Introduction

As we enter our 100th year the Wellington Zoo Trust and our staff can reflect on an excellent year. We set our sights on reforming the remaining sub-standard aspects of the Zoo so it becomes a magical place of learning and fun, leaving visitors with a sense of wonder and respect for nature, and a belief in the need for a sustainable co-existence between wildlife and people.

This will happen through a commitment to the objects in the Trust Deed, established by the Wellington City Council who also provide significant operational and capital funding to the Trust, for the benefit of the people of Wellington. The Trust Deed obligations can be summarised as follows:

• Effective management of the Zoo
  
• Education of the community about the conservation of plant and animal species
  
• Conservation of plant and animal species
  
• Support of other conservation and education activities in Wellington
  
• Development of management programmes for the animal and plant species at the Zoo and the addition of new plant and animal species at the Zoo
  
• Fundraising.

Highlights

Against the benchmark of the Trust Deed I can, with great pleasure, report that the Wellington Zoo Trust has had an excellent year. The highlight was the achievement of visitation numbers in excess of 170,000 for the year. There is no doubt the increasingly vibrant educational and conservation offerings at Wellington Zoo and our well-cared for animals and plants are finding favour with the City’s and region’s families. We also had 35,000 domestic and international tourists visit the Zoo this year.

Financial/Performance

Financially the Trust achieved its goal to break even, achieved admissions revenue in excess of $1 million for the first time, and brought its expenses home 4% under budget. This, despite the unexpected need to spend in excess of $50,000 of operational funds on capital planning, a situation that will be resolved if the Business Case for the Capital Plan is accepted by Councillors in December 2006, and then accepted by the public as part of the Annual Plan process in March 2007. The Trust significantly improved the ratio of externally-raised funds to Wellington City Council funds and met every Key Performance Indicator agreed with the Council.

Education

The Trust doubled its funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Education for Learning and Education Outside the Classroom, offered new and exciting enquiry-based programmes such as Wildlife Encounters in the Living Room, and Close Encounters - enchanting visitors and imbuing them with a commitment to sustainable living. Over 14,000 students experienced an engaging Zoo educational programme in the year and the Trust stepped up its commitment to back educational programme developments with a sound research-base.

Conservation

The highlight was the Zoo’s participation in the Kereru Discovery Project, launched by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, conceived by then-Zoo CEO Alison Lash and enthusiastically developed with partners Te Papa, Victoria University, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, and Pukaha/Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre (Department of Conservation).

The Zoo commits to living its values and remarkably saved almost $1000 per month in waste disposal, reducing by 97% its waste to landfill. Water usage was reduced by 33%.

Zoo staff made individual conservation contributions through the year - for example Dr Katja Geschke in the satellite tagging of sea lions in the Auckland Islands and treating short-tailed bats on Kapiti Island; Chris Castles helping DoC band blue ducks in the wild and Jo Turton volunteering at the Ugandan Wildlife Education Centre.

Animal Welfare

A major change is underway led by experienced animal trainer Gerry Whitehouse-Ted to train and condition our animals so they can receive health and welfare treatments naturally. The risks to animals’ health are vastly reduced by this programme.

The big step forward in animal welfare is the near-completion of the new chimpanzee night quarters replacing the decrepit 60-year old accommodation they currently exist in. The Trust thanks and acknowledges the commitment of the Wellington City Council to replacing this and other old and shabby assets at the Zoo. Wellington Zoo’s chimpanzee group is world famous for its high functioning and it will be thrilling to see them explore their home in the new quarters that will open in October 2006.

Leadership Changes

The Trust offers its grateful thanks to Alison Lash who completed a marvelous period as CEO in April of this year and will welcome wallaby Karen Fifield in September. Karen Fifield has forged an outstanding record as a zoo educator and manager in Sydney and Melbourne and the Trust is very pleased to have her join us. The Trust would also like to thank Mauritz Basson, General Manager, Operations for ably acting in the position of CEO for almost five months,

Thanks

We’ve already acknowledged the commitment of the Wellington City Council and Mayor Prendergast to the more than 170,000 Wellingtonians and visitors who came to the Zoo in the year under review. There can be no doubt that these visitors “vote with their feet” and that Wellington would be much the poorer without the engaging, thought-provoking and fun experiences the Zoo offers.

The Trust offers heartfelt thanks to the staff whose caring and professional commitment to the work they do make it possible to have the lofty vision that the Wellington Zoo will be a leader in engaging its visitors.
I wish to also thank the Trustees who regularly commit much more time and expertise than they are ever compensated for.

The Trust acknowledges and thanks the donors and benefactors listed in the following section.

Fundraising

The Trust received $ 836,000 in grants and donations in the year, as well as many ‘in kind’ donations. A highlight was the $500,000 received from Pub Charity for the new amphitheatre in place of the ancient crumbling steps in the heart of the Zoo. The Trust also thanks Monkey Trust, WCC Public Art Panel, Pelorus Trust, New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, Unison Trust, Trusts Charitable Trust, Trust House Charitable Trust, Caversham Trust, Community Trust of Wellington, Southern Trust, Classic Hits, Arataki Honey, Brian Whiteacre Trust, Southern Cross, Estate of T Mouw, Estate of Marcia D Donnellan, Estate of B Armstrong, CRA, Bob Archibald, Tip Top, Saatchi & Saatchi, Pacific Radiology and the Dominion Post.

Commitment to the Future

The Trust appreciates that the Wellington City Council has already acknowledged, through the process of Long Term Community Consultation Plan (“LTCCP”), the dilapidated state of some Zoo assets. The Trust is doing its bit through inspiring projects such as the new chimp enclosure and the Council is committed to approving projects that remove concerns about animal welfare and health and safety and make the Zoo a better place for animals, plants and people.

Conclusion

In his inspiring submission to the Wellington City Council Weta Workshop’s visionary leader Richard Taylor described the Zoo as a tangible place where people can experience the wonders of the natural world “beyond the discovery channel”. The Zoo is a window on a diverse world that many will never see “for real”. It’s a treasure and we’re incredibly lucky to have it here in Wellington. See you there!

Neale Pitches Chairperson Wellington Zoo Trust 10 August 2006