Mountain House – a gift to the nation?

I have waited a week before putting pen to paper in relation to the so-called "Gift to the Nation" of the Stratford Mountain House. 
I am disgusted at the outcome.  Not towards the new owners Ngati Ruanui, but towards Karl Reipen – so called philanthropist, and his working party consisting of people in positions of power and influence within the community.  Dave Rogers and Phil Mohi, Department of Conservation, Rob Tucker, Mr Reipens representative, Mayors Peter Tennent and Neil Volzke, Paul Stancliffe-White, Venture Tourism Taranaki.  The public perception of these people must now be shattered with their behaviour in assisting a nationwide and international advertisement for what ended up being a sale of property.
I was the applicant from overseas that was mentioned in news reports following the progress of this scam. To me it was an opportunity to return to my home country, my hometown, and to be able to offer the people I grew up with, a chance to promote the Taranaki I remember, to the nation and the world.
What a farce. This was never intended for the everyday person. It was a scam, a sale to the highest bidder. Where is the "winner" in that?  Why put people through this?  Dreams shattered.  Time, effort and money for a "gift" that was never meant to be. 
Had Mr Reipen been honest from the beginning, feelings would be different – but what he has done has disgusted me beyond belief.
I was informed by the working party that my proposal had progressed to the next stage. Out of 320 applicants, including one from overseas (that would be me), 37 people were now being requested to submit business plans. 
I had never completed a business plan, however through connections and wonderful supportive people, I completed a business plan and submitted it within the short time frame given. 
I researched for hours, on the mountain house and its history, the owner Karl Reipen, members of the working party, other businesses and community organisations within the local area, for my proposal for the Mountain House giveaway. 
I did not spend $5000 on a business plan as others have, however the time, effort and reduced attention towards my family was expensive to me.
I was informed that I had not progressed to the next stage. 22 people had submitted business plans, and this had been shortlisted again to three successful applicants for the winner to be chosen. 
At this time I was disappointed, but I had no regrets in putting the time and effort into the "possibility" of this dream coming true. I then waited to hear the outcome. 
To find out that this "gift" is now a "sale" I am devastated. This was never an opportunity for the everyday person. I believe that those people that submitted business plans were not progressed due to lack of funds. All of those ideas presented by people were discarded against the possibility of financial gain. How sickening.
I would like to wish Ngati Ruanui good luck with the iconic mountain house and the opportunity to have access to my proposal if they so wish. Perhaps some of my ideas may be taken on board.
It has been stated that Mr Reipen will give the money to a charity of his choice; this is of no consequence. I would call on him to show some honour, some Mana, and present this "gift," as it was supposed to be, without any financial transaction.  
The "winner" should have been able to show how they would be able to benefit the people of New Zealand.  Why not trust these people to pay it forward?  Give them the opportunity you advertised.
Kyla Ries
Katoomba, NSW
 
Negotiation under way
In response to the above letter Phil Mohi submitted the following:
The working party put together to help select the new owner of the Stratford Mountain House is happy a robust process was followed. This team (which contrary to Ms Reis'* letter did not include Mayors Peter Tennant or Neil Volzke) was assembled to weigh all applications against strict criteria.
The opportunity offered by Mr Reipen required all applications to have a charitable component. Applications also had to have a robust business proposal and meet the Department of Conservation lease requirements to continue the maintenance and running of the restaurant and lodge as a public venue.
As a result of the process, Mr Reipen has chosen to negiotate with Ngati Ruanui Holdings Corporation Ltd, one of the applicants. It is expected that an official announcement regarding the outcome of these negotiations will be made in the near future. Until this time it is not appropriate to discuss the nature of these negotiations in more detail.
Phil Mohi
Department of Conservation.
 
Selection group
We gave mayor Neil Volzke the opportunity to reply to the above letter and he supplied the following: 
Kyla, along with a number of other applicants for the Mountain House, can understandably feel annoyed and frustrated with the process for selecting the eventual new owner of the Mountain House. 
The rules seemed to have changed regularly over the last few months and the eventual outcome was not consistent with Karl Reipen's original proposal to give the Mountain House away.  The changes applied to the so called "selection group" as well, and I offer this comment by way of clarification. 
I first became aware of my apparent inclusion in this group when I read a newspaper report that listed my name as one of the group that would be sifting through the applications to make a recommendation to Karl Reipen.  Soon after I was contacted by DOC and told they were taking a lead role in the selection process as the Mountain House was of particular interest to them. They then invited me to be part of the selection group.
Their plan was for DOC, and a few others, to sort through all applications and shortlist about ten. They intended to call the full group together at that stage for consideration of the short list and then make the final recommendation to Karl Ripen.
To my knowledge that group never met, and as a consequence some of those named in Kyla's letter, myself included, had no part in the selection process. Instead, I understand that once the short list was compiled, Karl Reipen became directly involved and he personally made the decision, selecting Ngati Ruanui as the new operator. At the end of the day, as current owner, we have to accept it is his right to make the final decision.  
When I was subsequently contacted by a reporter and told of the outcome, I too was surprised at yet another twist in this story.
Like Kyla, I have no problem with Ngati Ruanui taking ownership and I wish them well with their venture in returning the Mountain House to the iconic tourist facility that it once was.
Neil Volzke
Stratford District Mayor