The man behind plans for Hamilton’s next big hotel

21 April 2024

The man behind plans for a new $120 million, 4-star hotel in Hamilton’s CBD says he wants to make a big contribution to the city.

“Hamilton to me is a city where I think I can make a difference,” Templeton Group founder Nigel McKenna said.

His comment came during an exclusive interview starting in his firm’s 28th floor Auckland HQ overlooking the Waitematā Harbour and the Viaduct he helped transform.

McKenna has a solid commercial track record and also a strong artistic bent he aims to apply to the Hamilton project.

The still conditional hotel deal involving Templeton would see his company buy properties at 242-254 Victoria St from the city council.

It has a year to complete undisclosed matters before going unconditional. Building is expected to take several years after that.

It’s a building with quality art work and highly detailed features the 61-year-old takes clear pride in.

He was keen to bring those sorts of qualities to the 10 storey-plus new hotel in Hamilton between the under-development regional theatre and the Victoria on the River precinct.

“It’s a very fast-growing city. It has an enormous [geographical] catchment around it.

“But it’s in need of reinvigoration, particularly in the city centre.”

The development of The Base in Te Rapa had obviously hurt the CBD, a trend seen globally as retail moved out of the urban hearts, he said.

But he talked of how his work in Auckland’s Viaduct had helped transform that CBD space and wanted to do that in Hamilton.

“I believe I can have a similar impact. It’s about time. I feel that Hamilton is ready.”