They bought a zoo

Mike Rutledge and zoologist Meg Selby are new owners of Nelson's Natureland Zoo and a mob of meerkats, an African porcupine, and a menagerie of native birds and farm animals. The Orana Wildlife Trust took over the care of the Tahunanui zoo in 2008, but the financial strain caused by the Canterbury earthquakes has been too much. The zoo has been around since 1966. The Nelson City Council, which owns the land, called for expressions of interest last year when Orana decided to pull out and Meg and Mike got the nod. They will be taking over in November.