Media release

22 December 2014

The Warehouse Zoofari raises $26.5K for low decile students in 2015

Just in time for Christmas, the Warehouse Group has presented Wellington Zoo with a cheque for $26, 498.40 – money raised in The Warehouse stores across the region to help students from low decile schools visit the Zoo in 2015.

The Warehouse Zoofari is a three-year partnership between Wellington Zoo and The Warehouse, which began in 2013 with the aim to make Zoo learning more accessible to the wider community.

NZ Bus supports the programme by providing discounted transport for participating schools to and from Wellington Zoo.

The initiative was wildly successful in its pilot year, with more than 1,700 students from 16 low decile Wellington region schools enjoying hands-on, nature-based learning programmes at the Zoo.

“It’s been fantastic to see so many local students coming in thanks to the Warehouse Zoofari. We’re incredibly grateful for the support of The Warehouse and NZ Bus on this project,” said Lynn Allan, Learning Manager.

In 2014, fundraising was extended to the Tasman region to make the programme accessible to students from the upper South Island.

“We’re thrilled to be able to help send even more young people to Wellington Zoo next year. School groups from across the Cook Strait will now be able to experience Zoo learning sessions, and participate in a special Zoofari Sleepover.”

Nearly 1,800 students from 13 schools will take part in the programme in 2015: Epuni Primary, Rata Street School, Naenae Intermediate and Taita Central School from Lower Hutt; Maoribank School from Upper Hutt; Titahi Bay North School, Ngati Toa School, Glenview School, Natone Park School, and Windley School from Porirua; Otaki Primary and Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano from Otaki; and Parklands School from Motueka.

Nearly 12,000 students visited Wellington Zoo in the past year to participate in Ministry of Education Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom (LEOTC) programmes.

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