New Zealand Zoo

New Zealand Zoo
06-07-2008

Situation:

You have purchased 10 acres of land on the outskirts of Rotorua... The local council have given you resource consent to form a new institution but due to the grounds size and your limited funds of $10 million dollars (for development) they have dictated that the zoo must exhibit native New Zealand animals only, must focus on the uniqueness of Rotorua and the role animals have played in the life of Maori...

What animals does your zoo contain..?

In what type of exhibits..?

A kiwi house, reptile house, insect house, aquarium, walk through aviary..?

How about cafe, restaurant..? Facilities..?

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Lotto: An extra tax for people who are bad at math...

Kiwi wildlife experience
07-07-2008

I am sure that you can have a nocturnal house/aviary/aquiriam complex . Just make sure that it is not as dark as Wellington Zoos kiwihouse .
Animals would include ;
Kiwis , tuatara , morepork , giant weta , kauri snail , tui , bellbird , kokako , pukeko , eels , trout , koura , kaka , kea , wood pigeon , frogs .....

and have plenty of sheep for the Japanese tourists !!

07-07-2008

I hope that you are not looking for a return on your investment! I know that kiwi dollars are only little but 10 million of them is a lot for such a focussed park to be expected to generate any sort of reasonable RoI.

07-07-2008

A wealthy animal-loving benefactor has given a one time donation with the expectation that the park be run as not-for-profit organisation and breaks even...

With that said Steve you may under-estimate the number of tourists to Rotorua, those looking for a Kiwiana experience, maybe even Japanese..!

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Lotto: An extra tax for people who are bad at math...

Japanese visitors in Rotorua
07-07-2008

.....which is why I suggested the sheep in my response .

There are so many Japanese that come to Rotorua , and spend BIG money
Give them a lamb to feed , and its the biggest hit for their whole trip to NZ
They never tire of lambs , sheep , wool etc .
After their trip to NZ they return to Japan and tell all of their friends , relatives , work colleagues etc about the sheep in NZ ...... even more than kiwi encounters .

07-07-2008

I would dearly love to be proven wrong!

I toured the North Island of NZ for 10 years from 1972 to 1982 and Rotorua remains one of my favourite towns - I even love the smell.

If the proposed park does not have to service debt or generate a return for investors it does have a much better chance of succeeding.

But don't bank too heavily on our Japanese friends. Remember the number of Agridome type rural attractions that have failed.

Good luck.

07-07-2008

Sorry Steve, I've just realised you may think this is in earnest... I haven't made myself clear...

This was only meant as a hypothetical situation for fun... I am but a lowly public servant, no real plans for a NZ zoo (sadly)...

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07-07-2008

You mean you don't have a wealthy benefactor?

Oh dear ...... I was going to enquire if he/she had an Aussie relative with similar interests!

We'll both have to keep dreaming. LoL

07-07-2008

Hmm a little off topic and maybe not relevant but just a really quick question for anyone that has eaten freshly killed animals. I went to have dinner at my parents place today and there were a few chops on the bench cooked waiting for me. Started eating them and got this weird feeling, kind of nostalgic - I was just wondering if anyone else has taken a bite into a lamb chop and known (without being told) that only hours ago your meal was out in the paddock with the rest eatinggrass???Anyway. . . Back on topic. . .

07-07-2008

Thats the best way to have it.

08-07-2008

Thanks for the sarcasm..! I do feel silly but if you look at your first two posts it comes across that you may have thought it to be legitimate...

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08-07-2008

Absolutely no sarcasm intended at all - sorry if you took it that way. Must be the Aussie humour. I'm the one who should feel silly that my responses were not better worded.

Seriously now - have you ever seen the Rainforest Habitat at Port Douglas in far north Queensland? That format, in the right tourist area of New Zealand could easily prove a winner and would cost less than your hypothetical $10 million.

08-07-2008

No I haven't, got a good link..?

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08-07-2008

Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary - Port Douglas Wildlife Park in North Queensland

08-07-2008

Thae Family that owns the Rain Forest Habitat own a few other wildlife based businesses in Kuranda, just a few minutes from Cairns wildlife safari reserve. They have three animal parks in this one village. Also the majority of tourists to cairns are from Asian Countries.

They also have the Cairns Wildlife Dome on top of the Casino.

They are done pretty well