Fun park gives shareholders cause to smile

By NAOMI MAHON

The screams of happy children wafting through the window at New Zealand Experience's annual general meeting yesterday at Rainbows End was music to attending shareholders' ears.

The full carpark and visitor bustle provided an apt backdrop to the company's statement that visitor numbers had climbed from 261,000 to 293,000 in the past year, mainly due to the introduction of a new attraction, "Fearfall".

The Rainbows End operator increased earnings to $1.1 million in the June year compared with $184,000 in the previous year.

Chairman Tony Frankham said the company was ahead for the first quarter despite bad weather over the July school holidays.

He said the company expected another good year with higher profits.

The company is looking at introducing a new attraction around this time next year and will continue to upgrade areas in the park. Rainbows End general manager Evan Wheeler plans to travel overseas to find an attraction that has proved successful.

A good summer weatherwise would mean the company would continue to benefit from last year's major capital expenditure.