Kelly Tarlton, the founder of Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, will be posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. Tarlton was known for revolutionizing the aquarium industry in the mid-1980s when he built the now iconic Auckland attraction, which was four times larger than any other in the world. His design of the aquarium has been copied extensively overseas since its opening in 1985, with techniques like curved acrylic tunnels used around the world.
The attraction drew 100,000 visitors after being open for only seven weeks. Sadly, Tarlton passed away shortly after, without getting to see it become a staple of tourism in Tāmaki Makaurau.
For his business, tourism, and marine conservation achievements, Tarlton has been announced as one of the 2023 laureates entering the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. His daughter, Fiona Tarlton, said her entire family was “so thrilled” to have Kelly inducted.
Tarlton’s legacy lives on in the millions of locals and tourists who have passed through the aquarium since its opening, according to Fiona. She said her father would be happy to know that the aquarium is still thriving with people of all ages experiencing it.
Tarlton joins former Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Michael Barnett, My Food Bag founder Thresa Gattung, tourism boss Wally Stone, Māori Agribusiness & Primary Sector leader Kingi Smiler, and property developers Ted Manson and Sir Paul Adams in this year’s field of inductees. He will be officially inducted at an official ceremony on August 10th in Auckland.
