Trust Chair reportCommercial development
We view Wellington Zoo as a ‘for impact’ organisation. In a world of scarce resources, we want to demonstrate to our community and supporters the tangible results and impact of our work.
The Commercial Development Team plays a vital role in linking our community with our dream to be the best little zoo in the world. We continue to strengthen our ties with key players in the tourism and conservation fields working with Positively Wellington Tourism, Department of Conservation, Massey University, Victoria University, the SPCA and ZEALANDIA. We’re proud of our café partnership with Mojo Coffee Cartel, another Wellington success story. In addition to this partnership with Mojo Coffee, we have also worked on creating a list of other preferred caterers — including Baxter’s, Smith the Grocer, and Ruth Pretty, for use for on-site functions.
As a charitable trust itself, Wellington Zoo can’t support every charity that asks for help. We do what we can and support Ronald McDonald House and the Wellington Hospitals and Health Foundation.
Zoo Crew
Our Zoo Crew membership continues to grow in popularity, building new relationships with everyone from children to grandparents. This continued support is a vital resource for the Zoo, and we were pleased to exceed our target for membership with a total of 3,938 individual members.
Promoting our brand
Discount promotions included our popular Winter Wednesdays offer in August. This $5 entry promotion maintains access for a wide social and economic spectrum, helping our community experience the Zoo and the work we do. We were pleased with the success of the Wellington City Pass. Our promotion with Go Wellington Bus offered bus ticket holders, Snapper Card or Gold Card owners to enjoy a half price day out at the Zoo in May and June. We also trialled two half price promotions with GrabOne, an online group buying service, to allow us to reach new communities.
We offered our Zoo Crew and Big Bite Club members a number of treats. We were happy to offer Zoo Crew members the chance to celebrate World Environment Day with us, offering activities like face painting and fun sessions showing how to build a forest or a rockery at home, and helping the Zoo with tree planting.
To raise our profile and make the most of cross-promotional opportunities associated with our new Mojo Coffee partnership, we continue to offer a Zoo discount for all Mojo Card holders.
Raising our profile
The media have again played a key part in keeping the Zoo in the community consciousness. We have consistently attracted attention on a local and national level for a wide range of business, human interest and conservation Zoo stories — including heart warming stories about the birth of our pygmy marmoset in October. Our new dingo pup Wolfrik and his friend Percy, a dog from the SPCA, proved very popular also and attracted much media attention. The substantial support of ASB for our new ASB Malayan Sun Bears enclosure was featured in media throughout New Zealand, heralding the next chapter of our work in linking the corporate sector to our goals.
The Zoo is building our online communities through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, with both having over 2,000 members, where we provide daily news updates and promotional information in real time. It is a bold and cost effective way for us to reach and listen to our community and keep them in touch with everything they need to know about the best little zoo in the world.