AnnualWellington Zoo 2016 / 2017 Report Highlights 2016/17 Contents People 4 Trust Chair Report Love and 5 Chief Executive Report Save Animals Support the in the Wild 7 Strategy: Connect Zoo Save animals in the wild People and Lead the - 17 Strategy: Animals Way Connect people with animals 28 Strategy: People love and support the Zoo 36 Strategy: Lead the way 46 Independent Auditor’s Report New Zealand’s four major zoos The first phase of the Happy 1,723 Newtown locals Hosted 12 international and encouraged New Zealanders to Animals project was completed, 51 Financial Statements enjoyed our busiest Neighbours national conservation partners share their views on the need for with 3D information cubes Night ever. to share innovative ideas for labelling of palm oil, and the installed beside Monkey Island. global change. impact non-sustainable palm oil The information is based on the production has on habitats of wild Five Domains of Animal Welfare animals like the Sumatran Tiger. and explains how the Zoo cares for animals so that they are healthy and happy. We have reached an accumulative total of We signed a Memorandum of carboNZero Certified for the Understanding with the Jane 1,251contact hours providing 4,943,527 fifth year in a row. Goodall Institute NZ, which hands-on interaction for Zoo unique users via Facebook. coincided with Dr Jane Goodall visitors with a range of animals, visiting the Zoo in June. We will including Kunekune Pigs, Tuatara host an office for JGI NZ at and Weta. Wellington Zoo. $ Kea walk-through experience Seven percent increase in revenue Awarded Gold standard by opened – the final stage of the from our Zoo shop, due to careful Be.Accessible for our Contributed $386,339 Zoo Capital Programme that has product selection with a particular commitment to ensuring the Zoo to field conservation helping to seen most of the Zoo rebuilt focus on environmentally-friendly is accessible for people with save animals in the wild. physically and experientially. and conservation-themed stock. disabilities. Trust Chair Report Craig Ellison Chair, Wellington Zoo Trust As the Chair of Wellington Zoo Trust I am proud engagement and conservation outcomes. We to be associated with a model zoo for the 21st achieved Gold standard with Be. Accessible this Century. Our people believe in our zoo revolution year and this shows our commitment to ensure and continue to create innovative and inspiring everyone in our community can enjoy their Zoo. zoo experiences for our community. Our animals I would like to express my thanks for the dedication are cared for in the best possible way and of our Trustees in supporting the work of the Zoo. dedication to animal welfare continues to drive The Trustees work in partnership with the Zoo’s all of our decisions. We have set the benchmark Strategic Management Team to ensure Wellington for sustainability outcomes and we continue to Zoo achieves its goals. I would like to give a vote be carboNZero certified for the fifth year in a of thanks to Francie Russell and Linda Meade who row. We will be deciding on further investment finished their terms on the Board after 13 and seven for sustainability in our Zoo for the coming years years respectively. They have both dedicated their as we seek to continue this excellent result for time and expertise to Wellington Zoo and have Wellington Zoo. been active members of the Board. Wellington Zoo is an iconic Wellington organisation I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and and our intention is to have continuous commitment of the Zoo staff over the last year. It improvement in all we do. Our strategic framework has been a privilege to work with you all. for our Zoo really sets the direction for how we will do this and is underpinned by our values. As Last year we celebrated in some style the Zoo‘s a good zoo we set the standard by connecting 110th birthday, and as we move into 2017-18 we people with animals, saving animals in the wild, are looking to build on our success and create having a zoo that people love, and leading the way a place of pride for Wellingtonians. We will be in conservation and sustainability. aiming high and we thank you for being with us in our leading the way journey. The next year will again be testament to our ambition to be a world-class zoo with the very best animal care, veterinary research, community 4 Chief Executive Report Karen Fifield Chief Executive, Wellington Zoo Trust I am proud to say that Wellington Zoo is a world symposium and the other activities during the leading zoo. As the capital city zoo we are a place of week highlighted the amazing field conservation best practice animal care, community engagement work that Wellington Zoo is proud to support. with an ethical business approach to sustain the Wellington Zoo joined with Auckland Zoo, Hamilton important conservation and sustainability work we Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park to support the do as a good zoo. Australasian Unmask Palm Oil campaign, Ask for We opened the Kea Walk-through experience Choice. We called on Kiwis to join us in demanding in 2017 – the final piece in Meet the Locals He clear labelling of palm oil on all food products. Tuku Aroha – our love story for New Zealand. We We believe every New Zealander should be able also upgraded The Twilight Te Ao Māhina, The to choose what’s in their food. Clear labelling is Living Room and the Otter habitat. We welcomed the best step forward for consumers, so that they 230,632 visitors this year and we appreciate how can demand sustainable palm oil and make better our community supports us and loves what we do. nutrition decisions. This year we have welcomed new animals to the The Trust generated 57% of its operational costs Zoo, many of whom are endangered in the wild, this year and met or exceeded 17 of the 21 targets notably two Cotton Top Tamarin babies. However, we set ourselves for 2016-17. we said goodbye to some long-time residents As we prepare to start 2017-18 I am excited for of our Zoo, notably Gari the Fiordland Crested what we have planned for Wellington Zoo. I know Penguin who went to live at Taronga Zoo and the we will all be working hard to make our dreams for deaths of Tisa the giraffe, Rokan the tiger and Beni our Zoo come true. the Chimpanzee. Wild Ideas brought all of our local and global conservation partners to Wellington for one week to celebrate the hope we have for saving animals in the wild if we all work together. The 5 Our Dream is to Ignite a Zoo Revolution Strategy: Save animals in the wild The Zoo’s strategic vision is to make lasting positive change in our world through connecting people Wild Ideas for with animals, and collaborating with conservation organisations and the community for positive environmental outcomes. Global Change Wellington Zoo supports thirteen global and national conservation partners. Wellington Zoo’s As a finale to Wellington Zoo’s 110th birthday, we Conservation Fund helps to fund projects run by our wanted to show our community that everyone can conservation partners, including the protection of make a difference in protecting the environment habitat, environmental education in communities, and saving animals in the wild. The Wild Ideas habitat and population monitoring, and husbandry initiative was a global coming together of hearts development in the country where the animals and minds for conservation. naturally occur. Every year, Wellington Zoo staff Wellington Zoo’s Wild Ideas took place in April with support many of these conservation partners by events held over the course of a week including a using their expertise in these field conservation two day community symposium. Representatives projects. from each of Wellington Zoo’s conservation partners were invited to Wellington with a specific focus: presenting inspiring ideas for conservation. Measure Target Status Our global conservation partners travelled to Wellington from Vietnam, USA, South Africa, UK, Colombia, Brazil, Nepal, Australia, Cambodia and Number of Field ≥ 4 9 Conservation Spain Projects supported for threatened (NZ) endangered or critically endangered (global) species “Our focus is about working % of OPEX directly 3% 5.84% together to save animals in the contributed to field wild and we’re thrilled to have conservation our conservation partners echo this message at the symposium and talk about how we can secure a future for wildlife together.” Karen Fifield MNZM, Chief Executive, Wellington Zoo 7 Wild Ideas opening Wild Ideas for Global ceremony Change Symposium Neavin Broughton, our local Iwi representative The main focus of the week, the Wild Ideas for from Taranaki Whānui, welcomed Wellington Zoo’s Global Change Symposium was held on 5 and 6 conservation partners with a stone ceremony. April at the Paramount Theatre and was opened by Each partner brought a stone from their country Wellington Mayor Justin Lester and the Minister for – something that signified themselves and their Conservation Hon Maggie Barry. organisation. Wellington Zoo gifted a stone to each With over 150 people in attendance each day, partner from Wellington’s south coast to represent the symposium was an opportunity for each the natural wildness of our region. conservation partner to showcase their Wild Ideas The stories shared with the gifting of the stones were for Global Change in depth. Audience members unique and thought-provoking. They focused on included school students, university students, supporting local communities through employment environmentalists, business people and members and education opportunities, ultimately resulting in of the Wellington community.