Henry the tuatara prepares for new digs as project moves forward

Henry the tuatara and his friends are preparing to move out of their home while their new “tuatarium” is built at Queens Park.

It’s part of the Invercargil City Council’s larger museum redevelopment plan dubbed Project 1225 which will see the current museum demolished in favour of a new and improved museum at the same site in Queens Park.

The overall price tag for the 3550m2 museum is almost at $40m, and now the 120-year-old tuatara and his 16 friends have their eyes set on their new 109m2 home which will be in the animal reserve.

They will move to a temporary site until their new enclosure was ready as noise and vibrations from the geotechnical work on-site could negatively impact their wellbeing.

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The council’s mana whenua representative Evelyn Cook said the new enclosure would ensure the legacy of the tuatara continued in the rohe.

“Tuatara are a taonga and their presence in Waihōpai provides us with an opportunity to understand their importance in Aotearoa New Zealand as a remnant of a bygone age,” she said.

“It is a privilege to care for them and provide them with the best living area possible.”

The council’s programme director Lee Butcher said the new location would connect the tuatara with other animals that call Queens Park home.

“Housing the tuatara in a space where generations of Southlanders can continue their connection with them is really important to our community.”

Butcher said Christchurch-based firm Studio 4 had been chosen to design the new facility.

The firm had designed Orana Park’s Great Ape Centre in Christchurch and it was expected the enclosure would be unlike any other in Aotearoa.

“An enclosure of this calibre will be the first in the South Island and likely even Aotearoa.”

Studio 4 directors Julian O’Sullivan and Matt Sloper said they were excited to be involved in the project and design a home for the tuatara that Southlanders could be proud of.

While the visual elements of the design were important, the council’s manager for parks performance Kate Gough said it was important to provide safe living spaces for the tuatara.

Part of the reason Studio 4 was chosen for the project was because of the firm’s experience in designing specialist enclosures to keep animals safe and protected, Gough said.

“The new location within the animal reserve will provide the best way to look after the tuatara, and will be as close to their natural habitat as possible,” she said.

“We are really excited that Henry and his friends will be joining another part of Queens Park that families enjoy spending time in, and we can’t wait to welcome them to their new home.”

The first concept designs for the facility were expected to be available in July.