Natureland zoo is staying open.

The Nelson City Council spent less than half an hour on Thursday making a decision that will open the way for the Christchurch-based Orana Wildlife Trust to take over the operation of Natureland from October this year.

The Tahunanui zoo will stay open under council management until that time.

The council has committed to providing continued funding for Natureland as part of the proposal. It will provide $200,000 in the first year, $175,000 in the second year and $150,000 from the third year onwards for a minimum five-year period.

Cr Ali Boswijk said on Thursday the council agreed unanimously on the decision, which means it has agreed to negotiate with the trust over the running of Natureland, and over its plans to make considerable changes, focusing on education and conservation programmes there.

These will be subject to approval by the Department of Conservation and the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria.

The Orana Wildlife Trust operates similar facilities throughout the country, including Orana Park on the outskirts of Christchurch.

Cr Boswijk said that while there was some discussion, and some reluctance among councillors, the level of public support for Natureland to remain open swayed a unanimous vote. Cr Denise Henigan was absent from Thursday's full council meeting.

Earlier this year, the council triggered a furious outcry when it announced that it planned to close Natureland, after advice from the Abel Tasman Gateway Trust, which ran the zoo, that it could no longer continue for financial reasons.

Crs Ian Barker, Mike Cotton and Aldo Miccio then voted against the decision to close the financially ailing zoo.

Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall and Crs Boswijk, Graeme Thomas, Gail Collingwood, Mark Holmes, Pete Rainey and Derek Shaw voted to close it. Crs Henigan, Rachel Reese and Alison McAlpine were absent during the earlier vote.

On Thursday Mr Marshall said the council was impressed with the calibre of the Orana trust's proposal, which was among four received after the council called for proposals on the future of the site.

"With its expertise, it will rejuvenate the facility and provide an educational, entertaining experience for Nelson families."

Mr Marshall urged all ardent Natureland supporters to visit as often as they could, to ensure the success of the zoo they valued so much.

The council said that once the trust had determined which animals it would have at the site, renovations would be made to accommodate them.

Natureland curator Gail Sutton said staff were excited at the prospect of working with Orana Park.

Mrs Sutton said the first reaction staff had Thursday morning was one of relief that the animals they loved could stay and would have a better life.

Staff were also happy that their jobs were safe.

"The staff will stay and the animals will stay, and Ricky (the special needs monkey) can stay living with his family of keepers," she said.

Mrs Sutton said Natureland had been run on an "oily rag", and working with the Christchurch zoo would enable Natureland to realise its potential, which it had wanted to do for some time but could not because of a lack of resources.

Orana Wildlife Trust chief executive Lynn Anderson said recently the trust believed that Natureland was a very good place with a bright future.

Ms Anderson, in her role as chair of the New Zealand branch of the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria, wrote to Mr Marshall after the council said it was closing Natureland, urging a review. She could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

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