The owners of a quake-damaged historic hotel said they needed a fairy godmother to come up with the funds for repairs.

The Hurunui Hotel, a category one heritage property, was red-stickered shortly after the magnitude 7.8 Kaikoura earthquakes last November.

Owner Rodger Strong said they would probably have to abandon the building if the repair costs were too high, unless a fairy godmother comes along and says “we have money for it,” Fairfax Media reported.

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The building’s application for a $16,000 grant from Heritage New Zealand (HNZ) was not granted because the money was only for buildings damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes. The money would have been used to help pay for an engineer’s report on the extent and cost of repairs.

And while the owners are eligible to apply for up to $100,000 in funding from HNZ for repairs and strengthening work, they are required to match the grant dollar for dollar, the report said.

Strong said they would struggle due to difficulties in getting insurance.


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