Once again we pay tribute to the various organisations that have partnered with us on new or continuing projects.

Wellington City Council

As principal funder, the Wellington City Council – our most important partner - is contributing to the development of a business case to support the Zoo’s Capital Programme. This programme will address various animal welfare and health and safety issues as well as general redevelopment. The business case, covering the 10 year programme, will go to Council for consideration in December 2006.

Benefactors

The Zoo benefited again from funding granted by a number of trusts during the year. The Caversham Trust, the Community Trust of Wellington, the Licensing Trust Authority, the Lottery Trust Board, Pelorus Trust, Pub Charity, Public Art Panel, Trusts Charitable Foundation, Southern Trust, Trust House, and the Unison Trust all separately contributed to new exhibits and new amenities for both animals and visitors.

Funding Source		Amount		Purpose
Ministry of Education		$240,000		Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom
Lottery Trust Board		$64,000		Kereru research
Southern Trust		$25,000		Chimpanzee night quarters
Caversham		$25,000		Chimpanzee night quarters
Pelorus Trust		$24,000		African interpretation exhibit
Pub Charity		$500,000		amphitheatre
Public Art Panel		$7,000		bronze rhino sculpture
Wellington Community Trust		$30,000		Photographic exhibit for Centenary
Trusts Charitable Foundation		$14,000		amphitheatre
Trust House		$20,000		amphitheatre
Unison Trust		$25,000		amphitheatre

Sponsors

We are delighted that several valued sponsors continue to offer their vital contributions to our animals' health and comfort:

• It is impossible to overstate the value of our relationship with Pacific Radiology, sponsors of the Zoo hospital. They continue to provide all necessary x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs and other diagnostic services for our animals, and their support allows us to use state-of-the-art diagnostic approaches, which significantly improve the health outcomes.
  
• Arataki Honey continues to provide us with cash and honey for our sun bears. Their staff are very committed to the welfare of the species and have raised significant sums of money, which they donate through the Zoo to the Free the Bears fund. The sponsorship from Arataki Honey has also enabled us to renovate the cubbing dens in anticipation of future cubs.
  
• We are delighted to be working with the Rotary Club of Wellington, which has ‘adopted’ Wellington Zoo as an organisation to fundraise for and help develop over the next three to five years.
  
• Saatchi & Saatchi created the Zoo’s “They like looking at you too” campaign in print and on television, to enthusiastic responses from our customers and stakeholders. It has been a pleasure to work with this award-winning creative team.
  
• The Print Room prints our stakeholder newsletter for free and provides us with discounts as much as they are able as small business people.
  
• Southern Cross generously donated equipment for our animal hospital.
  
• Several loyal sponsors have expanded their support this year to help with the Zoo’s centenary programme:
  
  • Tip Top – which runs a promotional activity with the Popsicle Band on Children's Day, and makes a donation to an enclosure;
    
  • The Dominion Post – which provides us with a free monthly column and advertising in exchange for buying newspapers to give away to Zoo visitors;
    
  • Classic Hits – which sponsor the red pandas – and its parent company, The Radio Network.

We would also like to thank the generous supporters of our horticultural work: Hirepool, Magnum Industries Ltd., Ablaze, and Drogue Construction Ltd.

Other zoos

The mutual benefits of working closely with other zoos are increasingly valued. We are able to share ideas and experience as well as coordinating initiatives and collaborating on joint species programmes through the Australasian Species Management Programme. We hope that in the future the Kereru Discovery Project will become a national project.

Wellington peers

We have launched the Kereru Discovery Project to the public, our comprehensive and integrated conservation programme based on the New Zealand wood pigeon. This is a major partnership project with Te Papa, Victoria University of Wellington, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, and Pukaha/Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre (Department of Conservation).

The project aims to help kereru populations build up in New Zealand's urban areas, through a co-ordinated programme of research, education and exhibitions that will encourage positive community action.

The kereru is the only remaining bird that disperses seeds of all indigenous large-fruited trees. This means it is the keystone species for the survival of our forests – and its role in the New Zealand ecology is an excellent catalyst for engaging students, teachers, and the local community in conservation.