1976: Orana Park

April 18, 2024

By AHNZ

Orana Park opened today in New Zealand history: 25 September, 1976.  It was in the now lost Paparua County (1911-1989) which now is just another part of MegaCity Christchurch. Orana always called itself a ‘Wildlife Park’ because there’s something apparently non-PC about the word ‘Zoo’. However, the founders called themselves the South Island Zoological Society. Go figure.

The concept was an open range, drive-through, zoo. You could even drive your own car among the lions. That changed in 1995 during the Victimhood Culture era of that decade.¹ The park was built by volunteers and fundraising, not government money. However these things have changed.

Curing the COVID Crisis the government topped up Orana Wildlife Trust $630,000 in freshly printed money. It is also subsidised $250,000/year from Christchurch ratepayers. Turns out those monkeys, giraffes, and zebras are on the dole!

“The wildlife trust that runs the park received about $250,000 per year from the council, but said in a submission on the council’s draft long-term plan that it needed an annual $1.5m contribution to ensure its financial sustainability.”

“Covid was a silver lining, as central government funding bought time, but we cannot prevent an inevitable financial demise without increased council assistance,”

“The trust proposed $500,000 in funding in the 2024-25 financial year, $1m the following year, and $1.5m annually over future years.” – Orana Wildlife Park facing ‘financial demise’ if funding not secured from Christchurch City Council, RNZ (2024)

“The dream began as far back as 1970. Neville Jemmett approached the Christchurch City Council about building a zoo on the recently completed land fill at Bexley. Whatever the response Neville received from the council may have not mattered as once the local’s got wind of the idea (via a leak to the media) there was no going back…Bexley proved to be an unsuitable site for the construction work needed. A new site was found out at McLeans Island. ” – DISCO,  (2014)

“Not a Zoo. No barbed wire or netting, no barriers or cages, except where strictly necessary.” – Press (1974,) Papers Past

“Approval in general terms was given by the Paparua County Council last evening to the South Island Zoological Society’s proposals for developing..” – Press (1975,) Papers Past

 “The Society set out to develop an open range, drive-through, zoo. Starting with almost unusable land, a dry, stony riverbed, volunteers cleared the site, initially with just hand tools….It was backbreaking work. As fundraising results increased, second-hand equipment was purchased resulting in significant progress.” – David Laughlin, NZ Herald (2020)

“A significant shift in direction occurred in 1995. The present administration building, and large carpark, was opened. This resulted in the entrance of the zoo moving to middle of the Park. Visitors could no longer drive their cars through Orana….the drive-through Lion Reserve ended. ” – Wiki

“My first job at Orana was digging 10 holes into the ground, which had to be dug with a crow bar because the ground was like concrete. Wondered what I had gotten into.” – Peter Morrison, Facebook (2022)

It’s a shame that another essentially Anarchist endeavor has become a State dependent calling out for even more free money.

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1 Satanic Panic Victimhood Culture (c.1991-1995)

Ref. COVID-19 wage subsidies – Employer Search, Orana Wildlife Trust

Image ref. Christchurch Memories, Facebook (2012)

Image ref. Orana Park’s fiberglass hippo. Along with a seal and an elephant of the same vintage I recognise these as previously being in Northlands Mall. AHNZ Archives (2013)

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