The fate of a guinea pig village, that has delighted and entertained for more than a decade, now rests in the fate of the community.
After almost a decade and a half based at Eyebright Country Store, the guinea pigs of Wendelton and their collection of wooden buildings need to find a new home, but it’s proving tricky.
Eyebright Country Store and the almost 4-hectare property it sits on was put up for sale in 2023, and earlier this year, owner Peter Owen made the decision to close the store.
“My shop manager is a passionate knitter, and so she had the idea of opening two days a week as a wool shop,” Peter says.
Wendelton and the guinea pig family have built up quite a following over the years, with Peter claiming people visit Nelson specifically to see them. But now being only open during two days during the week, the village needs a new home where people can continue to visit.
“People are going to want to keep seeing the guinea pigs, especially on the weekends.”
Peter estimates that through the Christmas season the village has more than 60 visitors a day.
“You need to have a fair bit of space, tucking it away on a city lawn wouldn’t work.”
PSA organiser Kate Davis has jumped on board with the challenge of finding a new home.
“As a union organiser, we take the future of work seriously,” she quips.
“That is why we are keen to help relocate the Wendelton Village guinea pigs. These guinea pigs have been working hard in the tourist and entertainment sector for years. They have worked tirelessly for the community, day in, day out – and now they face redundancy through no fault on their part. We would love to see their village relocated so they can continue their important work in the region.
“While the guinea pigs aren’t financial members of the PSA union, I think it is important to note that in the Top of the South there is a union for everyone when it comes to workers’ rights. If the guinea pigs wanted to become members they would fall under our coverage as we classify them as a community group.”
Kate thinks Founders Heritage Park would be the perfect new home, but they don’t want them.
“Founders Heritage Park was approached but had to politely decline. As lovely as the idea is, the park is just not set up to care for animals,” says Nelson City Council group manager community services Martin Croft.
The task is so important, Kate even quizzed candidate hopefuls on the subject at the PSA meet the candidates event last month.
“The guinea pigs have never taken any industrial action and will not be participating in the nationwide strikes on 23 October,” Kate says.
“They work for carrots. They work on public holidays and don’t even want time and a half.
“When visitors come to the area and ask me what they should do- I always say ‘sure the Abel Tasman is great, we have trails and mountains and the Centre of NZ - but don’t forget to stop at Wendelton!’”
Peter says, their new home still needs to be able to welcome the public.
“The whole thing has been so successful, to say ‘oh well, this doesn’t work anymore’ and pack it all up would be a crying shame.”
Peter attributes Wendelton to it’s “founding father” Marcus Lux, a “pretty creative” German who was working at Eyebright 14 years ago. At the moment, it’s home to seven guinea pigs, including the only male, Patrick.
“It’s interesting, Patrick, like many males across any species, refuses to tidy his bedroom,” Peter quips as he peers over to Patrick’s weed-covered patch, a polar opposite to the girls’ carefully manicured lawn.
Eyebright’s Christmas store will be opening for a nine-day pop-up starting on 25 October, to clear the last of boxes of Christmas stock. If you can offer the guinea pigs a new home, pop along and have a chat to Peter.
