Auckland Zoo to become a business..? » Auckland Zoo

Auckland Zoo to become a business..?
22-12-2008

Prices go up in private-run city - National - NZ Herald News

If this happens I'll be putting on my protest boots..!

23-12-2008

Interesting times ahead I think.

There is often a tension between the essentially dichotomous nature of the modern zoo - centre for conservation/ recreation venue/ commercial business. The test of a good zoo is how the management balance the competing (often conflicting) desires of the various stakeholder groups. Running a zoo as a hard commerical business will not work, whilst running it without recognising the importance of being commerically viable will also not work. Balance and moderation in all things is the answer. Whether a zoo can achieve and maintain this balance is the big question.

Personally I think there is scope to further improve the fundemental business practices within [the] zoo whilst also making the most of the incredible life-science expertise, vision and passion. Time will tell what happens though.

23-12-2008

I believe they have a good balance at the moment and from reading the article it seems to be a purely financial aim behind having the zoo become privately run...

If this is the case it will be an unmitigated disater, it always is when money is the sole focus of a zoo...

If it happens the whole thing will fall over and we may seriously set back what is a really fantastic little zoo at the moment...

23-12-2008

I agree. In reading the article I am not sure what the rationale was for including the Zoo in the holding company concept. Like most Council decision there are always unseen drivers and agendas - some good and some not! That said, an increase in the depth and breadth of management expertise that the Zoo can access to make it a success can not be a bad thing. I have often thought that the Zoo Enterprise Board should be more than just Council reps.
I share your sentiment though, that becoming money focussed at the expense of what the Zoo is really about would be a disaster.
From a practical perspective, being seen as (semi)distinct from the Council could make things like external fundraising easier.