Masterton District Council has loaned the Pūkaha Wildlife Centre $200,000 after it made an urgent plea for financial help. Photo: Supplied/ Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre
Masterton District Council has loaned $200,000 to the beleaguered Pūkaha Wildlife Centre, while the mayor is hinting of "more positive news to come".
The not-for-profit wildlife centre, which borders the Tararua and Wairarapa districts and acts as a breeding sanctuary for native birds, recently put out an urgent plea for financial help.
On Monday, Masterton District Council (MDC) confirmed a one-off unsecured interest-only loan of $200,000 for Pūkaha.
In a statement, MDC said the loan would be written down over 10 years, "with the council's existing $20,000 annual Economic Development grant to Pūkaha being applied every year to reduce the loan balance".
Mayor Gary Caffell said Pūkaha was worth fighting for and the loan reflected the council's commitment to preserving the important conservation and tourism attraction.
He told RNZ on Thursday of "more positive news" for the centre to come.
"I can tell you that there are some very positive comments coming forward in terms of helping the centre get through its financial hassles and allowing the new board to bring it (Pūkaha) back to life."
Last week, the wildlife centre's entire board was replaced, and it said it had been "heartened" by the response to recent fund-raising efforts.
Pūkaha has declined to comment at this stage.
DOC's Heather Alice says the goal is to complete an aviary that is under construction at Pūkaha by the end of the month. Photo: Supplied / BK Engineering
Aviary at heart of financial stoush on track for completion
Meanwhile, construction on an aviary for an endangered bird at the centre is expected to be completed by the end of the month - albeit not by the original contractor.
Masterton's BK Engineering was last year contracted by Pūkaha Wildlife Centre to build the enclosure for the at-risk shore plover bird.
But co-director Brent Reid said the firm had to walk away from the job after not being paid since November - and recently took the aviary's brand new doors with him in a bid to force the sanctuary's hand.
Reid told RNZ an invoice for almost $245,000 was still outstanding, which was confirmed by Pūkaha.
Reid said he had had to take out a personal loan to pay creditors.
The aviary's doors were still with him.
"They haven't approached us for doors or anything, which I can't understand. What are they going to do? Make new ones? I don't know."
He said it would only take "a couple of hours work" to reinstall them.
Reid had previously called on the Department of Conservation to step in with the funds, but DOC said it was Pūkaha's business to resolve.
Lower North Island operations director Alice Heather said the project was initiated by Pūkaha "as its aviaries were deteriorating and no longer fit for purpose".
"As an independent trust, Pūkaha's contractual relationships sit with them, and DOC is not part of any contractual discussions between Pūkaha and the contractor."
DOC had advanced half of its annual $200,000 grant to Pūkaha - specifically for the care of threatened bird species - "to assist with their current problems in paying contractors", she said.
Heather said in the meantime DOC had stepped in to complete the work on the aviaries at an estimated cost of $180,000, having gained permission from Pūkaha's previous board.
"These aviaries are urgently required for the national breeding programme for the critically threatened tūturuatu / shore plover.
"The goal is to complete work by the end of June, and relocate the birds by mid-July to ensure a successful breeding season."
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