Kaitāia’s Hike and Bike hostel has been sold. Photo / NZME
Long-vacant and at one point labelled a dangerous building, the building that housed the Hike and Bike backpackers in Kaitāia has been sold, with whispers of plans to convert the space into apartments.
Last year the building was permanently closed after a Dangerous Building Notice was served by Far North District Council.
The former backpackers, on Commerce St, was subject to several complaints to the council in recent years with it being ordered not to operate as a backpacker last year.
Now the building has been sold and Ray White Kaitāia managing director Sean Stratton, who was the listed agent, said he was not able to share much about the sale or the new owners.
He said the property went unconditional last month and said he was not able to confirm the rumour about future plans for the building.
“This is speculation and cannot be confirmed unfortunately, however, the new owners do plan to renovate the property.”
“At this stage, I am unsure (of the upgrades) however it will be nice to see an old building receive a fresh lease of life and potentially be restored to its former glory.”
He was not able to reveal who the new owners were or how much the property sold for but said it was listed in April.
Far North District Council’s acting group manager for delivery and operations, Trent Blakeman said the building was issued with the notice in June 2023, because of the building owner turning off the fire alarm no Independent Qualified Person would inspect the building and issue a Building Warrant of Fitness.
“Without fire safety compliance, the building was deemed to be dangerous. A Dangerous Building Notice was issued, and fixed to the building entrance. All tenants must vacate a building on the same day a Dangerous Building Notice has been issued. If people continue to use the building for accommodation while it is classed as dangerous, the council will infringe on the building owner.”
Later in June 2023, the council issued an infringement notice of $1500.
A Dangerous Building Notice was then removed from the building and the owner was infringed $500.
“In July 2023 the building owner was working with the council to ensure that the Commerce St building met requirements under the Building Act 2004. The owner submitted a Change of Use application, to change the building’s use from commercial to residential. The change of use to residential means the building no longer needs to conform to stricter safety rules required by a commercial building. We can confirm the Change of Use application was not approved.”
He said there is currently no notice on the building as it’s currently vacant and boarded up and the new owners would have to apply for consents depending on what it will be used for.
“We encourage building owners to get in touch with the council to clarify any questions they may have regarding required consents. The council has not received a consent application for this address.”
Blakeman added that should the owners intend to develop an apartment on the site it may require resource consent (as well as a building consent).