Ahead of its December opening, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has achieved Toitū enviromark gold certification for its sustainable operations.
The Toitū enviromark programme has been designed for New Zealand businesses so they can establish, implement, and maintain an effective environmental management system.
Receiving gold status acknowledges businesses that have successfully implemented significant sustainability operations, which Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre general manager Ross Steele said was a huge achievement for the team.
“From the outset, our team has been committed to sustainable operations and taking positive environmental action,” Steele said.
“We are exceptionally proud to reach this milestone in our pre-opening phase, particularly given how challenging the past few months have been.”
The convention centre has been working with Toitū since early 2020, during which time it has proactively managed its environmental risks and opportunities.
Environmental impacts are measured so they can be properly managed on an ongoing basis, something which Eniromark Programme advisor Chris Bailey said Te Pae Christchurch had been doing from the start.
“Well before the opening of the Centre, the team at Te Pae Christchurch mapped out their business activities and identified any significant impacts arising from those business partners they might influence,” Bailey said.
“By implementing control systems well in advance of opening, Te Pae Christchurch is managing their risks and opportunities from the start.”
Leading the programme internally, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre venue presentation manager Jason Stewart said that with New Zealand’s clean green reputation, it was important for the centre to align itself with the country’s strongest environmental programme.
“Venue sustainability is becoming more important to clients during the decision making process and the process to certification has had many benefits,” Stewart said.
“It’s helped us nail down the goals we want to achieve as a business and the improvements needed to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious.
“By getting every department thinking about what they do and the impact it has, it has solidified our environmental mindset.”
