get moving on it. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
Good, I hope it goes well. Thoma, Thanks very much,
look after yourself. Thoma Pultuck as the Minister of Conservation.
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