Trust House buys Pukemanu | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

IT will be business as usual at the Pukemanu Tavern in Martinborough after its purchase by Trust House.

Trust House chief executive Patrick Teahan said yesterday the company has bought the tavern for an undisclosed sum.

There are no plans to make big changes from day one, he said.

The trust would advertise for a new manager in the New Year.

The purchase means the trust now has a business in every town in Wairarapa.

Trust House owns 17 taverns, bottle stores and supermarkets between Wellington and Feilding.

The trust also manages taverns in Hawke's Bay and owns rental housing.

The Pukemanu purchase ends a good year for the trust that saw them purchase the Stellar Bar in Masterton this year.

Mr Teahan concedes that buying another tavern with the as-yet-unknown impact of the smokefree legislation was a "brave move".

"I believe that this means Martinborough will benefit from a community-owned business, just as other Wairarapa communities do," he said.

Trust House will take over ownership of the Pukemanu Tavern on February 1.

Mr Teahan said future plans included reinvestment in existing trust businesses next year.