The financially burdened Pūkaha Wildlife Centre will stay open after agreeing to a deal with iwi and creditors.
The Wairarapa sanctuary and hatchery faced imminent closure amid a dispute over an unpaid bill of $245,000, which resulted in the engineering firm tasked with refurbishing the building stripping the aviary’s doors.
In early June, the sanctuary stated that it needed to raise $600,000 within a week to avoid closure, as it had been unable to secure funding from its major partners, the Department of Conservation and Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā.
Today, the Pūkaha Mount Bruce Board announced that it had reached a heads of agreement with Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā, allowing the centre to remain open as both organisations worked to develop sustainable, long-term business models.
The agreement comes after the wildlife centre’s entire board was replaced.
“The new board has worked tirelessly to save one of New Zealand’s most important conservation centres and sanctuaries for endangered wildlife from closure,” board chair Shane McManaway said.
“We’re thrilled to have an agreement that will keep the doors open to schools, tourists and other visitors while continuing our native species and forest conservation programmes.”
Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā chair Sonya Rimene said it was “deeply committed” to the whenua taonga at Pūkaha.
“It’s a win-win outcome that strengthens the connection to our whenua and to our Whare Wananga. We look forward to translating our heads of agreement into a formal arrangement as soon as possible.”
Community support
McManaway said saving the centre from closure had involved “significant support” from Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā, creditors, and the community.
“The result is that Pūkaha can substantially reduce its debt and debt servicing costs, which allows us to pay our creditors – who have been very patient – and free up capital needed to run a sustainable business.”
He said, however, that Pūkaha was “not out of the woods completely”.
“The next six months will be a challenge as the Board works to finalise the details of our arrangement with Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā and get the operating model more in line with the income stream, which will ensure ongoing viability.”
He said the board and Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā were “100% committed” and up for the challenge.
“Kua hiki ake a Rangitāne i te manuka, ka karawhiu i ngā mahi kei mua i te aroaro. Rangitāne has taken up the challenge, and we are ready for the next phase of work,” Rimene said.
DOC acting director Angus Hulme-Moir said the department was “thrilled” the centre would be able to continue its conservation work.
Margaret Kouvelis, chair of the Central Energy Trust, said the organisation was privileged to support the board in its efforts to save the centre.
“We’re confident about the direction of the new board and relationships with iwi. Working together we can achieve the outcomes that have been so sought after for so long.”
