Money..money..money ( Hamilton city council again!)

https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz...

Link to the article. 

The Hamilton zoo loses how much a year you ask? Well it loses millions of dollars a year. It lost over $4million in 2023. 

HCC have NO RESERVES of cash, also facing another  $1.5 Billion DEBT in the next four years making a $2.5 Billion DEBT..............and they spend yet again $2.5 Million on this.......for what? They want to buy the neighbouring property for $2.5million. 

It appears they want it for accommodation for visitors to the Zoo, to give them some sort of 'Safari' type experience. Don't Laugh, the poverty in Hamilton may mimic Nairobi soon. 

Financial Challenges

Hamilton Zoo currently costs ratepayers over $4 million per year after accounting for expenses (last year double that). This equates to subsidizing each visitor by over $23.88, which is more than the cost of admission. It does indicate that the zoo requires significant financial support from the city to operate.

The zoo faces some financial hurdles:

• A recently approved multimillion-dollar revitalization plan will cost $15.688 million to implement over 10 years.
• There is uncertainty about where the funding for this plan will come from! (my guess the overburdened ratepayers!)

Revenue Generation Efforts....

To help offset costs, the zoo has implemented several strategies:

Annual Passes
Hamilton Zoo offers various annual pass options to encourage repeat visits and generate consistent revenue:

• Adult Annual Pass: $85.50
• Child Annual Pass: $39.50
• Family Annual Pass: $249.00 (for 2 adults and up to 4 children)

These passes provide unlimited entry for a year, along with discounts on retail purchases and food at the zoo.

Additional Initiatives
The zoo's master plan includes new revenue-generating ideas such as:

• Overnight glamping experiences
• A new cafe and gift shop
• A new area housing tigers and otters

These initiatives aim to attract more visitors and increase revenue streams for the zoo...stop laughing! They can also visit the gardens at $20 per adult to add onto the trip!

Between the Hamilton Gardens, The Claudelands events centre, The FMG stadium, the Zoo and the Seddon Park cricket grounds, there is a loss of over $25million a year. 

How good is Hamilton City Council at saving money? 

The Zoo monkeys could run a better circus.