ANNUAL REPORT For the year ended 30th June 2014 ORION PURPOSE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Provide a superior, entertaining, and educational visitor experience by utilising our knowledge, displays, and interactive experiences to engage our customers. We will make our facility as available as we can to the people of Auckland, constantly working to maintain and develop the facility as a leading Auckland icon. SUSTAINABILITY Ensure the ongoing sustainability of the organisation. CULTURE To encourage a culture within the organisation based on a high-degree of ethics. To foster leadership, professional VALUES attitudes and pride amongst the Stardome team, PASSION encouraging creativity, new ideas, and innovation. We are passionate RESEARCH about bringing the Ensure that Stardome continues to be a leader in knowledge of space astronomical research in New Zealand and a valuable into the community. contributor to international astronomical research. The RESPECT Stardome research strategy centres around three key We are considerate elements; facilities, people, and collaboration. and value others. INTEGRITY We are sincere and act with honesty to others and ourselves. INCLUSION VISION We work as a team, WE WILL: involving those around • Be the preferred and most trusted resource for us to utilise our strengths. promoting astronomy to the people of New Zealand • Exploit our unique location to make discoveries about INNOVATION the Universe that excites interest in astronomy We seek out new ideas • Inspire youth to value education and pursue careers and concepts. in science. STARDOME OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM ANNUAL REPORT 2014 3 SAGITTARIUS MESSAGE I am pleased to share the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium 2014 Annual Report. Inside you’ll read all about the achievements of the team and organisation, made possible in part by support from our stakeholders and supporters. Encouraging a questioning mind, to look up, and embrace learning at any age is at the heart of all Stardome operations. In three years Stardome will celebrate 50 years of showing the stars to explorers young and old. The measure of success for nearly half a century of sharing a love for space can be seen in the continued high attendance of public, and school children. 2013-2014 was a steadying year for Stardome. Visitor figures are lower than the last financial period but still up on the years before. The Visitors Solutions strategic review which was completed last year is setting Stardome in an exciting direction of innovation and the organisation is well positioned for progress. The education programme continues to reach eager learners across Auckland. Over 31,986 students took a trip to space as part of a school excursion. Each Ross Sharp watched a planetarium show, viewed the space gallery and exhibits area and took part in a space lesson. We are proud of this achievement and look forward to continued growth in this area. We would like to thank our key stakeholders and To confine champions. It is with their ongoing support that our attention Stardome is able to show Aucklanders the stars. The relationships with stakeholders continues to strengthen, to terrestrial and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Auckland Council, Regional Amenities Funding Board, matters Regional Facilities Auckland and the Tamaki Collective. would be On behalf of the board I would also like to thank the staff and volunteers of Stardome. The level of dedication to limit the and enthusiasm for sharing astronomy with the public human spirit. deserves recognition. It is this spirit for sharing that will continue to drive Stardome forward. STEPHEN HAWKING Ross Sharp, Chairperson STARDOME OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM ANNUAL REPORT 2014 5 REPORT The 2013/2014 FINANCIAL year has been a As can be seen from the enclosed statement of financial very busy period performance for the twelve months to 30 June 2014 Stardome achieved a net surplus of $201,752. for Stardome However, it must be borne in mind that this financial staff, volunteers statement has been prepared in accordance with current and management accounting standards which require that special purpose and I would like capital grants of $480,973 be recorded as revenue. to comment From an operating point of view, and excluding these on a number of capital grants and before depreciation Stardome achieved an operating surplus of $64,304 which approximately important areas. equates to our operating cash surplus for the year. Most of the income and expense items are generally in line with the previous. However, it should be noted that the drop in entrance fees was due to the 2013 figure being inflated by the revenue from War of the Worlds, as referred to below. VISITOR NUMBERS Although paying visitor numbers were slightly down on the previous year for a number of reasons outlined below, total visitors to the facility as recorded by our Reveal visitor counting system and after adjustment for staff movements exceeded 135,000 an incredible number for such a small facility. As noted above, our paying visitors in 2014 were down on the previous year for the following reasons. • In 2013 we held a very successful ‘one-off’ show, War of the Worlds, which attracted more than 3,500 visitors • In 2013 there were more astronomical events than in 2014 • The planetarium was closed for almost two weeks to allow for the upgrade project referred to below. PLANETARIUM UPGRADE Funded by charitable donations from Sir Po-Shing Woo and Regional Facilities Auckland we undertook a number of capital projects during the year including upgrading our planetarium operation system from the Evans and Sutherland D4 system to the state of the art Digistar D5 system, replacing the block assemblies on our Sony projectors, purchasing new seat bases and backs for the planetarium seats and painting the exterior of the building. At the same time as the planetarium upgrade, and funded by a grant from Meridian Energy we took the opportunity to install lasers and other special lighting effects in the planetarium to enhance our very popular rock music shows. EDUCATION During the 2013-2014 year our education programs continued to be very popular with school groups. During the year we had a total of 31,986 children from schools and kindergartens attend our education program. David Houldsworth In particular our lower decile school and Southern Initiative programs proved to be very successful with over 11,000 children attending our low decile scheme and 2,904 children attending our Southern Initiative scheme over the past twelve months. Equipped We have continued to build our physical and online education resources during the year to give teachers with his five a greater opportunity for pre and post visit astronomy senses, man education. explores CONCLUSION the universe In conclusion I would like to thank the entire management team, our staff, and volunteers for their hard work and around him support during the year. and calls the I would also like to thank the members of our volunteer trust board for their continued guidance over the past adventure twelve months and in particular, and on behalf of all Science. the staff at Stardome, I would like to acknowledge the substantial contribution of our chair Ross Sharp, who is stepping down after three years. EDWIN POWELL HUBBLE David Houldsworth, CEO STARDOME OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM ANNUAL REPORT 2014 7 highlights Over 135,000 visitors in the 2013-2014 period 73,610 paying visitors 2,904 children low decile visiting through the school Southern Initiative Scheme visitors: 11,208 PRE-SCHOOL KIDS VISITED STARDOME:3,302 28,684 OVER 6,500 STUDENTS SCHOOL VISITED STARDOME FOR A HOLIDAY 492,707 SCHOOL TRIP WEBSITE VIEWS PAGE VISITORS 4.5 trip advisor rating revenue generated Over $66,000 from venue hire CONTROL VISITS As highlighted above, Stardome had over 135,000 visitors and 73,610 paying visitors during the year. This year, a more considered approach was taken towards open days with a view to giving customers a fuller experience. Previous open days at Stardome have been accompanied by long lines and a short time in the building. Auckland Anniversary Day and Children’s Day in 2014 were lower in visitation but both days, particularly Children’s Day had a more relaxed feel and customers spent more time at Stardome. Visitors enjoyed more onsite activities with a bouncy castle, Science in a Van and a candy floss stand. Going forward, Stardome intends to increase the number of open days back to four per year but with the same approach of offering a full experience at Stardome with interactive activities. ATTENDANCE 90,000 80,000 80,240 70,000 71,750 73,610 66,704 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 In order Total Attendance to make an Note: (1) The Planetarium was closed for two weeks during apple pie 2013/2014 while the upgrade to the Planetarium Operating from scratch System occurred. (2) Total attendance in 2013 was boosted by more than you must first 3,500 visitors at the one off War of the Worlds show create the and by a number of special astronomical events. (3) Total visitors are estimated to be in excess of 135,000. Our universe. newly installed Reveal visitor counting system recorded 148,000 “entries” which equates to in excess of 135,000 CARL SAGAN visitors when the total is adjusted for staff movements. STARDOME OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM ANNUAL REPORT 2014 9 My group watched REGIONAL REACH a show called ‘Two We are pleased to see an increase in the Manukau and Pieces of Glass’ about Papakura regions, and attribute part of this to the low decile scheme, open days and the increased marketing presence the history of the around the region.