Ariki Backpackers

The staff was extremely friendly and it seems like they truly do the best they can to maintain the hostel in a livable condition. The beds and bathrooms were clean and the location is undeniably great (1min walk from the bus stop, 3 from the sea). BUT

This is by far the worst hostel I have ever been in in NZ. I can’t believe there is such high rankings here. Every guest I interacted with said the same; this place is what we would call a dump. The roof was leaking in my dorm and in the common area. There is a strong mold smell in several rooms. Most sofas and chairs are slashed and the others are covered in stains. The kitchen is filthy. The carpets look like they have not been deep cleaned since the 70s. There is massive construction going on at the moment to build a bar right next to the hostel, which currently implies of course noise but also dust, construction material and dust inside the whole hostel from an early hour. I guess it will imply even more noise once the new establishment opens - being right over an already existing bar (that does karaoke), weekend nights are a treat

Great location in the middle of town. Close to the bus stop, and a bunch of shops and cafes. No problem with the staff.

The place was very rough and in dire need of freshening up. The kitchen wasn't useable in its current state, and overall cleanliness wasn't great. The construction, though outside of their control, was unfortunate, likewise the noise from the bar beneath. No social vibe to offset the basic setting.