Birdwatchers may have to pay

Bird translocations to the Maungatautari Ecological Island will need to be sponsored, and the trust which runs the sanctuary may soon introduce entry fees as it battles to consolidate its financial position and pay off debt.

Speaking to the Times for the first time since the axing of the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust's four paid staff last month, trust chairman David Wallace said the organisation was not in a position to pay for more bird translocations and was now considering the possibility of charging individuals and groups to visit the southern enclosure.

With the trust now focused on its "core functions" – maintaining the pest-proof fence, eradicating pests and fund-raising – expensive species translocations and education "will have to be separately funded".

"In the past, species translocation has been done at great expense, without being fully funded," Mr Wallace said.

"The discipline on the trust now is that a species translocation must be fully funded before it commences."

That would mean sponsorship from "outside the trust", and Mr Wallace said it was one aspect of the trust's operation that was easier to attract funding for. He also dismissed rumours the trust had abandoned a recent bird translocation due to excessive cost.

"That's the first I've heard of it," he said.

Mr Wallace said the trust was now also investigating options for charging visitors to enter the 68-hectare southern enclosure at Maungatautari.

"People who don't want to pay, they can still walk on the mountain – but if they want to go to the climbing tower, or see some of the special features, they'll pay. We'd like to be looking very closely at that in the new year, but we've got some more consultation to do.

"One of the things that is holding that back at the moment is whether there is enough in the enclosure for the visitor to pay," he said.

"We've got to make it worth their while, and we've got to find a way of doing that."

Schoolchildren were already paying $4 each when they were part of a group visiting Maungatautari.

Mr Wallace, who had previously been reluctant to discuss the staffing issue, said the decision to sever the contracts of chief executive Jim Mylchreest and three other staff had been very difficult for the trust.

"Cost was the major motivation," Mr Wallace said.

"We were running out of cash-flow, and we took advice (to axe the staff).

"We've since renewed the (trust's) budgets with a very competent group of people – trustees and others – through to March 31."

Mr Wallace conceded the organisation would not be able to service its existing term loan, but would "scrape through with volunteers managing the project, and make budget".

"We can actually balance the budget, which is very important for the sustainability of the organisation."

The trust was relying on the "enormous generosity of people" in being able to stall loan repayments, which Mr Wallace expected would begin again in the 2010-2011 financial year.

The trust would not replace the axed staff, but the Cambridge office would remain open in the foreseeable future because it was a good location for the volunteers now running the trust.

Mr Wallace was aware of concerns the trust's overhead costs were too high, and said "the cost-cutting which has gone on here in the last six weeks is unbelievable".

The trust had raised about $2 million in funds in the last two financial years. Fundraising had been dropping in recent years "because it's no longer for capital projects", but the trust now had a secure future.

There were still "some very good prospects for Maungatautari" and the trustees were keen to "keep the project in the community's hands".

"This trust is determined to stand on its own feet," Mr Wallace said.

- © Fairfax NZ News