Kiwi Park

What Kiwi Park does

Kiwi Park (legally Kiwi Park Queenstown) is a family-owned wildlife sanctuary and visitor attraction operating on a 5-acre site in Queenstown, New Zealand. Founded in 1984/1986 by Dick and Noeleen Wilson, the park houses 20+ native species with a particular focus on kiwi, kea, and other indigenous New Zealand fauna, and is accredited by the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and recognized by the Department of Conservation (DOC). The business generates revenue through a diversified mix of one-time admission tickets, an on-site souvenir and gift shop, subscription-style annual passes, private guided tours, donations and tree-sponsorship programs, and gift vouchers, serving primarily inbound leisure travelers and families visiting Queenstown.

The park's operational model is anchored in conservation partnerships — including the National Kiwi Hatchery, Isaac's Wildlife Trust, the Kārearea Falcon Trust, Auckland Zoo, Willowbank, and Wingspan — which support species-recovery, captive-breeding, and inter-zoo transfer programs under ZAA oversight. More recently, Kiwi Park has extended its programming into adjacent verticals via a Bee The Change partnership (pollinator and honey-bee education) and into applied conservation research via a Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research partnership, alongside co-branded tourism activity with Air New Zealand around its 40-year anniversary. The park is small in scale (11-50 employees), privately held by the founding family, and operates without disclosed external funding or institutional ownership.

Name

Kiwi Park

Legal name

Kiwi Park Queenstown

Website

https://kiwibird.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kiwi Park is a family-owned, ZAA- and DOC-accredited wildlife sanctuary in Queenstown, New Zealand, displaying 20+ native species (notably kiwi and kea) and serving inbound leisure tourists through admissions, retail, annual passes, private tours, and conservation partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Tourism

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB), Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife sanctuary
• Nature tourism
• Kiwi conservation
• Guided wildlife tours
• Family attraction

Headquarters

HQ city

Queenstown

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Visitors pay for admission tickets which include access to the park, Kiwi Encounters, Conservation Show, and Honey Bee Centre with complimentary honey tasting.
2. Souvenir and Gift Shop Sales: On-site gift shop generating revenue from wildlife-themed merchandise and souvenirs, with proceeds supporting conservation work.
3. Annual Passes: Year-long unlimited visit passes with 20% discount for accompanying guests. Generates recurring revenue from locals and repeat visitors.
4. Private Tours: Exclusive 1:1 tours with qualified wildlife professionals including private Kiwi and Tuatara encounters. Limited to 6 people, 2-2.5 hours duration.
5. Donations and Tree Sponsorship: Donations from visitors and supporters fund conservation work. Tree sponsorship program allows guests to purchase plants for planting in the park, offsetting carbon footprints.
6. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers available for various occasions, providing flexible gifting options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kiwi Park is a wildlife sanctuary in Queenstown, New Zealand that offers visitors close encounters with native New Zealand wildlife, particularly the kiwi bird, through guided experiences, self-guided audio tours, and conservation shows. The park also operates a Honey Bee Centre, retail gift shop, and tree sponsorship programme, combining visitor entertainment with active wildlife conservation efforts.

Product overview

Kiwi Park is a family-owned wildlife sanctuary in Queenstown, New Zealand, operating since 1986 on a 5-acre site. Its core offering is a paid visitor attraction providing admission tickets and annual passes that grant access to the park, its Kiwi Encounters viewing experience, Conservation Show, and Honey Bee Centre. The park sells Private Tours as a premium add-on — exclusive guided experiences for groups of up to 6 led by wildlife professionals. The Self-Guided Audio Tour is a complementary digital add-on accessible via a mobile app available on iOS and Android in 8 languages. Tree Sponsorship is a charitable add-on supporting reforestation. Gift Vouchers and Annual Passes round out the commercial product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kiwi Park Admission Tickets General admission tickets to the Kiwi Park wildlife sanctuary in Queenstown, allowing visitors access to the park, wildlife viewing areas, and standard exhibits. Pricing is tiered by age (child, adult, senior) and family passes.
• Kiwi Encounters Premium guided experience at Kiwi Park providing close contact with kiwi birds, the park's signature native species. Designed for visitors seeking an up-close wildlife encounter not available at standard wildlife attractions.
• Private Tours Personalised guided tours of the wildlife sanctuary offered to private groups, providing customised wildlife viewing and educational experiences.
• Conservation Show Live educational show focused on New Zealand native wildlife conservation, designed to engage visitors of all ages with conservation messaging and animal demonstrations.
• Self-Guided Audio Tour Audio tour experience delivered via mobile application, allowing visitors to explore the sanctuary at their own pace with interpretive narration about wildlife and conservation.
• Annual Pass Annual membership pass offering unlimited entry to Kiwi Park for frequent visitors and local supporters, providing ongoing value and reinforcing visitor loyalty.
• Honey Bee Centre On-site exhibit at Kiwi Park featuring live honey bees and educational content about bee ecology, pollinator importance, and honey production.
• Tree Sponsorship Programme Conservation sponsorship programme enabling supporters to symbolically sponsor trees at Kiwi Park, contributing directly to the park's conservation and reforestation efforts.
• Gift Vouchers Redeemable gift vouchers for Kiwi Park admissions and experiences, suitable for gifting and extending the park's reach to new visitors.
• Gift Shop Retail On-site retail store selling souvenirs, plush toys, apparel, and New Zealand-themed merchandise to visitors as part of the park experience.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Shotover CreativeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 January 2026Shotover Creative produced the 'Thriving at Forty' short film for Kiwi Park's 40th anniversary celebration, bringing the park's story to life.
• Air New ZealandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 January 2026Air New Zealand attended Kiwi Park's 40th birthday celebration as an industry partner, supporting the milestone event.
• Manaaki Whenua Landcare ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2024Kiwi Park partnered with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research in a ground-breaking trial to target invasive pests without harming native birds. The successful trial represents a significant advancement in conservation methods.
• Bee The ChangemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2024Bee The Change is the proud kaitiaki (caretaker) of Kiwi Park's hives, including the viewing hive in the honey shop. Educational signage will be integrated into the Kiwi Park audio tour. The collaboration promotes pollinator protection and education.
• Auckland ZoominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024A female kea was transferred from Auckland Zoo to Kiwi Park to be introduced to resident male kea, with hopes of pairing and breeding.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiwi Park is fully permitted by the Department of Conservation and participates in managed conservation programs. All wildlife species at the park are part of DOC-approved conservation programs. The park works with DOC on breeding and release initiatives for endangered native species.
• Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiwi Park is fully certified by the Zoo and Aquarium Association for providing positive animal welfare. The ZAA certification ensures the park meets high standards for animal care and conservation practices.
• National Kiwi HatcherymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmma Bean from the National Kiwi Hatchery provided dedicated support during kiwi breeding efforts. The partnership assists with best practices for kiwi chick incubation and breeding program management.
• Willowbank (Christchurch)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiwi birds Rawiri and Bear were transferred to Willowbank in Christchurch to form new breeding pairs as part of the national kiwi breeding program.
• Isaac's Wildlife TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhio ducklings and pāteke ducklings are transferred to Isaac's Wildlife Trust after hatching at Kiwi Park. The trust helps prepare the birds for eventual release into the wild, including swimming training and survival skill development.
• Kārearea Falcon TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA rehabilitated kārearea (New Zealand falcon) received extended recovery care at the Kārearea Falcon Trust in Marlborough before being released by Kiwi Park at Akarua Winery in Bannockburn.
• Wingspan (Rotorua)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA rehabilitated male ruru/morepork was sourced from Wingspan in Rotorua. The bird has a damaged eye making it unreleasable and was brought to Kiwi Park.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Orana Wildlife Park: Christchurch-based open-range wildlife park with native and exotic species, conservation focus, and paid visitor admissions. Closely comparable as a privately operated NZ wildlife attraction with similar scale, mix of conservation and education, and admission-based revenue.
• Zealandia: Wellington-based eco-sanctuary operating a fenced urban reserve for native wildlife conservation and public visitor experiences. Directly comparable as a NZ native-species sanctuary with similar conservation mission, visitor-gate business model, and breeding-for-release programmes.
• West Coast Wildlife Centre (Franz Josef): Franz Josef-based wildlife centre with the largest kiwi hatchery in the South Island. Comparable as a visitor-focused native wildlife centre with breeding programmes, DOC partnership, and a similar tourism-led family attraction model.
• Willowbank Wildlife Reserve: Christchurch wildlife reserve with native NZ species including kiwi, conservation, and visitor experiences. Comparable because it is a similar native-wildlife sanctuary with kiwi breeding programmes and visitor-gate operations, and has a documented partnership relationship with Kiwi Park.
• Rainbow Springs Nature Park: Rotorua wildlife and nature park featuring native NZ species including kiwi, trout, and tuatara. Comparable as a mid-sized NZ wildlife attraction with educational shows, kiwi encounters, and similar family-tourism target market.
• Otorohanga Kiwi House: Native bird sanctuary and kiwi hatchery in the King Country, focused on kiwi viewing and conservation. Comparable as a kiwi-focused native wildlife sanctuary with breeding-for-release work and visitor encounters in a regional New Zealand tourism context.

Broad incumbents

• Australia Zoo: Queensland-based large-scale wildlife park founded by the Irwin family, with native and exotic species and visitor experiences. Comparable as a privately operated wildlife park brand with conservation messaging, family-tourism target market, and zoo-grade accreditation, but at vastly larger scale and international reach.
• Auckland Zoo: New Zealand's largest zoo, operated by Auckland Council, with extensive native and exotic species. Comparable as a larger, established, fully accredited NZ zoo offering overlapping experience but operating at much greater scale and breadth than Kiwi Park.
• Wellington Zoo: Wellington's council-operated zoo with a strong conservation and native species programme. Comparable as a major NZ zoo with ZAA membership and conservation focus, but with a wider portfolio and larger scale than Kiwi Park.
• Hamilton Zoo: Waikato regional zoo with native and exotic species and conservation programs. Comparable as an established NZ zoo with shared ZAA/DOC accreditation model but broader species portfolio and institutional operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kiwiparknz
• Instagraminstagram.com/kiwiparknz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiwi-birdlife-park

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kiwi Park