Admissions

Once again we have had a very successful year. Admission revenues were up nearly ten percent on last year – well and truly meeting our annual target and, for the first time, topping the million-dollar mark. The Close Encounters programme grew even more popular, with around 1,000 visitors for the opportunity to interact with animals at close range.

Please view our Monthly Admissions chart.

Feedback loops
Visitor survey results were again encouraging. Nearly half of all Wellingtonians visited the Zoo during the last 12 months, and 84 percent of those who came were more than satisfied with their visit.

More than 90 percent said they thought of it as their Zoo. They agreed with our new direction in terms of Close Encounters and Roving Guides – which they say helped them learn about our animals and the need for conservation – and said they would take the time to attend a free live animal presentation as part of their visit. Other opinion surveys conducted through the year continued to give similar results: around 90 percent were satisfied with the keepers' knowledge and staff performance and 80 percent with the variety of animals.

Publicity & media
The Zoo has continued to feature in TV programmes, news stories, and regular press columns over the year. Cream TV's "Wild Vets" series includes footage of our veterinarian team darting, performing procedures, and generally caring for our animals. It also followed last year’s exciting arrival of the two cheetahs from South Africa, and is set to air sometime in the near future.

From July 2005 until June 2006, 94 stories arose from our own press releases, and a further 106 general news stories ran, with 130 stories in other media.

Major stories included:

• Cheetahs, Charlie and Delta – appearing on Close Up as well as receiving a lot of other media attention when they started their encounters
  
• Chimp Day and the Truth about Great Apes week – both receiving lots of publicity in print and on radio
  
• Tahi, the one legged kiwi – becoming a worldwide superstar, appearing on CNN, BBC, Japanese Broadcasting Corporation among others
  
• The ICU team at Wellington Hospital – trying to help save Bahati the chimpanzee
  
• The lion incident in January, involving Zoo keeper Bob Bennett
  
• The arrival of a new female gibbon and her introduction to our resident male
  
• Campbell Island teal breeding success
  
• The Zoo’s 100th birthday.

Visitor amenities

Café
Eva Dixon's, our Zoo café, has become a really popular neighbourhood amenity – serving as a meeting place for groups as well as providing a sunny getaway. The glass-fronted meerkat enclosure and animal images projected on the wall help make visitors feel it’s more than just a café, encouraging them to come inside and get to know the Zoo.

Shelter, seating and signs
In addition to the sheltered seating and picnic tables installed outside over the last couple of years, the Elephant House - everyone’s favourite building – now sports a wonderful mural painted by work experience students, and reflecting the new reptile and bat exhibits located there.

Many less noticeable improvements have been completed this year, but they all make life easier for visitors. For instance, new signs have been installed throughout the Zoo to help visitors find their way around the Zoo.

New chimpanzee block
Since December, regular visitors to the Zoo will have noticed lively activity in the area of the chimp enclosure. This is the new night quarters for the chimps – the first project of the Zoo’s redevelopment. It will provide a space that is safe and easy for staff to work in and a large, comfortable indoor living space for the chimpanzees. The project will be completed in late 2006.