Natureland curator Gail Sutton, who has worked there for 18 years, said it was a black day for all involved with the zoo and the thousands of children who visited it each year.
"I feel a bit gutted. There has always been a big vision for Natureland and a feeling it does have a place in the community.
"It's valuable for kids. They don't get to experience a lot of these things if they don't go to bigger cities like Wellington or Christchurch. It's going to leave a huge gap in that side of education.
"We have so many Mums coming in with little people - it's going to leave them with a big hole in their day."
Mrs Sutton said staff spent on Friday coming to terms with the closure announcement, but she was not looking past her immediate duties at the zoo.
A major fear was what was going to happen to animals that could not be rehoused, she said. Many of the birds would be sold, but it would be more difficult finding homes for the exotic animals.
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