No rooms left as motel shuts shop

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Ruth Taylor below the old sign for the Windmill Park Motel.PHOTO/LIN FERGUSON 301214WCMOTEL2

If you're going to Patea for a stopover be prepared to go camping.

The only motel, the Windmill Park Motel, has now been sold with the units being moved to Rotorua to be used as shearers' quarters. The three hotels in town have been closed for years.

So that leaves the Patea Motor and Holiday Camp. There isn't even a backpackers in town.

The Windmill Park Motel was run by former Patea farming couple Ray and Margaret Taylor for nearly 30 years. This week their daughter Ruth was in charge while her parents took a short break.

"Dad's 70 now and doesn't really want to run the motels any longer. He and mum are ready to retire and want to move to Wanganui."

Although the units are being trucked off north there remains the house (four bedrooms) and 6ha of gardens and fields to sell off, she said.

"It's a beautiful spot. We grew up here as kids and loved it."

Even though closing the motel will leave Patea without formal accommodation choices she doesn't think it will matter too much.

"It's not really a stop-off kind of town, and never has been. The only people who know how lovely this town is are the locals and we don't like telling. It's our secret."

The motel on State Highway 3 has always been a landmark, she said.

"That's because Dad kept the gardens so well. And of course there is the windmill in the side field that pumps water from the well for the fields."

Ruth said though she will miss the motel and the gorgeous gardens, it was high time her parents took it easy.

"They've been flat out for years. It's time for them to relax. But to be honest yes we will all miss coming here.

She was also concerned that Argentine ants were an increasing nuisance for the Patea community.

"They are listed in the Taranaki Regional Council Pest Management Strategy as a pest, the council will be working with the Patea Community Board to advocate for greater attention by the Regional Council on this problem."