An iconic Bay of Plenty tourism operation that has been welcoming guests for 90 years is set to close, the latest victim of Covid -19, after Ngāi Tahu Holdings confirmed Rotorua's Rainbow Springs is no longer 'financially viable”.

The visitor attraction, which welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their 2018 visit to New Zealand, has been closed since April 2020.

'Unfortunately, Covid-19 has significantly impacted Rainbow Springs business, which relied heavily on international tourism,” says Ngāi Tahu Holdings corporate services general manager Jo Allison.

'After careful consideration of all possible scenarios, Ngāi Tahu Holdings is proposing to permanently close its doors and rehome the wildlife.

'We will be focused on supporting our impacted kaimahi and ensuring the welfare of all animals in this transition period. Should the proposal go ahead, we will proactively work with the Zoo and Aquarium Association to relocate the animals.”

Allison says they remain committed to the work of the National Kiwi Hatchery at the site, which is open 'and will continue to operate at this site for the foreseeable future while we develop plans to move it to the recently reopened Agrodome site”.

'A final decision will be made once the proposal to close the park has been considered and staff have had the opportunity to have their say.”

The executive director of conservation group Kiwis for Kiwi, Michelle Impey​, sayst while the closure of Rainbow Springs is a sad development, she's pleased the 'critical” work of the Kiwi Hatchery will continue.

Impey, who showed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex around the site during their visit, says they are responsible for hatching thousands of Kiwi chicks which have been introduced to the wild.

She also says the hatchery plays a key role in developing expertise around kiwi conservation in New Zealand.

'We always maintained it's really important to keep them opening and functioning.”

'We are thrilled a decision has been made, really happy to have that clarity. Ecstatic for Kiwi conservation.”

Impey's sentiments are echoed by Department of Conservation technical adviser ecology, Jess Scrimgeour​.

'The National Kiwi Hatchery holds a significant amount of skill and experience on incubating kiwi eggs and rearing small chicks,” she says.

'The hatchery has played a pivotal role in improving the standard of care for kiwi by maintaining a 24-hour support hotline for practitioners and other kiwi facilities, hosting training workshops, and facilitating check-ins with other facilities to keep improving standards and best practice.

'We value the contribution of the National Kiwi Hatchery towards helping kiwi numbers grow through releases of young kiwi back in the wild.”

-Stuff/Benn Bathgate.