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Photo: RNZ / Sam Olley / Vinay Ranchhod
Napier City Council owns and manages the aquarium and had proposed a $77.5 million upgrade, but is not getting the government backing it hoped for.
When it prepared its pitch for an aquarium rebuild in 2019, it found infrastructure problems were much worse than expected. Standards and expectations for animal welfare are struggling to be met , its business case said, and if the issues persisted accreditation would likely be withdrawn, meaning species would need to be re-homed or euthanised.
Problems mentioned included severely restricted sizes and access into some exhibits; limited quarantine facilities and inadequate water reticulation; filtration tanks in a non-operational state; and sharp right angles and unsuitable concrete substrates causing shark injuries.
Injured sharks and turtle trouble at Napier s National Aquarium rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Injured sharks and turtle trouble at Napier s National Aquarium stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.