Zealandia gem out of touch and out of reach?
April 26 12:00 AM
AUTHOR:
Wellington City Councillor John Morrison has recently been talking some good sense on the Zealandia wildlife sanctuary in Karori when he says it does not seem to know if it is a tourist attraction or a wildlife sanctuary
Unfortunately, he thinks it seems to be falling somewhere in the middle.
I think he is right.
And in the midst of that confusion, Wellingtonians are getting a little done-over, as ratepayers getting hit up yet again to provide more funding on top of the original $10.3 million interest-free loan that helped launch Zealandia on the one hand, and facing high-end admission fees when they wish to visit it, on the other.
Zealandia should be a jewel in the crown for Wellington. It is a fantastic resource, and anyone living in the hills nearby – as I do – can only enjoy and appreciate the renewed native birdsong.
Zealandia should be right up there with Te Papa and Weta Studios and the Botanic Gardens as a ‘must see’, not just for us locals, but when we have guests from out of town.
But at $28 for an adult and $14 for a child, or $70 for a family if you want to do anything more than just walk through, we are talking a pricey trip. Indeed, if you do just want to walk through with none of the whiz-bang technology, you are up for $18 an adult and $9 a child.
Add in any out of town family or friends you might want to take, and be prepared to take a serious hit to your weekly budget.
I wonder how many people do the maths and just look for the next – and cheaper – attraction? Anecdotal evidence that I hear suggests plenty.
We are living in financially straitened times as a nation, and most certainly as families.
Everyone everywhere is tightening their belt – both the Government and ordinary New Zealanders.
There is a new air of financial responsibility in New Zealand today, and Zealandia need to demonstrate some very sensible and innovative stewardship over the next few years, in its thinking about how to run Zealandia, what it is, what it should be and what they expect people to pay through rates or admission fees.