Local Spotlight – West Coast Wildlife Centre

What is risk without reward? Does such a thing even exist? Even the most reckless of risks comes with some promise of personal gain—unless, of course, the reward is intended for others. Such an altruistic roll of the dice could very well be the riskiest of all but perhaps also the most worthwhile.

 

Taking a Punt

 

The West Coast Wildlife Centre, located in Franz Josef Glacier, is a breeding ground – pun intended – for wildlife conservation. Owner Richard Benton is the man behind the magic. I caught up with Richard to learn more about how this centre came to be and what happens inside.

 

Where are you located?

Richard: We’re located right in the centre of Franz Josef in a large green building opposite the Scenic Hotel.

 

 

How long have you been operating, and how did you get into it?

Richard: Gosh, it’s a long story. We’ve been operating since November 2010. I actually got into this through the Department of Conservation (DOC). In 2008, I saw some land and buildings for sale in Franz Josef and approached DOC. At the time, I didn’t realise that the world’s rarest Kiwi, the Rowi, came from the Franz Josef / Okarito area. They asked if I’d be interested in setting up an incubation and hatching facility for both the Rowi and the Haast Tokoeka Kiwi. Back then, the birds and eggs were going over the hill to Christchurch, and iwi wanted to try to manage things locally. So, based on advice and support from DOC, I took the punt. I bought the land and buildings and converted them into the facility we have today.

 

 

What was your primary driver? Was it as simple as wanting to do some good and be involved in something worthwhile?

Richard: I used to own the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. Between 2006 and 2008, I put in a New Zealand Penguin Encounter for sick and injured birds. Birds that couldn’t be released back into the wild. I’d formed quite a good relationship with the local DOC team and got hooked on advocacy and conservation from there. And you know, we’re only on this planet for a short period of time, so I guess I wanted to try and make a difference. When I came to Franz Josef and learned about the plight of the Rowi, I couldn’t help but want to be involved. There were only 140 left in the wild at that stage. Now, in partnership with DOC, those numbers are up to over 600 and we have hatched and incubated over 135 Haast Tokoeka. It’s been a hugely rewarding journey, both personally for me and for the species.

 

 

Well done! Can you describe the services you provide at the Wildlife Centre these days?

Richard: Sure! We’re an indoor visitor attraction, which is pretty handy in a location where we get our fair share of rain. Of course, inside our attraction, you’re guaranteed to see at least two beautiful kiwi (currently North Island Brown). We also have a VIP Backstage Pass Tour where we take you behind the scenes with some of our team to see the incubation and hatching facilities in action. But Rowi aren’t the only stars of the show. We have an excellent glacier attraction where you can learn more about the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and some of the challenges they face due to climate change. We also have a Predator-Free 2050 film and display, which is pretty amazing, as well as a Tuatara Encounter, another highly endangered species.  They’ve got a third eye on top of their head. They’re only found in New Zealand, dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. So that’s pretty exciting. And all our visitors get to see up close how we look after these incredible reptiles.

 

 

 

And quite the cafe there as well.

Richard: We do, yeah! According to Tripadvisor, we make the best coffee in Franz Josef. Also, if you’re waiting to go on a walk or a helicopter flight due to inclement weather, come see us as your entry ticket is valid for multiple re-entries over a two-day period which makes it incredible value for money. There’s a lot to keep you busy inside our facility, at least for a few hours, including a fantastic gift shop with plenty of New Zealand products.

 

Could you expand on learning about the glaciers?

Richard: Inside, we have an attraction people can walk through to help them understand and learn about how the glaciers are formed – the information is fully endorsed by NIWA. We also have plenty of interactives to help take you on that journey. It’s a fun way to get a better grasp of the importance of the glaciers and why this region is called Glacier Country.

 

 

Would it be a Conservation and Wildlife Centre, then?

Richard: That’s right. We are a living Conservation and Wildlife Centre committed to advocacy and helping protect and preserve the welfare of all wildlife. Tripadvisor awarded us their Traveller’s Choice Award in 2023 and 2024, and we’ve won many Visitor Attraction Awards and earned an endorsement through Lonely Planet. We’re Qualmark Gold rated, which means we’re rated as high as possible for sustainability due to our very low environmental footprint. 

 

How many people are on your team?

Richard: That fluctuates depending on the time of year. During the summer season, we’ve got nine team members, two of whom are full-time Wildlife Rangers with a wonderful Support Ranger. These fantastic team members will take you through the attraction on the Backstage Pass Tour. Our retail, ticketing and cafe staff are also pretty exceptional, as is our Operations Manager Lisa Stevenson, our leading star. They’ve all have heaps of knowledge that they love to share. I promise that if you visit the Wildlife Centre, your knowledge will be enriched, and you will leave having learned a great deal about the precious wildlife and habitat on the West Coast.

 

 

How would you describe your business in a nutshell?

Richard: We’re a fun, exciting, interactive facility—a modern-day shop window for conservation in New Zealand. Visiting us is a must, especially if you haven’t seen a Kiwi or know nothing about New Zealand native wildlife. The West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef should be at the very top of everyone’s bucket list when visiting Franz Josef.

 

Can you describe your first day on the job?

Richard: Oh Gosh, the first day on the job? I remember it clearly. Back in November 2010, I was nervous because I wasn’t really sure how visitors would perceive the idea of coming to see Kiwi or going behind the scenes to see the incubation and hatching facility. There was a lot of tidying up to do. We’d worked incredibly hard in a short period of time to put our best foot forward. Also, we were still pricing up some retail products and getting our cafe in order. When our first visitors came in, I’m pleased to say that everything worked out fine. It was a pretty nerve-racking day, but with the help of the Department of Conservation and a fantastic team of people, it went incredibly well.

 

 

Can you describe your perfect day on the job?

Richard: My perfect day on the job is when everything goes smoothly. We have a queue of visitors outside the door, all of our wildlife is in fantastic health, and everyone is happy, smiling and enjoying themselves. When people come to New Zealand, as when we go overseas, I believe they’ve got some fun tokens in their pockets. And they want to spend those fun tokens and get the best out of each day while on holiday. That’s our perfect day on the job when we live up to those expectations and our customers leave enriched.

 

What’s your favourite part about Glacier Country?

Richard: I love the wildness of the West Coast. Also, I like the fact that mobile coverage can be patchy. So it’s a good place actually to learn a little bit more about yourself. Take time to put your phone down, engage, talk to people, and listen. These days, mobile phones have taken over our lives which is often a little bit difficult. So here’s your chance to put your phone down, relax, unwind, and find out more about yourself and what you really love about life.

 

 

Can you tell us what your favourite New Zealand plant, animal, or insect is and why?

Richard: Gosh, that’s an easy one, isn’t it? I guess as owner of the West Coast Wildlife Centre, my favourite plant animal or insect is a tie. It has to be Tuatara because they’re just so fascinating. Any creature that roamed the planet at the same time as the dinosaurs and is still with us today is pretty special. And, of course, Kiwi. They’re our national icon, and we’re doing what we can to help bring them back from the edge of extinction. Many people are working very hard as a team: DOC, Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), ourselves, Iwi, and many people within the local Glacier communities. We all work carefully and closely together to achieve that goal, so it would have to be a tie between Kiwi and Tuatara.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to add we haven’t covered?

Richard: The West Coast Wildlife Centre has introduced 353 Rowi Kiwi and 141 Haast Tokoeka Kiwi back into the wild in collaboration with the Department of Conservation (DOC). That’s around 70% of the wild Rowi population and 31% of the wild Haast Tokoeka population that has now passed through our facility. The Centre currently provides on-demand Operation Nest Egg (ONE) incubation and hatching services for both the Rowi and Haast Tokoeka Kiwi.

One of the most popular ways to engage and explore the West Coast Wildlife Centre is through our VIP Backstage Pass Tour. It’s a ticket that takes you behind the scenes, to view the incubation and hatching programs and see Tuatara. It also includes a 48-hour unlimited pass to the indoor visitor attraction. That means you can come in and out as often as you like over two days. So, if you want to pop back and see the Kiwi later in the day or following day before leaving town, your ticket includes that experience. That makes the VIP Backstage Pass a particularly good value for money ticket.

 

 

 

What are you waiting for? 

The West Coast Wildlife Centre is located on the corner of Cron and Cowan Streets in Franz Josef Glacier. Visit Richard and the team, or get in touch for an up-close and personal wildlife experience. 

 

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Mike Bilodeau is a freelance writer focused on ecotourism and sustainable travel.