Natureland stands to become a bigger, smarter zoo with a larger range of native and exotic animals, and more staff to run it, Orana Wildlife Trust chief executive Lynn Anderson said.

Nelson city councillors unanimously agreed on Thursday to a decision that will pave the way for the trust to take over the running of Natureland in October.

The trust plans to make considerable changes, focusing on education and conservation programmes.

Ms Anderson said Natureland would keep its name and identity, but would adopt the trust's mission that was applied to its Christchurch attractions, Orana Wildlife Park and Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House.

All existing Natureland staff would remain and there were plans for an "immediate slight increase in staff". The exact number was not yet known.

A full redevelopment plan would be finalised during the first year of operation and local input would be sought, Ms Anderson said.

"Anything new will be done to a very high standard and of a level in line with the world's best practice," she said.

Visitors were likely to see a broader emphasis on New Zealand native animal species, plus exotic animals such as African crested porcupines, baby otters as a result of a breeding programme, and the return of the popular meerkats.

Other animals being considered included some additional primates, and the possibility of ``one or two larger animals'', depending on the amount of additional land secured through negotiations with the Nelson City Council, Ms Anderson said.

``Part of negotiations with the council will be about making more land available for expansion,'' Ms Anderson said.

She confirmed the farmyard petting compound would remain, and Ricky the special needs monkey would definitely be staying.

``There is no need for Ricky to go anywhere.''

The wildlife trust was one of four to have submitted a proposal to the city council on Natureland's future, when it was announced earlier this year it was closing. A spokesman for the Abel Tasman Gateway Trust, which ran the zoo on the council's land at Tahunanui, said the trust could not continue for financial reasons.

It said earlier this year it was facing projected losses of about $25,000 a month. Chairman Ross Newman said the trust had continued in name only as the employer of Natureland staff, and would be wound up later this year when the new organisation took over.

He blamed the funding formula, similar to what has been proposed for the new venture, on Gateway Trust's failure.

The council has committed to providing continued funding for Natureland as part of the new 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.

``A decreasing funding base from the council and increased costs led to the inevitable, sad ending,'' Mr Newman said.

Ms Anderson said Natureland was considered by the wildlife trust to have a lot of potential, and was ``too good to be lost''.

The registered charitable trust and community-focused organisation operated in a ``commercially astute manner'' with a proven track record of running not-for-profit wildlife attractions.

``Our team has the necessary skills to operate Natureland, as we successfully run two high-quality wildlife attractions in Christchurch.

``The city council has embraced the views of the Nelson public, who want to keep the zoo and see it improve, and it's very exciting to be part of that,'' Ms Anderson said.

She said while the wildlife trust's proposal did not include any great price hikes, running a large community facility at the current entrance price meant it was never going to be self-sustaining. The current entry fee is $5 for adults and $3.50 for children, and a family pass is $16. Ms Anderson said the first step would be maintenance and a tidy-up, and then the addition of more species.

Back to News Headlines ...