Aaron (#31), where do you think Brooklyn's kaka and tui and pigeons come from? Don't join the knockers - join the sanctuary, it's good value

So hands up who's seen a tuatara at Otari? Or stitchbirds? Saddlebacks? Kiwis? It's a great place. But you go to Zealandia to see animals that can no longer survive in our world. THAT'S why it's special. The only other options are to see them in the zoo or pay a LOT more money and spend a lot more time going to remote offshore islands.

I think we should be very grateful we've got something like this so close to the middle of our city. And what a great place for visitors too. It's not a very good look for New Zealand when the only time most of our visitors see a kiwi is in the ZOO!

I'm a member too and love going for the walks, the guided tours are something you only need once though. I took my parents there a few weeks ago, they thought it was free and were grateful we had the Entertainment book to halve their price, they thought it was already very expensive. Having said that, they were astounded at what they actually saw and thought it was beautiful and a highlight of their trip. It was a lot more than they expected so I hope the Sanctuary markets themselves to convince people to pay to enter.

Congratulations on putting an attention grabbing headline ahead of informing the public about the facility and its benefits. Obviously the Dom Post team think there are points to be scored in their decidedly anti-Zealandia editorial policy.

The price increase to enter the valley is NOT going to double, but increase by $3. The doubled price is for the more than doubled experience which is promised by the new visitor center. Why don't your reporters wait until the visitor centre opens before you decide whether it is worth that charge or not.

Wellingtonians can become members of Zealandia for $62 per annum for individuals and $99 for a whole family. Then they can visit as often as they like over a year and support an institution which benefits all of Wellington every day.

The investment which has so far been made on Zealandia has resulted in Kiwi, Tuatara, Saddleback, Robins and Kaka all being present and thriving in the wild in our capital city. Tui are now far more abundant in Wellington than we could have dreamed ten years ago before the sanctuary began.

The visitor centre opens soon, I would urge you to try and lead a more informed debate once you have seen what lies inside the new facility.

A place like this is very Kiwi. Where is the government backing? I simply wouldn't pay for this.

way too expensive, way better options around welly that this very corporate approach to nature.

first time I visited the sanctuary it was free.Charge tourists yes but its a bit rich charging locals to look at there own country.

pay to walk round the bush in karori.... surely you jest. up in Brooklyn we have kaka's and other very colorful parrots that i haven't been able to identify flying round as well as tui's and pigeons and hedge hogs...i like them! think ill stay at home and drink some beer.

And how much did the pathetic 'Zealandia' rebranding cost? An entirely unnecessary expense indulging designer wank and nothing to do with enhancing an 'experience'.

@ AB - I agree the "twice-the-price" headline is a bit misleading. Agree too the Sanctuary needs the support of both Wellingtonians and tourists to survive/thrive. I expect most tourists will pay increased prices without blinking. But for Wellingtonians the reality is the Sanctuary is competing with other worthy causes/activities for our discretionary spend - it has to have a compelling value proposition - even the old $15 was a bit of a stretch in my view, $18/$28 is pushing this to the limit. I just hope they've got their sums right.