22 July 2011
Nelson's mini zoo Natureland has been thrown a $50,000 funding lifeline.
The Nelson City Council announced yesterday it had decided to give the animal park the extra money at the council's annual plan hearings, bringing its total funding to $200,000 for the zoo.
That decision was made behind closed doors, with the council making it public following its infrastructure and community services meeting yesterday.
The park is struggling with dropping visitor numbers.
Its parent company, Christchurch's Orana Park, is also under pressure with numbers of visitors plummeting since the Canterbury earthquakes and can't afford to prop up the Nelson park.
Natureland manager Gail Sutton said yesterday Natureland had been in "dire straits" and the funding would provide job security for its workers for another year and security for the park and the animals.
"We are back on track at the moment, but we have to be extremely frugal and extremely careful and we can't go over budget at all."
Mrs Sutton said when Orana Park took over Natureland the city council said it would drop its level of funding and this extra funding took the council's funding back to the level it had been at.
She said the park had lost money last year, and Orana Park had absorbed this but it had its own problems and could not absorb a loss at Natureland this year.
Mrs Sutton said while it was great to receive the extra funding the park still relied on visitor numbers to stay afloat and to pay its bills.
Orana Park chief executive Lynn Anderson said Nelsonians had rallied behind Natureland when it looked like it might close, but visitor numbers had dropped since then.
Orana Park was not in a position to absorb a loss at Natureland as its own visitor numbers had dropped 45 per cent.
Ms Anderson said about 30,000 people were visiting Natureland each year and to make it viable it needed to get 35,000 people through the gate a year.
"I have one clear key message and that is Nelson people need to continue to support Natureland. It seems to be being taken for granted again. "If Nelson people continue to support and visit Natureland its future won't be in the balance and we can continue to make it better and better over the years."
Deputy Mayor Ali Boswijk said the circumstances facing the Orana Wildlife Trust were beyond its control and the council was unanimous that further help should be given.
Mrs Boswijk said it was not the first time Natureland had faced difficulties and it was up to everyone to make sure it stayed open by supporting the zoo.
"The trust's financial difficulties are a one-off, but a lack of local support could see Natureland's future falter again."
