Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand

Last updated

The Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand (often shortened to YHA New Zealand or YHANZ) is a youth hostelling association in New Zealand. As of 2022, it comprises 16 privately owned associate backpacker hostels—8 in the North Island, and 9 in the South Island. All properties are franchise or associate partners.

Contents

Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the organisation in 2007, then Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand described YHA NZ as a "standout New Zealand organisation" and "such an iconic feature of holidaying in New Zealand". [1] The YHA hostel in Wellington (now closed) won the Hostelworld "Hoscar" prize for Best Hostel in Oceania in 2007 and 2008. [2] In 2009 the YHA hostel in Rotorua (now closed) won the award. [3]

In November 2021, it was reported that YHA New Zealand would close its remaining 11 managed hostels in December, due largely to COVID-related financial losses, [4] however 20 other individually-owned YHAs will continue to operate as normal. These 20 individually-owned YHAs are as follows: Ahipara, Paihia, Bay of Islands, National Park, Taupō, Waitomo, Whanganui, Whangarei, Arthur's Pass, Golden Bay, Hanmer Springs, Kinloch, Nelson, Picton, Punakaiki, Springfield, Westport. [5] The remaining hostels closed on 15 December 2021. In 2022 YHA sold its five remaining hostels (Auckland, Aoraki Mt Cook, Franz Josef, Queenstown Lakefront and Te Anau) and four hostels previously sold to RPZ in 2021 and leased back to manage, were also on-sold to Gaw Capital Holdings Limited (Rotorua, Wellington, Lake Tekapo and Wānaka). Eight of them rejoined as YHA Associates, only Te Akau not keeping the YHA logo. The lease of Christchurch Hereford St was also taken over by Gaw in 2022. [6] [7] The hostels were then refurbished and rebranded Haka House. [8]

History

The Sunlight League was formed in 1931 in New Zealand and their attention was drawn to German youth hostels later that year; [9] youth hostels had begun in Altena in 1912. [10] The first ones in the Southern Hemisphere were those of the Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand, after its formation on 8 April 1932, [11] at a meeting of 9 Canterbury tramping organisations, brought together by the League [12] and chaired by Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson. Sir Arthur was elected as President and vice-presidents included Sir Heaton Rhodes and Professors Arnold Wall and Macmillan Brown. Cora Wilding had negotiated for trampers belonging to the clubs forming the Association to stay at nearby Le Bon's Bay, Port Levy, Pigeon's Bay, Okain's Bay, Akaroa, Duvauchelle, and Hill Top, all on Banks Peninsula. [13] Teddington and Diamond Harbour were also added in 1932. [14] YHA-NZ had 895 members by 1953. [15] in 1983 there were 47 hostels, 6,700 life members and 21,000 ordinary members. [11]

It has been a member association of Hostelling International since 1946. [11] YHA New Zealand was established in 1932 in Canterbury by Cora Wilding. [16] The national office is based in Christchurch. A national council was created in 1955. In 1965 there were 39 hostels and 7000 members. [16] Previously, the patron of the association was the Governor-General of New Zealand.

Current YHA-NZ hostels

This is a list of current YHA-NZ hostels. [17] This section was up-to-date as of March 2024.

NameImageRegionYear opened
Aoraki Mt Cook Haka House, 4 Kitchener DriveCanterbury1958 [18] replaced in 1987 [19] Closed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened December 2022 [21]
Auckland International
Auckland International YHA in 2015 Auckland International YHA, Turner Street.jpg
Auckland International YHA in 2015
Haka House, Turner St
Aucklandrefurbished 2018 [22] Closed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened December 2022. [21]
Auckland K'Road [23] 373 Karangahape Road [24] Auckland
Christchurch
Christchurch without a YHA sign in 2024 Haka House, Christchurch.jpg
Christchurch without a YHA sign in 2024
Haka House, 36 Hereford Street
CanterburyClosed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened December 2022. [21]
Franz Josef
YHA Franz Josef in 2017 YHA Franz Josef.jpg
YHA Franz Josef in 2017
Haka House 2-4 Cron Street
West Coast1980 [25] Closed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened December 2022 [21]
Hanmer Springs Kakapo Lodge, 14 Amuri AvenueCanterbury
Lake Tekapo Haka House, 5 Motuariki LaneCanterburyClosed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened 18 November 2022 [26]
Nelson 59 Rutherford StreetNelson
Paihia, Bay Of Islands [23] Level 2/ 76 Marsden Road [27] Northland
Queenstown [23] 6 Henry Street [28] Otago
Queenstown Lakefront
YHA Queenstown Lakeside in 2017 YHA Queenstown Lakeside.jpg
YHA Queenstown Lakeside in 2017
88-90 Lake Esplanade
Otago1972 [29] Closed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened December 2022 [21]
Rotorua
YHA Rotorua in 2013 YHA Rotorua - 2013.04 - panoramio.jpg
YHA Rotorua in 2013
Haka House, 1278 Haupapa St
Bay of Plenty2008 [30] Closed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened December 2022. [21]
Taupō Finlay Jacks, 20 Taniwha StreetWaikato1984 [31]
Waitomo Juno Hall, 600 Waitomo Caves RoadWaikato
Wānaka 94 Brownston StreetOtago2009 [32] Closed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened 19 December 2022. [21]
Wellington 292 Wakefield StreetWellingtonClosed 15 December 2021, [20] reopened December 2022. [21]
Westport
Westport YHA Westport buildings MRD 02.jpg
Westport YHA
Trip Inn, 72 Queen Street
West Coast
Whanganui
Braemar House YHA, Whanganui Braemar House YHA, Whanganui.jpg
Braemar House YHA, Whanganui
Manawatū-Whanganui

Former hostels

This section lists the locations of former YHA-NZ hostels.

NameImageRegionOpenedClosed
Ahipara NorthlandAhipara was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Arthur's Pass
Arthurs Pass YHA Arthurs Pass MRD 02.jpg
Arthurs Pass YHA
Canterbury1955 [33] replacing 1948 hostel2023 [34]
Bay of Islands, The RockNorthlandcruise boatThe Rock Adventure Cruise was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Golden Bay (Tākaka)TasmanGolden Bay, Annies Nirvana Lodge was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Cora Wilding, ChristchurchCanterbury1966 [10] 1997 [35]
Rolleston House, Christchurch
Rolleston House YHA Christchurch Rolleston House YHA DSCN1077.jpg
Rolleston House YHA
Canterbury1974 [10] 2020 [36]
City Road, Auckland
Auckland City Road YHA in 2010 Auckland City Road Youth Hostel YHA.jpg
Auckland City Road YHA in 2010
Auckland1990, [10] refurbished 2016 [37]
71 Stafford Street, Dunedin Otago1969 replaced 1980 [11] listed 1986 [38]
Gisborne Gisborne1974 [39] Gisborne was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
1190 Victoria Street, Hamilton Waikato1961, replaced 1981 [11] 2006 [40] to 2013 [41]
Hokitika West CoastHokitika, Birdsong Backpackers was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Kinloch, Glenorchy OtagoKinloch, Wilderness Retreat was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Montgomery, Hill Top Canterbury1957 [42]
Napier
Napier YHA in 2018 Napier YHA in 2018.jpg
Napier YHA in 2018
Hawke's Bay1984 [31]
National Park Manawatū-WhanganuiBackpackers still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
42 Weka Street, NelsonNelson1981 [11] after 2010 [43]
New Plymouth TaranakiNew Plymouth, Sunflower Lodge was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Ōkārito West Coast1958 [11] 1990 [44]
Kukupa, Pigeon BayCanterbury1952 [11] 1995 [45]
Paihia NorthlandPaihia was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Picton MarlboroughThe Villa was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Punakaiki West CoastPunakaiki, Te Nikau Retreat was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Queenstown CentralOtagoClosed 15 December 2021, [20] lease not renewed
Raglan
Solscape, YHA Raglan in 2016 Solscape, YHA Raglan in 2016.jpg
Solscape, YHA Raglan in 2016
Waikatoduring 2010s [46]
Springfield CanterburySpringfield, Smylies was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20]
Te Anau Southland1961 replaced 1977 [47] and again since [48] Closed 15 December 2021, [20] sold in 2022 for staff accommodation [49]
Trout Stream, Cooper’s Creek Canterbury1948 [50] now derelict [51]
Whangārei NorthlandWhangārei Falls Holiday Park was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 [20] Closed 2022 [52] [53]

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References

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