Ambitious but achievable
Don Huse guides Zealandia.
Don Huse has been an advisory trustee of the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust since 1996, and is acting chair. Huse served as chief executive of Wellington International Airport Ltd for seven years before leaving in 1998 to be chief financial officer at Sydney Airport. Until 2008 he was chief executive officer at Auckland International Airport Ltd. As well as being a professional director Huse is a chartered accountant and holds a degree in economics from Victoria University.
Capital Times asked Huse about his involvement with Zealandia and whether he thought the sanctuary would ever pay for itself.
How and when did you become involved with Zealandia?
My involvement started in the mid 1990’s following an interview I heard on National Radio with Jim Lynch, founder of the Trust. I became an advisory trustee in 1996. I was invited to become a trustee again in 2008 on leaving the fast lane of chief executive life.
You left the Capital some years ago, why have you stayed involved with the Wellington sanctuary?
I was born in Wellington and have lived there longer than any where else. It is my “spiritual home”.
Financial troubles have plagued Zealandia in recent years, do you think Zealandia’s goal of financial self-sustainabilty a realistic one?
Yes, while ambitious, I believe financial self sustainability is achievable, but it will take time, especially in today’s tougher times. Zealandia is truly a wonderful example of community enterprise. It has been...and I am confident, it will continue to be...hugely successful in terms of conservation and research, education, recreation and tourism. Since its beginnings more than 15 years ago, the biggest challenge always has been funding. Despite that, it has flourished as a result of the incredible contribution of our volunteers, members, corporate partners, community and private donors, visitors from New Zealand and overseas...and, most importantly, from the Wellington City Council and central government. We’ve also enjoyed tremendous support from tangata whenua, DOC and the regional council.
How can Zealandia attract more visitors, or are New Zealand birds just not colourful enough?
It’s true some of our very special native wildlife are shy, retiring types who only come out to play after dark. That said there has been great progress in making more of the fauna in Zealandia, more accessible, more of the time. There is a wide variety of different display sites and these are being added to all the time. Special ambassadors like Scirocco, the “rock star” kakapo, along with more recent residents, like the takahe pair, Puffin and T2, are great advocates for Zealandia. Interpretation through the visitor and education centre with free guide and ranger talks also adds to the visitor experience. Tourism awards locally and from around the world also spread the good word about Zealandia.
Does Zealandia’s future lie in becoming more of a theme park?
No, not in the generally accepted sense of that term. However, as a protected bush and wet land providing sanctuary to a vast array of threatened native species, well within the city limits of New Zealand’s capital city, it is truly unique in world terms. There are also opportunities, not compromising of Zealandia’s core purpose and values, to attract visitors to the sanctuary to enjoy it’s facilities and wonderful setting.
What have been the major conservation successess of Zealandia?
There have been many. For example: the population of little spotted kiwi has grown from 40 to over 100 in just 10 years and tuatara are breeding on the mainland of New Zealand for the first time in 200 years. The sanctuary is now a wonderful reservoir for the dispersal native birds all over the city.
How important is the animal sanctuary vision to New Zealand?
It is absolutely critical. If we don’t make a stand now to keep Zealandia (and other sanctuaries) it will be too late. We will lose more of our native species. Once gone we can never recover them and the bio diversity they represent. What a terrible indictment of us as human kind it would be, if we were let that happen...are we the ultimate parasites killing off our host, our world?
Much of your business career has been with airports, do you have a passion for flying?
You bet...it brings people together and enables trade...that makes the world a safer and a more prosperous place.
Please finish these sentences:
The best attraction at Zealandia is...the ambience ...a magical place of living, recovering history resonating with bird calls, with more to see and cherish round every corner...at once part of, but still separate from, a bustling 21st century city.
If I was a bird I’d be a … very happy little spotted kiwi living at Zealandia secure in the knowledge that there could be no safer, better place to call home.
KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year, Sir Paul Callaghan, presents his lecture, A Sanctuary Vision and its Importance for New Zealand, at Zealandia’s Rata Café, 6pm, December 6.
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