Aquariums and marine parks

Before its closure in 2008, Marineland in Napier confined marine mammals including dolphins, penguins and seals in small concrete pools. In the 40 years it was open, the facility kept more than 70 dolphins in captivity. Each of these dolphins had an average life expectancy of only six years, compared to 16 years in the wild – although they can live to 40 years old. These animals were forced to do circus tricks and put through the stress of having visitors ‘swim with the dolphins’ in their pool. In September 2008, after a long-running campaign by SAFE, Marineland closed to the public after the last-remaining dolphin Kelly died and the facility was prohibited from catching any more dolphins from the wild. There are now no dolphins in captivity in New Zealand.

In May 2021, Stuff reported that it could soon be the end of the line for the National Aquarium in Napier, after the Government declined to fund a proposed $77m upgrade. With the facility deteriorating and quickly becoming outdated, residents such as Terry the solitary sea turtle (who has been at the aquarium since 1979) may have to continue being lonely and confined for a little longer.
The sight of poor Terry the turtle in his tiny tank, which measures a mere 12 metres long by 3 metres wide, prompted visitors to leave negative reviews on Tripadvisor, with one South African visitor saying they were “haunted by the sight” and “couldn’t get the tremendous sadness out of my heart.” A visitor from Whangārei was also upset by Terry’s living conditions, writing “Gone are the days where it is acceptable to display creatures in this way."