Tourist Hotel's Licence Dates From Maori War

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 13

Tourist Hotel's Licence Dates From Maori War

A virtually new hotel midway between Auckland and Wellington was opened last Wednesday. The Tourist Hotel Corporation’s chairman of directors (Mr R. W. Marshall) said that the hotel was actually the old Tokaanu Hotel—but with a difference. During the last year the hotel had been entirely remodelled and modernised.

The Tokaanu Hotel was for many years the only hotel in the King Country. Its licence originated from the mess-licence granted to a camp of the Armed Constabulary just after the Maori Wars. While the rest of the King Country was “dry,” an area of 500 acres round the Tokaanu Hotel was the only licensed area within several hundred square miles. This state of affairs has changed since the referendum restoring liquor licences to the King Country. Site on Scenic Highway “The Tourist Hotel Corporation feels that, as a half-way stop Io: travellers between Auckland and Wellington, the Tokaanu Hotel will become increasingly popular,” said Mr Marshall.

“It is well placed on the new scenic Tokaanu - Taumarunui main highway, providing access to the King Country. Anglers will find it handy to the famous Tongariro river fishing and also to the Western Bay area of Lake Taupo. “In the winter, it will provide auxiliary accommodation for the Chateau Tongariro, the ski-ing grounds on Mount Ruapehu being within an hour’s run of the hotel.”

Extensive improvements to the building include a completely new bedroom wing, with accommodation for 21 (a few bedrooms having private bathrooms), a new lounge bar, a

new private bar, a new entrance, and a new reception office.

Gray colour schemes and fabrics are two features that catch the eye. Works Ministry architects, in conjunction with the Tourist Corporation architect, have sought to introduce a mood in accord with the exciting side of holidaymaking. Carpeting in all main rooms is in the colours of Hunting Stewart tartan—familiar to visitors in other corporation hotels. Bedroom colour schemes are combinations of charcoal, yellow, grey, red, and lime. In the foyer, the tartan carpet, redpatterned paper on the facing wall, and bright varnished-pine side walls are set off by a black ceiling. The main lounge is in a different combination of the same colours. Easy chairs, with colourful coverings, further brighten the room. Emphasis on Angling The diningroom reflects the situation of the hotel. A deep blue wall features an angler landing a trout. The design is in white wire, and is the work of the National Publicity Studios. On another wall are coloured reproductions of outsize Taupo trout-flies. The private bar has a wall that issues a challenge to welltravelled patrons—it is patterned with New Zealand and overseas beer-labels. A new heating system has been installed, using thermal water, and plans are being made to build a plunge pool, also supplied with thermal water, for the use of guests. All the alterations and additions had been supervised by Works Ministry architects under the direction of the Government Architect (Mr F. G. Wilson) and. more recently, by the Tourist Corporation’s own architect (Mr W Pearson).