1995: Big Apple at Waitomo
September 4, 2024
By AHNZ
Big Apple at Waitomo is looking pretty rough in recent years. It’s a big advertisement for the Big Apple Restaurant which was opened by the Prime Minister Jim Bolger himself on 7 October, 1995.¹
Big corporate Tourism Holdings Ltd. have owned it the last 10 years and started to let the thing go. But in a typical 2020s ‘solution’ there’s a Karen to the rescue…
“It’s rusty, mouldy, and covered with graffiti. And it’s not a welcoming look for the tourists, is it?..So before it turned rotten, I finally decided to take action before it was too late.” – Karen Barrett, Waikato Times (3 September, 2024)
“Waitomo’s Big Apple is getting a makeover. The well-known restaurant, cafe and conference facility has changed hands and the new owners intend to create a “high-class” tourism destination” – Stuff (2015)
Apple saved? Karen’s effort consisted of writing an email of complaint and creating a petition on Change.org signed by 171 supporters. So typical of how people solve their problems these days…
Perhaps worse is that it’s not even a New Zealander taking ‘action’ judging by Karen’s Southern Californian accent. Ref. Waitomo’s big apple to get a reshine after local’s campaign, Three News
The national news ‘victory’ consists of Tourism Holdings replying with an email message saying they will polish the apple. Quite the scoop for the new low-budget 3News eh?
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1 Ref. plaque on site of the restarant
Image ref. AHNZ Archives (2018)
Ref. Petition answered, Piopio Community Fruit & Veg Stand, Facebook (August 2024)
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