Trust Chair reportChief Executive report
This has been another year of achievement for Wellington Zoo across all areas of our organisation. We met or exceeded 16 of our 20 targets against our strategic elements, most notably a record 196,267 visitors to the Zoo this year – a result well beyond our 2% growth target. The Zoo is continually being transformed through the Zoo Capital Programme, now going into its sixth year, and our collection has been enhanced through a number of new animals both born at the Zoo and acquired from other organisations. The Zoo generated 49% of its operational costs this year and finished with a positive financial result of $30,011.
Our support in the community has increased with nearly 4,000 Zoo Crew members, record attendance for Neighbours’ Night this year and growing numbers of fans on our Facebook page. Further support for the Zoo was particularly displayed through the signing of our first major corporate relationship with ASB as well as continued support from the many individual, organisations, partners, trusts and foundations which value our work. As a community not for profit charity we are grateful for this support.
The Nest Te Kōhanga has come into its own this year treating 182 native wildlife patients as well as caring for the Zoo’s collection of over 500 animals. Significant patients at The Nest Te Kōhanga this year included Solstice One, the kākāpō chick, the Chatham Islands tāiko – both of these birds are rare and critically endangered – and ‘Happy Feet’ the Emperor penguin. The Nest Te Kōhanga has again won awards this year – Wellington area New Zealand Institute of Architects Award, Registered Master Builders Gold Reserve Award and the New Zealand Zoo Aquarium Association Conservation Award.
Capital developments for 2010-11 included The Roost Te Pae Manu, Mini Monkeys, Porcupines and Meerkats, Stage One of The Hub and the lion dens refurbishment. All of these new exhibits or precincts are increasing our scope to provide the very best for our animals, staff and visitors. In 2011-12 the Zoo Capital Programme will focus on The Hub Stage Two, the Asia Precinct and a new serval exhibit.
Conservation work continues in the field with the Zoo’s ongoing involvement with the Forest and Bird Places for Penguins programme on the Wellington south coast and with Free the Bears Asia. Four staff visited Cambodia to assist Free the Bears with husbandry and visitor engagement projects. The Wellington Zoo Conservation Fellowships have enabled the Kea Conservation Trust and Victoria University to continue their conservation work for New Zealand ecology.
The team at Wellington Zoo is passionate about its work and this was displayed at the annual Aoraki Awards for long service where we celebrated keeper Murray Roberts 45 years at Wellington Zoo. I am very proud of the achievements of our team and their total dedication to our Zoo.
We are looking forward to the continuation of the journey to be ‘the best little zoo in the world’ in 2011-12.
Karen Fifield
Chief Executive, Wellington Zoo Trust