Continuing on with the Rural Publican series, Daryl Meikle talks to Dom about how he and his wife Carmen joined forces with the locals to rescue the historic Waikaka Hotel from closure.
Meikle explains that through the formation of the Waikaka Hotel Enhancement Company, the community pooled resources and efforts to revive this iconic establishment.
The hotel, built in 1876, is more than just a pub, he says, it's a living tapestry of history and spectral anecdotes with resident ghosts Mary, the sister of a former owner, and Billy, a once-homeless man, add to the hotel's unique charm.
Meikle also shares memorable stories, like an elderly man's rugby celebration from 1953, which enrich the hotel's nostalgic atmosphere.
Listen to the full chat between Daryl Meikle and Dominic George above.
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