Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Sanctuary Capability Study

This capability study assesses the feasibility of establishing a Centre for Learning in conservation and Te Taio Maori at the Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Sanctuary in Wairarapa. The first phase of the project involved conducting a benchmarking study with leading domestic and international organisations involved with conservation education. The second part of this work is a feasibility study that includes an economic impact study of visitors to PMB to determine the spending patterns of visitors while in the region. Here we have used three different methods to gather data: a survey (using a computer located in the Visitor Centre at Mt Bruce) that records satisfaction with and comments on the visitor experience as well as the amount of time and money the visitor has spent in the area; an online survey for businesses in the surrounding locality to determine their visitor characteristics, networks, and spending on labour and supplies in the local economy; and a Delphi-type study of tour operators, conservation experts, and academics to gauge expert opinion on the proposed Learning Centre.