Tourism in Ruapehu has taken another substantial blow with news the Chateau Tongariro will close its doors on Sunday.
KAH New Zealand, which manages the hotel at Whakapapa, says its due diligence when working through an extension of its lease found the hotel no longer met current standards for seismic safety.
The cost of refurbishments, paired with other factors such as Ruapehu Alpine Lifts going into administration, saw KAH pull the pin on operating the hotel.
The Department of Conservation says it's yet to find out how much fixing the category one heritage building might cost.
Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton says it's a huge blow to the region, and there is now huge uncertainty as to the future of tourism at Whakapapa.
Kirton spoke to Corin Dann.
