Trouble at the zoo: Orana Wildlife Park pleads for more funding

Wednesday, 17 April 2024

Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park says it will need $1.5m in funding from the council every year if its to stave off an 'inevitable demise'. (First published April 16, 2024)

Fears of an “inevitable demise” at Orana Park have prompted a plea for Cantabrians to back the zoo’s bid for more funding in the Christchurch City Council’s long-term plan (LTP).

New Zealand’s only open range zoo is asking people to make a submission to the LTP in support of Orana Park, so it can secure its financial future.

The zoo’s submission to the LTP proposes a staged approach of $500,000 in the first year, $1 million in the second year, and $1.5m in the third year and beyond.

Currently it receives about $250,000 annually from the council.

“Essentially we need $1.5m per annum in secure ongoing funding support to ensure our financial future and halt our inevitable demise,” Orana Wildlife Park chief executive Lynn Anderson said.

Orana Wildlife Park’s Maddy Hodge feeds the kea who are among the more than 1000 animals in the facility, which costs $5.1m annually to run.

She encouraged people to “confirm their support” because councillors had a “tough job with the fiscal situation” and numerous competing priorities.

“What we’re asking for is $8.11 per year per rate payer or monthly, 68c.”

Other Christchurch landmarks that have suggested they’ll have to fold without new investment include the Arts Centre - the trust running it is asking the council to reverse its decision to halt funding - and the Christ Church Cathedral, which has said it requires a top-up of the current $10m contribution to prevent the cathedral being mothballed.

Until 2018, visitor income at Orana covered 90% of annual operating costs; visitor income now only covers 65% of annual operating costs.

Closing isn’t an option, Orana boss Lynn Anderson says. “We will do whatever is takes to ensure our animals are OK at all times.”

Past funding for the zoo included a government supplement during Covid, and around $250,000 annually from the council, Anderson said.

The current financial year also saw the zoo receive a $400,000 one-off grant from a Better Off fund - the now-abandoned Three Waters reform support package.

However, for a premises that cost $5.1m to run annually, Anderson said more money was needed.

“Running a modern zoo is very expensive. Caring for 1000 wonderful animals, ensuring their best practice welfare, and our significant commitment to conservation cost a lot of money.

Until 2018, visitor income covered 90% of annual operating costs; it only covers 65%.

It was “impossible to put up our admission prices”, which were currently $39.50 for an adult and $12.50 for a child. About 200,000 people visit every year.

It wasn’t a case of the “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff”, but this year the zoo was “staring down at a huge operational loss”, she said.

“If this situation continues … we will be in severe financial difficulty in less than two years - we would be looking to the council for a bail out.”

But closure would never be an option, Anderson said.

“That would hopefully not be the future for us. We are a tenacious bunch. We will do whatever it takes to ensure our animals are OK at all times.

“We’ve been around for 48 years, in 2026 Orana will turn 50 years old. We intend to be around another 50 more years doing great conservation work, educating our public about environmental issues and, most importantly, providing a key outdoor facility for our valuable community. Please get behind us.”