Former Auditor-General named as new chair of Zealandia's interim board

Wellington City Council has confirmed new members of the Zealandia interim board with former Auditor-General Kevin Brady appointed chair.

The Council sees that the appointment of an interim board at the deficit burdened wildlife attractions as being the first step in securing its future following a mid-June decision by its Strategy and Policy Committee to implement a new 'partnership'-based governance and funding model for Zealandia.

The partnership model aims to:

• Allow volunteer and community support to be maintained at current levels.
• Enable the Council to develop an active partnership with the Guardians of the Karori Sanctuary Trust
• Enable the Council to continue to appoint three of the seven board members and exercise the right to appoint the chair.
• Include funding from the Council to Zealandia of $350,000 in 2012-13, and $700,000 in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Zealandia has sufficient cash reserves for the first half of 2012-13. Future funding would be subject to a satisfactory review to be conducted by an independent person.
• Be underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The Council has been concerned for some time about the sustainability of Zealandia's business model and established a working group last December to consider Zealandia's latest funding requests. In April, the working group advised the Council that no further funding should be provided to Zealandia until the governance and operational issues were addressed. As a result, a number of options were put out for public consultation. However, after analysing public submissions and undertaking further work the new partnership model emerged as the best way forward.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown is confident that under Brady's stewardship the board, working in partnership with Wellington City Council, will lead Zealandia confidently through its next stage of development.

Mayor Wade-Brown explained "Zealandia is a treasured ecological asset for our city which the Council wants to see flourish and develop. The interim board will ensure Zealandia has a firm foundation to build on."

Richard Bentley, chair of the Guardians of Karori Sanctuary, is confident that the guardians' vision for Zealandia will be realised, adding "the interim board has the right mix of skills to ensure the future of Zealandia as an ecological asset, a centre for ecology education and a visitor destination."

In addition to Brady the other board members are:

Charles Daugherty
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Professor of Ecology Victoria University.

Professor Daugherty leads VUW's contribution to the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution. His research interests focus on the ecology, genetics, and conservation of indigenous New Zealand animals.
 
George Hickton
Former Chief Executive on the New Zealand Tourism Board. He repositioned the organisation as Tourism New Zealand and launched the 100% Pure New Zealand campaign. During this time tourism growth to New Zealand has increased by 50% and Tourism is now one of New Zealand's largest single export industries.
 
Pam Fuller
As guide and host convenor for the past 20 years, Pam is a much-loved part of the Karori Sanctuary family and has a deep understanding of the history and development of Zealandia.
 
Steve Thompson
Steve is the Marketing Manager for Westpac Stadium having been Marketing and Development Manager for the Karori Sanctuary Trust between 1997 and 2001.
 
Russ Ballard
Russell holds several Board appointments and was recently elected Chancellor of Massey University. He has over 60 articles published in various science journals and books, and was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1994.
 
Graeme Mitchell
A chartered accountant, recently retired from Deloitte, Wellington, where he was an Audit and Assurance partner for over 28 years, Mitchell is a Member of Council of Victoria University of Wellington, a Director of Barnardos New Zealand and Honorary Consul General for Norway.

For more information go to www.visitzealandia.com/site/zealandia_home/

25th May 2012 - ZEALANDIA TO REVIEW ADMISSION PRICES AFTER FALL IN VISITORS

29th March 2012 - WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL BACKS ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT CCO TO CUT COSTS

28th March 2012 - COMBINED MANAGEMENT TO SAVE WELLINGTON’S ZEALANDIA?