The Star: April 18, 2024

The Star Thursday April 18 2024
8
NEWS
Orana Park pleads
for more funding
NEW ZEALAND’S only open
range zoo, Orana Park, could
risk closure unless the city
council provides significant
ongoing funding.
In a last-ditch bid to secure a
greater commitment to financial
support, Orana Park management
are appealing to Cantabrians
to make a submission to the
city council’s Long Term Plan
before public feedback closes on
Sunday.
Orana Park’s submission to
the LTP details a staged approach
to keep the attraction
operational: $500,000 in the first
year, $1 million in the second
year, and $1.5m in the third year
and beyond.
It currently receives $250,000
annually.
“Essentially we need $1.5m
per annum in secure ongoing
funding support to ensure our
financial future and halt our
inevitable demise,” Orana Wildlife
Park chief executive Lynn
Anderson told Stuff.
“What we’re asking for is
$8.11 per year per rate payer or
monthly, 68c.”
Until 2018 visitor income at
Orana Park covered 90 per cent
of annual operating costs; now
it has dropped to 65 per cent.
Orana Park did receive a
government supplement during
the Covid-19 pandemic and a
one-off $400,000 from a Better
Off fund – the now-abandoned
Three Waters reform support
package.
While those cash injections
were welcome, the McLeans
Island Rd, Harewood, wildlife
refuge needed $5.1m to run per
year.
“Caring for 1000 wonderful
animals, ensuring their
best practice welfare, and our
significant commitment to conservation
costs a lot of money,”
Anderson said.
She said it was not feasible
to increase admission prices,
which are currently $39.50 for
an adult and $12.50 for a child.
About 200,000 people visit
Orana Park, which was opened
in 1976, each year.
• For information on
Orana Park, go to www.
oranawildlifepark.co.nz
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Call for show’s lifestock
judging to be public
• By Dylan Smits
WITH THE New Zealand
Agricultural Show postponed,
North Canterbury Federated
Farmers hopes the public will
have access to the remaining
livestock competitions.
President Karl
Dean said it
would not “make
any sense” if the
competitions
were closed to
the public.
The agricultural
show board
announced
Karl Dean
yesterday it would be postponing
this year’s show. The livestock
judging and competitions would
still go ahead, but in a format
similar to the Covid-19 ‘no
shows’ in 2020 and 2021, which
were closed to the public.
“I think they might actually get
a bit of a surprise if they go back
to their roots, let the public in
just for the livestock and then see
how high attendance is,” Dean
said.
He believes the competition
loses its prestige if the public is
not allowed to watch.
The Canterbury Agricultural
and Pastoral Association said the
POPULAR: About 100,000 people usually attend the A&P
Show, which has been running since 1863.
show’s postponement was a disappointing
but necessary decision,
due to limited reserves after
“challenging” Covid-19 years and
a financial loss in 2023.
It determined the show was
unable to risk another loss year
in 2024, citing rising costs as a
factor in the decision.
“Twelve months of costs and
three days of revenue is not a
great business model by anyone’s
analysis,” said board chair Stewart
Mitchell.
Mitchell said the board and
committee would work on consolidating
revenue and reserves
and was planning for the show to
return in 2025.
Show vendors The Star spoke
to were saddened by the postponement,
but understanding of
the economic factors behind it.
Dannevirke-based Ruahine
Ports general manager Mel Rees
was pleased vendors were
informed of the decision early,
allowing time to adjust and potentially
sell at different shows.
“It’s a shame it’s not going
ahead, but you do understand it
from a business perspective,” she
said.
The Paeony Patch owner Sara
Archdale was saddened to hear
the show was postponed.
“Not even just as a vendor, but
as a resident of the community,
I’ll say it’s a wonderful event and
a lovely opportunity for the rural
community to come together. It’s
really sad to hear.”
409 Main South Rd, Hornby
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