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Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel is famous for its history, food, lodging, and its peaceful country setting.
But the Waikato landmark, dating back to 1889, is now on the brink of shedding that mantle and is instead becoming known as a place for fighting, violence, and intoxication.
Kingstown Blue bought the 27-acre property and golf course in 2014 for $ 3.3 million, but was ordered by the Overseas Investment Office to sell the property in 2019 because it had not made sufficient progress in its development plans in the historical hotel near Tīrau. .
It was then bought by Waihou Spring, Jinhua (Peter) Chen, and Yong (Tom) Kang, in December 2019 for just over $ 3.2 million.
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Police, the Waikato District Board of Health and the South Waikato Chief Licensing Inspector objected to the new owners’ request for a new license to sell alcohol at the location.
But the South Waikato District Licensing Committee gave the hotel more time to resolve the issues that were outlined at a license application hearing in Tokoroa.
Alcohol harm reduction officer and liquor licensing coordinator for the Taupō area, Police Sgt. Chris Turnbull’s report says the first sign of trouble was on February 15.
Police were called to the hotel at 11:50 pm after a wedding reception got out of hand.
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Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel in the 1940s.
There were reports of a woman with head injuries and a man fighting with other people, the police spent about 90 minutes sorting out the situation.
The police returned to the hotel a month later to carry out a “controlled buying operation” in which the manager on duty sold alcohol to an underage volunteer.
In July, the hotel was granted a temporary authorization to sell alcohol on site for three months, while the owners agreed to what was needed to comply.
Police returned on September 24 at 12:35 am, after a fight broke out in a pool tournament.
Turnbull’s report to the committee showed that the charges brought after that incident included three for wounding with intent to cause serious bodily injury; two for hurting with intent to hurt; assault with a weapon; and assault.
A second temporary authority was rejected in favor of the details to be discussed at the November hearing.
Turnbull said in his final statement, the isolated location of the site meant it had a “high risk” profile and thought the three incidents were “just the tip of the iceberg.”
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Alcohol intoxication was possibly behind two incidents that police had to attend to at the hotel in 2020.
Inexperienced hotel management and the use of inexperienced managers were to blame, he suggested.
Nicole Zeier, a representative for the Medical Health Officer, said the variety of foods and the time it took to prepare the foods did not meet expectations.
He was alarmed to hear that the hotel was supplying peanuts and pastries as bar food, while another witness, who introduced himself to the committee, said his group waited 45 minutes for the food to be served.
Zeier said that preparing food in a timely manner is crucial to reducing the chances of poisoning. There was a perception that if people were forced to wait, they would have another drink, he said.
“And I think this is really important because of the problems that the police have raised.”
Chief Licensing Inspector Julie Smale had worked hard with the new owners on what they needed to do.
She said that the owners were good people but that they were “above their heads” in terms of their ability to manage the hotel.
The committee listened to the owners, Kang and Chen, as well as their legal advisor Robert Davies.
Committee chair Murray Clearwater asked the owners if they understood their responsibilities when it came to serving food and alcohol to people.
Kang and Chen, both from China, had trouble answering, but it was unclear if it was because they did not understand the question, because English was not their first language, or simply because they did not know it.
During a break, Kang and Chen said they were committed to solving the hotel’s problems.
Kang said they were having a sightseeing adventure in Auckland and the plan was to bring international visitors to the hotel to enjoy its golf course and hot pools.
Davies also introduced Derek Webb to the committee, who had been hired as the hotel’s new general manager.
Webb worked as a police officer for 16 years before moving to managing hotels and resorts in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Webb said he was confident he could turn the hotel around and would bring in seasoned managers from previous hotels he had worked at if necessary.
The district’s licensing committee, which included Arama Ngapo-Liscombe, Peter Schulte and Clearwater, went behind closed doors to consider nearly six hours of presentations.
Clearwater then described the committee’s position to Davies and his clients.
“If we were to determine the application today, you will not like the answer. So we will postpone our decision until January 20. “
Clearwater said the additional two months would give the new CEO time to resolve issues.
“So when you come back to us on January 20, you can show us if you have things ready to go.”
The hotel’s temporary license would be renewed. It allowed the hotel to serve alcohol to guests in the restaurant, but not in the bar or billiard room.
No functions would be held at the location where the occasional alcohol consumption would take place.
