The Department of Conservation (DoC) has revealed it's now poured $1.1 million in maintenance into the iconic Chateau Tongariro since its closure, but the Prime Minister says New Zealand has far greater priorities for taxpayer cash.
For the first time since the heritage attraction shut in February, DoC allowed Newshub exclusive access inside with an escort, due to it being unstable and rated "high risk" in seismic assessments.
Former operator Kah New Zealand opted not to renew the lease after 30 years running the hotel.
The only people inside since have been maintenance staff who must wear protective gear.
There's an eerie silence about the Chateau Tongariro, which officially opened in 1928.
Paint is peeling off in every room, the internal stairs are unstable and a detailed seismic assessment in February showed failure of columns and foundations lacking in internal strength.
Its original guest book is tucked away in a coat cupboard upstairs, boasting signatures of dignitaries and holidaymakers who've frequented the grand old dame over the years.
A dehumidifier works overtime amidst piles of tarnished silver and magnums of champagne which sit beside hundreds of stacked chairs.
Ngāti Hikairo spokesperson Shane Isherwood is saddened at the lack of progress in finding a new operator and wants iwi to have as much say in the future of the Chateau as DoC does.
"Get the ball rolling. Get employment happening - it's administered by the government. Do your job," he said.
The complex sits on DoC land, and the building is essentially an improvement that Kah New Zealand leased from DoC for 30 years until the lease expired.
"Why weren't they here every year or two or three checking up on the building - why wait until 30 years is up?" said Shane Isherwood.
A DoC spokesperson wouldn't comment on any potential legal action against Kah NZ, whose terms of the lease required that the building be returned to the Crown "in good repair and condition", or under certain circumstances it must demolish and remove buildings from the site altogether.
"Significant investment will be required for the Chateau to reopen as a hotel. We need to consider the options for the building," said Mike Tully, deputy director-general of organisational support at DoC.
"This includes discussing matters with our Treaty partners before consideration of future leases of the building."
Tully told Newshub while the total cost of repair "cannot be confirmed at this stage", DoC has received 18 enquiries to date from a wide range of organisations, many are contractors interested in any repair work that may be completed in the future.
But Isherwood believes a worldwide chain of hotels is showing an interest in taking over the iconic heritage site "plus a couple of NZ companies interested too, so what's the holdup?"
Local tourism operators like Marina and Louis van Wyk of Tongariro Crossing Lodge said delays are impacting the entire region's visitor experience with some guests asking "what's this ghost building?"
They told Newshub the closure of Chateau Tongariro reduces options for visitors and locals.
"If nothing is being spent on it, it's gone. It'll be too hard to restore," said Marina van Wyk.
"Having that restored and opened up is potential for tax revenue, employment, and bringing people into the area, which we really need," said Louis.
But Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has given his strongest hint yet that there are more urgent needs for the millions it'll take to restore the Chateau.
"We know it's a critical part of the tourism infrastructure and a tourism asset, but we have some other pressing priorities around our infrastructure that we will be prioritising above that."
Luxon said the matter was something Conservation Minister Tama Potaka will "need to pick up with DoC very shortly and get briefed on", before meeting with iwi too.
Regarding ongoing funding to repair the building, Luxon said the Government was "unable to give an undertaking at this point. We're left with a huge amount of challenges from the previous Government and have to clean up a mess."
Isherwood said every time a minister changes "we have to start from scratch" and he'd like to see a board of hapū, iwi and locals liaise with DoC to look at all options so Chateau Tongariro can be saved.
