It’s a hefty price for taxpayers to keep the Chateau Tongariro Hotel empty and in disrepair.

The Department of Conservation, which owns the land, has confirmed through an Official Information Act request that it will cost $2.2 million this financial year.

The heritage-listed site has been shut since February last year.

Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking that there are issues around resolving the seismic reports, which put the hotel at high risk.

He says there's a willingness from the Government to resolve them but a timeline is needed to do that.

LISTEN ABOVE

It’s a hefty price for taxpayers to keep the Chateau Tongariro Hotel empty and in disrepair. 
The Department of Conservation, which owns the land, has confirmed through an Official Information Act request that it will cost $2.2 million this financial year. 
The heritage-listed site has been shut since February last year. 
Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking that there are issues around resolving the seismic reports, which put the hotel at high risk. 
He says there's a willingness from the Government to resolve them but a timeline is needed to do that. 
LISTEN ABOVE

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Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition on Newstalk ZB.

Don't risk not knowing what's going around New Zealand and the world - catch up with interviews from Early Edition, hosted by Kate Hawkesby on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition on Newstalk ZB

Weston Kirton: Ruapehu Mayor on the massive costs of keeping the Chateau Tongariro Hotel empty and in disrepair

Unlike the US, the UK is not withholding arms to Israel.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that their position is not comparable with that of the US, since the UK is not a large state-to-state arms supplier to Israel.

However, they don’t support a large-scale invasion of Rafah unless there is a plan to protect civilians in place.

UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that what the UK provides is export licenses for UK weapons manufacturers to export to Israel.

He said that it’s a very different situation, and the UK is not going to retract those licenses. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Unlike the US, the UK is not withholding arms to Israel. 
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that their position is not comparable with that of the US, since the UK is not a large state-to-state arms supplier to Israel. 
However, they don’t support a large-scale invasion of Rafah unless there is a plan to protect civilians in place. 
UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that what the UK provides is export licenses for UK weapons manufacturers to export to Israel. 
He said that it’s a very different situation, and the UK is not going to retract those licenses.  
LISTEN ABOVE

Vincent McAviney: UK Correspondent on the UK continuing to allow weapons manufacturers to export to Israel

There's doubts a potential raising of the international visitor levy will impact tourism numbers.

Overseas visitors pay $35 collected through visa applications, which is evenly split between conservation and tourism.

Speaking at the TRENZ conference, Tourism Minister Matt Doocey says that advice he's received shows it would have to rise to about $42 in today's market.

Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association chair Haydn Marriner told Mike Hosking that's just the cost of business.

He says to expect the same value from that $35 today is to ignore everything we've always had.

LISTEN ABOVE

There's doubts a potential raising of the international visitor levy will impact tourism numbers. 
Overseas visitors pay $35 collected through visa applications, which is evenly split between conservation and tourism. 
Speaking at the TRENZ conference, Tourism Minister Matt Doocey says that advice he's received shows it would have to rise to about $42 in today's market. 
Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association chair Haydn Marriner told Mike Hosking that's just the cost of business. 
He says to expect the same value from that $35 today is to ignore everything we've always had. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Haydn Marriner: Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association Chair on potentially raising the international visitor levy

Archives New Zealand's shutting down its digital archiving programme.

It's part of an initiative to digitise historically significant images and documents.

But the agency says it's been unable to secure further funding, and it will have to cut at least three jobs.

Historian Paul Moon told Mike Hosking that this is important work and should remain.

He says the Government should cobble together the small amount of funding needed to keep it going.

LISTEN ABOVE

Archives New Zealand's shutting down its digital archiving programme. 
It's part of an initiative to digitise historically significant images and documents. 
But the agency says it's been unable to secure further funding, and it will have to cut at least three jobs. 
Historian Paul Moon told Mike Hosking that this is important work and should remain. 
He says the Government should cobble together the small amount of funding needed to keep it going. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Weston Kirton: Ruapehu Mayor on the massive costs of keeping the Chateau Tongariro Hotel empty and in disrepair

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