Orana Wildlife Park

What Orana Wildlife Park does

Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand's only open range zoo, located on 80 hectares near Christchurch Airport and operated as a registered charitable trust (Orana Wildlife Trust) since opening in 1976. It houses over 1,000 animals across more than 90 species and runs 39 zoo-based breeding programmes, including partnerships with the Department of Conservation (DOC) for threatened native species such as kiwi, whio, pāteke, and orange-fronted parakeet. The park holds unique assets within New Zealand, including the country's only drive-through lion reserve and only Western Lowland Gorillas, housed in a $6M Great Ape Centre that opened in 2015. The facility is accredited by the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and is a full institutional member of WAZA.

The commercial model is anchored in gate admissions, which generate over 60% of operational income, with the remainder sourced from a structured mix of recurring and one-time revenue streams: annual passes, animal adoptions at four price tiers ($200-$1,000), corporate memberships ($5,000-$10,000), paid wildlife encounters ($39.50-$69.50 per person), school and holiday education programmes ($10-$12 per student and $85/day respectively), gift shop and café (catered by Priestley's Cuisine), venue hire, and grants plus donations. Distribution is primarily direct via the park's own online store and on-site box office, with TryBooking handling holiday programme bookings and a Zoolife.tv streaming partnership providing a global digital channel that returns 50% of subscription revenue to the park.

Operationally, Orana is in a restructuring and repositioning phase following a July 2024 ZAA investigation, responding through the 'Future Focused' five-year vision, formation of an Animal Welfare Advisory Group, and a master planning engagement with Studio Hanson Roberts (commissioned November 2025). Capital expansion is funded entirely through fundraising, with active projects including the White Rhino Conservation Centre and a planned New Zealand native centre with incubation facilities. The Trust does not receive operational government funding beyond an annual Christchurch City Council grant, and all capital projects are financed through charitable trusts, sponsorships, and community fundraising.

Name

Orana Wildlife Park

Legal name

Orana Wildlife Trust

Website

https://oranawildlifepark.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand's only open range zoo, a charitable trust operating an 80-hectare park near Christchurch with over 1,000 animals, 39 breeding programmes, and unique assets including NZ's only gorillas. It serves visitors, schools, corporates, and conservation partners through admissions, encounters, education, adoptions, and venue hire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park / Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safari Parks & Drive-Through Wildlife Parks (THAAAFAD), Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Wildlife park operations
• Zoo conservation services
• Animal encounter experiences
• Wildlife education programs
• Conservation breeding programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Gate Admissions: Primary revenue stream generating over 60% of operational income. Visitors pay for general admission, with various ticket categories including encounters and special experiences.
2. Annual Pass Memberships: 12-month membership passes providing unlimited park access with additional benefits including discounts on encounters and gift shop purchases.
3. Animal Adoptions: Adoption program at four tiers (Silver $200, Gold $300, Platinum $500, Diamond $1000) valid for one year. Funds animal care, food, veterinary care, and breeding programmes.
4. Corporate Memberships: Silver Corporate Membership (150 passes, $5,000), Gold (250 passes, $7,500), Diamond (350 passes, $10,000). Includes encounter discounts and gift shop discounts.
5. Donations and Grants: Charitable donations, bequests, and grants. Annual operational grant from Christchurch City Council. Capital projects funded entirely through fundraising.
6. Gift Shop and Café: On-site retail (wildlife-themed gifts, books, souvenirs) and catering through Priestley's Cuisine. Gift shop accessible without park entry.
7. Zoolife Streaming Partnership: Live animal streaming platform partnership. 50% of Zoolife subscription revenue directed to Orana for animal care and conservation efforts.
8. Venue Hire and Events: Function venue hire for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties. Exclusive animal encounters packaged with venue bookings.
9. Education Programs: Zoo School pricing for school visits (Year 1-10: $10/pp, Year 11-13: $12/pp). Holiday programme at $85/day with extended day option.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Orana Wildlife Park operates as New Zealand's only open range zoo on 80 hectares near Christchurch, providing close-up animal encounters, walk-through and drive-through naturalistic habitats, and conservation-focused experiences. The park offers general admission, paid close encounters with giraffes, lemurs, tigers, rhinos, and gorillas, plus educational programs, animal adoption schemes, gift shop, café, and venue hire, all in service of its conservation mission as a registered charitable trust.

Product overview

Orana Wildlife Park operates as New Zealand's only open range zoo with over 1,000 animals across 90+ species. The product portfolio centers on core visitor experiences (park admission, annual passes) combined with paid animal encounters (giraffe feeding, rhino meetings, lemur experiences, tiger den tours, gorilla viewing). Digital offerings include Zoolife live streaming for remote engagement. Conservation products include animal adoption programmes at four price tiers. Educational products encompass Zoo School curriculum-linked programmes, holiday programmes for children, and Children's University partnerships. Corporate offerings include membership tiers with admission passes and discount benefits. All offerings interconnect through a unified conservation mission, with visitor revenue funding breed-for-release programmes for endangered native species.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Park Admission
• Annual Pass
• Hand Feed a Giraffe
• Meet a Rhino Experience
• Giraffe Close Encounter
• Lemur Close Encounter
• Tiger Den Experience
• Mini Moo Crew Encounter
• Great Ape Centre / Gorilla Experience
• Kiwi Feed / Native Encounters
• Adopt an Animal
• Gift Shop
• Gift Vouchers
• Zoolife Live Streaming
• Holiday Programme
• Zoo School
• Corporate Membership
• Venue Hire and Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60% of operational income generated from gate admissions
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Studio Hanson RobertscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 28 November 2025World-renowned zoo design specialists developing Orana's first comprehensive master plan. Led by principal Becca Hanson. 32-year relationship with Auckland Zoo, also works with Wellington Zoo, Hamilton Zoo, Naturelands, Brooklands Zoo.
• Environment Canterbury (ECan)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-funding arrangement for Jobs for Nature conservation project. Shared values for land use long term.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrana participates in DOC recovery programmes for threatened native species including South Island whio (blue duck), pāteke (brown teal), orange-fronted parakeet, kiwi, and Maud Island frogs. DOC co-funds Jobs for Nature conservation project at Orana.
• Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull institutional member of ZAA. ZAA coordinates all zoo-based breeding programmes for NZ species on behalf of DOC. Orana participates in 39 breeding programmes through ZAA network.
• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull institutional member of WAZA, enabling participation in international breeding programmes and conservation initiatives.
• Jane Goodall Institute NZmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU in place relating to Roots and Shoots programme to support schools in addressing conservation issues in their community.
• Lincoln UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey learning centre for Children's University programme, both onsite and through online learning experiences. Partner in Jobs for Nature conservation project.
• Canterbury UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey learning centre partner for Children's University programme, supporting conservation education initiatives.
• Re:Mobile / NZ TeleCommunications ForummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile phone recycling partnership to reduce coltan mining in gorilla habitat. Accredited by Minister for Environment. Mobile phones collected at park and partner stores (2degrees, Spark, One NZ).
• Zoos VictoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Orana on RE:MOBILE mobile phone recycling campaign to save gorillas.
• Ian Cumberpatch ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead architect for $6M Great Ape Centre development.
• Strongline South LtdminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead contractor and project manager for Great Ape Centre development.
• Priestley's CuisineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-site catering partner providing food service for café and events.
• Springfree TrampolineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of playground trampoline equipment.
• Kiwi Gaming FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter and sponsor.
• Tip TopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter providing ice cream/refreshments.
• OPPOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter and sponsor.
• The WarehouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter and sponsor.
• ZoolifemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVirtual streaming partnership. 50% of subscription revenue supports Orana conservation and animal care. Live camera access and daily Q&As with staff.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Monarto Safari Park: Large-scale open-range safari park in South Australia operated by Zoos South Australia. Shares Orana's open-range design philosophy, large land footprint, drive-through experience, and conservation-breeding focus.
• Hamilton Zoo: Another ZAA-accredited NZ zoo operating close-encounter experiences, adoption programmes, and education programmes. Overlaps in target visitor demographics, corporate membership offerings, and conservation programme participation.
• Wellington Zoo: NZ's oldest zoo and a fellow ZAA/WAZA member with a similar charitable trust operating model. Competes for national visitors, school programmes, and conservation grant funding, and participates in shared breeding programmes with Orana.
• Werribee Open Range Zoo: Australian open-range zoo featuring drive-through safari experiences and large free-roaming habitats. Closest international analogue to Orana's open-range model and comparable in immersion-led visitor proposition.
• Auckland Zoo: Largest zoo in New Zealand and ZAA/WAZA accredited institutional member. Operates a comparable mix of animal exhibits, conservation breeding programmes, education services, and corporate membership programmes in the same regulatory and donor ecosystem as Orana.

Emerging players

• Wellington Butterfly Garden / National Aquarium of NZ: Smaller NZ wildlife attractions overlapping with Orana on ticketed wildlife experience category, education programmes, and family tourism. Comparable in scale and product mix but narrower in species diversity.

Broad incumbents

• Australia Zoo: Large commercial zoo and wildlife park with close-encounter experiences, animal adoption programmes, and international broadcasting. Comparable offerings (encounters, adoptions, education, venue hire) but operates at materially larger scale and is privately owned.
• Taronga Zoo Sydney: Major Australasian zoo with overnight stays, close encounters, conservation programmes, and corporate membership tiers. Competes for international tourists and shares WAZA network with Orana.

Regional players

• Featherdale Wildlife Park: Sydney-based wildlife park offering close encounters with Australian native and exotic species. Comparable encounter-based proposition and gift shop/cafe revenue mix, though focused on Australian fauna rather than open-range drive-through.
• International Antarctic Centre: Christchurch-based attraction competing for the same tourist and education market in Canterbury. Shares visitor demographics, school group bookings, and corporate function hire with Orana.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orana-wildlife-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Orana Wildlife Park