Zoo recognised with Community Services Award
We recently celebrated Auckland Zoo’s partnership and support with an award for their outstanding community efforts.
Significantly enhancing the well-being of tamariki with cancer and their families is at the heart of the Community Services Award, which we give to just a small number of organisations annually.
Auckland Zoo has supported Child Cancer Foundation families for over a decade and absolutely exemplifies the spirit of this award – generosity, compassion, flexibility and a genuine commitment to community.
That longevity matters and reflects a sustained commitment to our families. It’s seen the Zoo provide free Zoo passes to Child Cancer Foundation families – offering moments of respite, joy and a ‘normal’ adventure during what is an incredibly abnormal, stressful journey.
More recently, the Zoo demonstrated exceptional care for immunocompromised children receiving treatment and unable to safely access public spaces by providing exclusive outside-of-hours access to the Dinosaur Discovery Track. The joy this experience created for those tamariki was extraordinary, and also gave parents the opportunity to connect with others on a similar journey outside of the pressures of a clinical hospital environment.
Zoo Director Kevin Buley, who accepted the award alongside the Zoo’s Community Engagement Coordinator Zoe Daza, said the recognition was deeply meaningful to the team.
“It’s incredibly humbling to be acknowledged by an organisation whose mahi is so vital in our communities and makes such a profound difference for families during an unimaginably challenging time.
“We’re honoured to play this small role in the Foundation’s work, and to be able to walk alongside these families on part of their journey.
“Through Zoe’s new role, and in partnership with the Foundation’s amazing family support coordinators, we’re thrilled to have doubled the number of families able to enjoy the Zoo over the past year. The updated process means they can now visit on any day that suits them, without needing to pre‑book. When life can change from one day to the next, offering families more flexibility and easier access to the Zoo is something we’re really proud to continue supporting,” says Kevin.