MEDIA RELEASE

26 May 2006

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary gains resource consent

New Zealand’s world-first conservation attraction, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, has gained resource consent for its new Visitor & Education Centre.

Wellington City Council officially granted consent this week after a three-day hearing in early April. The resource consent allows for the construction, use and maintenance of a new Visitor & Education Centre complete with café and interactive and educational exhibits. The consent also grants the development of extra carparking and associated landscaping.

Sanctuary Chief Executive Nancy McIntosh-Ward said the Trust is delighted to have received consent. “We are thrilled with the outcome of the hearing and would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of members who supported our project and everybody that supported our submission. The support we received shows that Wellingtonians are passionate about their Sanctuary and what it’s achieving – they can see the significant benefits it brings not only to their city, but also regionally and nationally. The new Visitor & Education Centre will allow us continue our many successes to date so we can continue on our 500 year journey.”

With the total cost of the development at around $16m, the Sanctuary received an interest free loan of $8m from Wellington City Council, which was set aside in the 05/06 Annual Plan. The Sanctuary aims to secure the remainder of the project funding from sponsors and other funders before detailed design commences.

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is an award winning conservation attraction located just minutes from downtown Wellington. Since the development of its world-first predator-proof fence and the eradication of 13 pest mammal species, 14 species of native wildlife have been successfully re-introduced, include the iconic little spotted kiwi and tuatara.

ENDS

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