Napier City Council

NANZ (National Aquarium of New Zealand) Facility Lease/Procurement

The National Aquarium of New Zealand (NANZ) is comprised of an original building that was designed and constructed between 1973 and 1976 with additional expansions in 2002 and 2012. The current NANZ facility houses both salt and freshwater collections with exhibit and visitor spaces on two levels and is home to a diverse range of saltwater, freshwater and land animal exhibits from New Zealand and around the world. Back of house and administrative support spaces are dispersed throughout the
facility. It is one of only two aquariums in this country and the only publicly owned aquarium facility.
The Napier City Council has requested that all options for proposed commercial frameworks that will best serve Council and its rate payers for the ongoing viability of the facility be reviewed. As such, it is intended to seek expressions of interest from the open market (nationally and internationally) from suppliers that have had experience with operating recreational, tourism, biodiversity and educational focused assets, including but not limited to the following options for the buildings (as per council NANZ Annual plan consultation 24/25).
Option 1: Demolish and rebuild the facility with income-generating activities
Option 2: Partial refurbishment and redevelopment
Option 3a: Council exits the aquarium activity by transferring to a new party (most community support)
It is anticipated that the Council will be required to undertake further consultation in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2002, once the terms of the proposed lease are confirmed. Should the lease result in the transfer of control of a strategic asset (listed strategic assets in the NCC S&E policy), a Special Consultative Procedure may be necessary

Department/Business Unit: Community Services – Venues & City Culture