NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business / Companies / Tourism

Covid 19 coronavirus: Merlin Entertainments reveals toll on Kelly Tarlton's

Anne Gibson
By Anne Gibson
Property Editor·NZ Herald·
23 Jul, 2020 08:54 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Kelly Tarlton's shark bus is for sale. Photo / Richard Robinson

Kelly Tarlton's shark bus is for sale. Photo / Richard Robinson

The effects of coronavirus are taking a toll on popular Auckland tourist attraction Kelly Tarlton's, according to its global manager, and its distinctive shark bus is up for sale.

Merlin Entertainments (New Zealand), which manages Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, said the business had taken advantage of the Government's wage subsidy scheme but was cutting staff and marketing costs.

Work and Income shows Auckland Aquarium got $367,000 for 64 employees initially, then the wage subsidy extension of $162,900 for 38 employees.

Merlin's accounts filed with the NZ Companies Office late last month showed the business made a gross profit of $9.1 million for the 52 weeks to December 28, 2019, up on the previous $8.8m.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But that was before the pandemic hit and the accounts note material uncertainty, casting doubt on the Group's ability to continue on a going concern basis.

"The impact of Covid-19 on the group's trading is continually being assessed and subject to rapid change," notes to the accounts said, although Merlin had put in writing it would support the group for the next 12 months.

The distinctive promotional shark bus is for sale, listed as "a really jawsome opportunity to sink your teeth into".

Daniel Henderson, Kelly Tarlton's general manager, said today: "There are no plans to sell or permanently close SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium. Like many businesses in New Zealand, Covid-19 has had a profound impact but we have a recovery plan in place and look forward to continuing our founder Kelly Tarlton's legacy to inspire people to love the ocean and all of its inhabitants for years to come."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Kelly Tarlton's shut on March 23 and did not re-open until May 14, the accounts noted.

The accounts said wages and salaries at the tourist attraction were a significant element to the group's cost base, including the cost of employing casual staff at peak periods. Recruitment of casual staff is being stopped for the foreseeable future.

Discover more

New Zealand

Daddy Shark: Police use social media to reel in wanted man

21 Feb 01:00 AM
Travel

'Holy crap, I'm going to have to start picking apples' - travel influencer on coronavirus

16 Mar 08:00 PM
New Zealand|education

School holiday programmes geared up to start early

19 Mar 03:57 AM
New Zealand

Why a robotic dolphin is stirring up aquariums

11 May 12:14 AM

Where possible, staffing levels and the hours operated are being reduced.

"The group has also received wage subsidy from the Government to offset costs that continue to be incurred," the statement said.

Divers from Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's. Photo / File
Divers from Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's. Photo / File

Kelly Tarlton's was also taking advantage of the Government tax relief, it said.

In this first-half year, the business would normally be spending money on marketing like TV advertising "to drive school holiday peak trading". But that has been either delayed or cancelled. Other expenses have also been cut "where possible" the accounts said.

Auditors KPMG drew attention to "material uncertainty related to going concern". It cited a note in the accounts which it said "indicate a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern and therefore whether it will realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal court of business."

The attraction at 23 Tamaki Dr was the brainchild of the late marine archaeologist and diver and was built in disused sewage storage tanks. The aquarium used a form of acrylic shaping which allowed curved tunnels for viewing instead of the flat panels which were more common at the time.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The business says it is one of Auckland's top tourist attractions and it has 20 different kinds of shark and a shark cage-diving experience.

Visitors who would rather stay dry can go behind the scenes to meet the sea turtles in the rehabilitation programme.

A colony of Antarctic Penguins and stingray are displayed as well.

Kelly Tarlton's shark bus is for sale. Photo / Richard Robinson
Kelly Tarlton's shark bus is for sale. Photo / Richard Robinson

In 2015, the business celebrated 30 years of operation. The doors opened to the public on January 25, 1985 and by 2015, an estimated 11.5 million visitors had walked through the underwater aquarium.

Merlin Entertainments says it is the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator with more than 130 attractions in 25 countries. It owns the London Eye, Alton Towers and Chessington Adventures.

The Kiwi attraction has had a number of owners over its years. In 2002, Village Roadshow entered into a deal to buy it from Tourism Holdings for $13m. THL said at the time it would use the proceeds of the sale to reduce debt.

The Kelly Tarlton's aquarium and Antarctic encounter then joined Village's portfolio of tourism attractions, including the Sydney Aquarium, Oceanworld Manly and Sea World Gold Coast.

Last October, the Overseas Investment Office granted consent for Denmark's Motion Acquisition to buy just under 1ha of land at 23 Tamaki Dr in Orakei from Merlin Entertainments for $23m.

That was part of Motion's takeover of Merlin and involved the Kelly Tarlton's tourist attraction because it is deemed to be sensitive land.

Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Tourism

Premium
Property

British, Asian, Kiwis inquire about buying Cardrona Hotel

09 Jul 05:00 AM
Property

Cardrona Hotel sale could set Trade Me record: 21k views in under a week

07 Jul 09:01 PM
Premium
Companies|tourism

Why former SkyCity execs are being sued for breach of duties

07 Jul 01:56 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Tourism

Premium
British, Asian, Kiwis inquire about buying Cardrona Hotel

British, Asian, Kiwis inquire about buying Cardrona Hotel

09 Jul 05:00 AM

The Queenstown Lakes District Council values the main site of land and buildings at $5.4m.

Cardrona Hotel sale could set Trade Me record: 21k views in under a week

Cardrona Hotel sale could set Trade Me record: 21k views in under a week

07 Jul 09:01 PM
Premium
Why former SkyCity execs are being sued for breach of duties

Why former SkyCity execs are being sued for breach of duties

07 Jul 01:56 AM
Tourism Holdings forecasts lower profit amid US market challenges

Tourism Holdings forecasts lower profit amid US market challenges

03 Jul 11:24 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP