Marineland slips into Bay's past

Regan Beckett, Marineland New Zealand head keeper, with Mr Bojangles. The fur seal was one of just three left at the facility before it closed. Photo / Warren Buckland

It is the end of an era.

The pools are now empty and the barking and splashing of seals has ceased for good at the closed Marineland, with the last three aquatic lodgers being shipped off to a new life in Australia.

For head keeper Regan Beckett, who first worked at Marineland as a 12-year-old volunteer and who has been there full-time for 27 years, the moment was, in a word, "bittersweet".

He saw one of the remaining New Zealand fur seals, Mr Bojangles, being born 11 years ago and that bond was particularly strong - as it was with all the animals through the years.

"It's a bit tough but it is a good closure because they have a lot of life in them yet and they are going to a very good home," Mr Beckett said.

"And we will be there to help settle them in."

Three staff are travelling with the seals.

Mr Bojangles and Molly are off to Sea World on the Gold Coast while Pania is heading for Melbourne Zoo.

They had originally been booked aboard an RNZAF aircraft for the flight to Auckland but the Vanuatu cyclone events had seen that called off as the aircraft was required for aid duties.

They made the trip north by truck and were scheduled to depart in the forward hold aboard a regular Air New Zealand flight, which was pressurised and temperature controlled, at 5am today.

One of Mr Bojangles' former Marineland mates, Mako, is already at Sea World.

"That is going to be fun to see them meet up again - they are old friends."

Mr Beckett said the eventual outcome, which he described as "a very involved mission", was the most appropriate one - given that at one stage euthanasia had been suggested for the surviving seals.

"I have grown up with all those seals and you become very attached to them as they all have different personalities - I could never have been involved in that," he said.

"Imagine having eight friends die in one day."

He was grateful and full of praise for the way the Napier City Council and other organisations went about getting the seals re-housed in what he said were "remarkable" new homes.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said: "This is a very good conclusion.

"It has been a lot of work, a lot of very hard work and a lot of time but they are going to much more appropriate facilities."

Mr Dalton had many fond memories of Marineland and said while it was sad to see it end, it was no longer acceptable to keep large mammals in such a restrictive facility.

"Everything has its day - it's the end of an era but the start of a new one."

Plans for transforming the now vacant Marineland site into a multi-purpose entertainment facility were well under way.

"We are working solidly on it and expect construction to begin later this year."

Skating bowls and sports areas will be complemented by the retention of the main grandstand, which will host audiences for concerts and other events which will be staged.

Summing up his entire working life there, Mr Beckett said he felt the way all former long-term staff felt.

"You can leave Marineland but it never leaves you."

All four remaining staff will take on National Aquarium roles.