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Story: Zoos and aquariums

Hagley Park

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Hagley Park

In the 1860s acclimatisation societies imported all manner of animals. Many had grounds where imported animals were kept in enclosures. The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society had its grounds in Hagley Park. It was not long before the public were referring to it as ‘the zoo’, and many mothers visited with their children to see the latest exotic animals.

Using this item

Canterbury Museum, W. A. Taylor Collection

Reference: 1968.213.5184

by W. A. Taylor

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Zoos and aquariums – Early zoos, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/18428/hagley-park (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 1 March 2009.