Zion Wildlife sold, Craig Busch to help run
Receivers of Zion Wildlife Gardens confirmed the sale of the business and assets to Zion Wildlife Kingdom.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers partners Colin McCloy and David Bridgman, receivers of the company, confirmed the sale today with Mr McCloy saying an offer had been accepted following due consideration of the expressions of interest in the assets and operation of the company, which the receivers believed provided good value and was the best option to preserve the operation of the park and protect the welfare of the animal.
The receivers understood the purchaser had engaged Craig Busch to assist with the operation of the park but said details on the sale were commercially sensitive and so the receivers were not in a position to comment further on the sale and purchase agreement, or the new owners.
“Receivers were on site this morning to advise those at the park of the sale. Staff have been given notice and stood down from work on full pay. The purchaser will staff the Park going forward.”
The receivership process would be concluded in the near future, the receivers said, and the purchaser was in possession of the keys to the park.
The receivers were pleased the sale and purchase agreement enabled the wildlife to remain at the park, Mr McCloy said.
“The welfare of the wildlife at Zion has always been a priority for the Receivers.”
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Comments and questions16
This family feud has cost the family dearly. Pity they could not sort-out their differences the way most other people do...get around the table and "talk"
Its cost them dearly I guess
One of the golden rule of business is: never work with family members/relatives if you can't maintain strict professionalism between yourselves.
There are bound to have conflicts in any day-to-day running of a business. The key issue is not to let these conflicts creep into your personal lives and ruin the relationship. In this case, a mom-son relationship.
Craig doing the day to day management of the cats and leaving the park's business management to someone else should have been the solution from day one.
The mother simply seems to be against any business solution to keeping the park running as a viable business. I wouldnt be surprised if she was the one suggesting the animals be euthanised recently to prevent the sale going ahead.
I also wouldnt be surprised if the African Game Park he often visited was providing the financial backing behind the deal.
A fully functional and operational Zion can only be good for tourism in Northland and its good there seems to be hope of its return.
Great news. So pleased to see this deal go ahead. Would love to come for another visit.
So happy Craig is going to be back with the cats. Those poor animals living in a cage deserve someone who has the passion to care for them. Great news
According to Google, the Tauranga address is only that of the accountant .
Tracey McVerry previously owned Organics Plus Ltd with Paul McVerry.
Organics Plus appears to be a name for Biodynamic farming, which, according to the NZ Skeptics, involves things such as filling a cow horn with manure and burying it over winter. Various things involving planetary life-forces, etherialising, astralising and quickening happen, at which point you can dilute it for a spray.
I hope the cats are issued with tin foil hats.
I am so happy that Craig has been called on to help with the Zion Park. We visited this park during our stay in New Zealand and spent a really enjoyable day. I was so sorry to hear that the Park had hit trouble and the animals were likely to be put to sleep. Our best wishes go out to the new owners and to Craig himself. I know that he will make the park a happy place once again.
Congratulations on the purchase of the Lion Park together with the employment of Mr Craig Busch, the expert on both looking after and dealing with with big cats and other animals. It was wonderful to hear the news, especially as my wife and myself visited the Park when we were out in New Zealand on holiday from the UK prior to the problems commencing. We had a wonderful day and hopefully we will be visiting your country again soon when another visit to the Park will be on the top of our agenda. My wife and myself wish to take this opportunity to wish yourselves as the new owners and Craig, who we know will be a success, all the best for the future.
Interesting that the purchasing company ZIon WIldlife Kingdom was incorporated in June 2009...
Says ALOT for Craig's character to have the new owners do this, with and for him. His mother has a damned cheek making such a carry-on - after all, SHE isn't the one who put in all the hard work initially, you'd think a mother would want to HELP her offspring, not publicly try to discredit him - she's obviously narcissistic. I hope he makes a fortune and she's made to eat every nasty word she's ever said against him! Glad she's not related to my family!!
GO GET 'EM Craig!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!
I don't know Craig, but we watched every episode of Lion Man and have dreamed of visiting the Park. His ex-wife and the dreadful publicity she created and what she caused him, then his demon of a mother stepping in - makes one wonder if the ex-wife is behind this somewhere. All we can say is "WELCOME HOME CRAIG, AND NICE TO SEE YOU BACK WHERE YOU BELONG AND DESERVE TO BE!" The mother is clearly an ignorant control freak who believes she is right all the time - even when she's wrong!! How did such a witch breed such a lovely man like Craig! He's a miracle!
I believe his ex died of cancer several months ago - so doubt she is behind anything.
it was such grreat news to heAR CRAIG IS BAK and the cats have ther father back. time to pop the wine bottle
I and my daughter had a personal tour at the park on the 19th may 2012 with Craig. He is a very softly spoken man. Knows what hes doing and loves those cats to bits. They love him to the reaction from them when he sees them coming is all i needed to know this. We did his cheetah encounter to.
As to the incident with his wife or what ever she was to him, she got of lucky if it was my husband id have shot him !!. Simple justice.
His mother well shes a tad demented is all im going to say, I doubt she loves those cats anymore than she loves money. In fact the dollar is the motivater here.
Craig the Hewitt family wish you well in your ventures, no matter where they are, The past is the past and we wish him all the best for the future. Moving forward he will succeed.
Love Jude and Krystal ...
I and my daughter had a personal tour at the park on the 19th may 2012 with Craig. He is a very softly spoken man. Knows what hes doing and loves those cats to bits. They love him to the reaction from them when he sees them coming is all i needed to know this. We did his cheetah encounter to.
As to the incident with his wife or what ever she was to him, she got of lucky if it was my husband id have shot him !!. Simple justice.
His mother well shes a tad demented is all im going to say, I doubt she loves those cats anymore than she loves money. In fact the dollar is the motivater here.
Craig the Hewitt family wish you well in your ventures, no matter where they are, The past is the past and we wish him all the best for the future. Moving forward he will succeed.
Love Jude and Krystal ...
I and my daughter had a personal tour at the park on the 19th may 2012 with Craig. He is a very softly spoken man. Knows what hes doing and loves those cats to bits. They love him to the reaction from them when he sees them coming is all i needed to know this. We did his cheetah encounter to.
As to the incident with his wife or what ever she was to him, she got of lucky if it was my husband id have shot him !!. Simple justice.
His mother well shes a tad demented is all im going to say, I doubt she loves those cats anymore than she loves money. In fact the dollar is the motivater here.
Craig the Hewitt family wish you well in your ventures, no matter where they are, The past is the past and we wish him all the best for the future. Moving forward he will succeed.
Love Jude and Krystal ...