Lights on, no one home: Govt spends $4.5m on Chateau Tongariro maintenance since closure

Azaria HowellPolitical Reporter·Newstalk ZB·7 Sep, 2026 05:00 PM2 mins to read‌The Department of Conservation took over responsibility for Chateau Tongariro when it closed. Photo / Hayden WoodwardThe Department of Conservation took over responsibility for Chateau Tongariro when it closed. Photo / Hayden WoodwardThe Department of Conservation has spent more than $4.5 million maintaining Chateau Tongariro since it closed in early 2023. More than $1.4m of that was spent on power and gas while the site has been closed to the public.

Chateau Tongariro is in limbo