Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

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 / Rotorua Daily Post

Wildlife at closed Rainbow Springs Nature Park to all be rehomed by October

Laura Smith
By Laura Smith
Local Democracy Reporter·Rotorua Daily Post·
10 Jul, 2022 10:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

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

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Rainbow Springs Nature Park is in the process of rehoming its wildlife before closure. Photo / Andrew Warner
Rainbow Springs Nature Park is in the process of rehoming its wildlife before closure. Photo / Andrew Warner

Rainbow Springs Nature Park is in the process of rehoming its wildlife before closure. Photo / Andrew Warner

Rotorua's iconic tourist destination Rainbow Springs is set to have rehomed its wildlife before permanent closure in October.

After going into hibernation in April 2020, the owner of Rotorua's Rainbow Springs Nature Park announced the proposed closure of the attraction in February.

At the beginning of March it confirmed it intended to go ahead with those plans.

While South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu, which has owned the attraction since 2004, earlier said all its animals would be rehomed by September, Ngāi Tahu Tourism general manager Jolanda Cave said the process was on track to finish by October and Rainbow Springs would then close permanently as planned.

"It has been working closely with the Zoo and Aquarium Association and the Department of Conservation to rehome Rainbow Springs' wildlife."

Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
Pay just
$10
$2
per week
See all offers
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Or
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Conversations with mana whenua were continuing to take place.

Cave said Ngāi Tahu Tourism remained committed to the future of its other Rotorua attraction, Agrodome, which had moved to being open seven days in time for the school holidays.

Read More

  • Rainbow Springs owners propose permanent closure - ...
  • 'Iconic' Rainbow Springs Nature Park confirmed to close, ...
  • Covid 19 Omicron outbreak: Rotorua's Rainbow Springs ...
  • Rainbow Springs employees remember Rotorua tourist ...

The National Kiwi Hatchery, which is located at Rainbow Springs, will be moved to the Agrodome site.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

When it made the announcement in March Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporate Services general manager Jo Allison said the decision came after a thorough consultation process with affected staff.

"All options were explored in the context of long-term sustainability and closure was not an option taken lightly."

While a much-loved attraction for the local community, Allison said it also brought with it substantial operating costs which Ngāi Tahu Tourism has had under consideration for a long time.

Coupled with the current restricted and uncertain climate, it had become clear the park was not financially viable, she said.

Discover more

Date set for iconic mountain bike festival's return to Rotorua

06 Jul 10:12 PM
New Zealand

Cause of mud and steam eruption in Rotorua road revealed

07 Jul 04:22 AM

Magic pay tribute to departing stalwart Sam Winders

06 Jul 10:54 PM

"We evaluated all options including changing the price point, offering a modified experience, and catering to the domestic market only – unfortunately, the unique environment of Rainbow Springs Nature Park has been prohibitive."

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

'It could be a lifesaver': Cancer survivor's message as home screening rate drops

Rotorua Daily Post

Why do Cambodian bakers make the best pies in NZ?

Rotorua Daily Post

NZ duo win world’s longest kayak race despite broken rudder


Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

Water showdown: Mayor's affordability plea rejected
Whanganui Chronicle

Water showdown: Mayor's affordability plea rejected

Why police questioned Kiwi league star Brandon Smith at airport
NRL

Why police questioned Kiwi league star Brandon Smith at airport

UK police advised to disclose ethnicity, nationality of suspects
World

UK police advised to disclose ethnicity, nationality of suspects

Swiss pilot sets new altitude record for solar-powered flight
World

Swiss pilot sets new altitude record for solar-powered flight

Everything we know about Taylor Swift's new album (so far)
Entertainment

Everything we know about Taylor Swift's new album (so far)

'They had their troubles': Friends shaken after woman fatally shot by police, man critical
Crime

'They had their troubles': Friends shaken after woman fatally shot by police, man critical



Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

'It could be a lifesaver': Cancer survivor's message as home screening rate drops
Rotorua Daily Post

'It could be a lifesaver': Cancer survivor's message as home screening rate drops

Lakes' participation rate in home screening for NZ's second deadliest cancer is down.

13 Aug 09:27 PM
Why do Cambodian bakers make the best pies in NZ?
Rotorua Daily Post

Why do Cambodian bakers make the best pies in NZ?

13 Aug 08:12 PM
NZ duo win world’s longest kayak race despite broken rudder
Rotorua Daily Post

NZ duo win world’s longest kayak race despite broken rudder

13 Aug 05:00 PM


Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet
Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

10 Aug 09:12 PM

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
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • 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
All-Access. All in one subscription.
Subscribe now

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Pay just
$10
$2
per week
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All-Access + BusinessDesk Annual

Pay just
$349
$49
per year
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search