Category: Articles

Te Pae Christchurch Takes Centre Sustainability to a New Level

Posted on by Ben Buchanan

Te Pae Christchurch Takes Centre Sustainability to a New Level

31 October 2022

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has strengthened it’s commitment to sustainability, launching a partnership with the local Canterbury Community Garden Association to supply the “soil food” generated by its food dehydrator to the organisation.

Launched at the CCGA’s recent AGM, the partnership is a key step in the Centre’s move towards more sustainable operations.

Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said the Centre was delighted to partner with the Canterbury Community Garden Association (CCGA), the Just Dirt Trust and City Care in the distribution of the soil food created by the Centre’s onsite dehydrator.

“Sustainablity is a key tenet of operations across the Centre, and something we committed to very early on in our journey. With operations now well underway, it’s exciting to be able to recognise an initiative that we have been working towards since pre-opening.”

“The partnership also aligns well with our parent company ASM Global’s corporate social responsibility program ASM Global Acts, particularly the key program areas of protecting the environment and strengthening our communities,” Mr Steele said.

“With the Centre now in full swing, it’s fantastic to see weekly pick ups of soil food underway and to hear about the benefits local gardeners are finding as they use the soil food.”

Rachel Vogan, Capacity Builder at the CCGA said the organisation was proud to partner with Te Pae Christchurch, City Care and The Just Dirt Trust on this project.

“Creating connections, reusing of waste products to make compost is huge for our organisation. Currently, the CCGA is actively engaged with 52 community gardens in the region. This type of relationship is what community gardening is all about, sharing knowledge, and turning waste into something nutritious to feed our soils, it’s a win win,” she said.

“I love that it’s recycled from a waste product that may have ended up in landfill.” The “soil food” dehydrator used at Te Pae Christchurch is provided by Sustainably. It has the capacity to process 200 kilograms of food waste a day and works by heating the Centre’s excess food (food that is unsuitable to be donated to Foodbank Canterbury) to a set temperature over nine hours, reducing the food to a soil-like consistency which is rich in nutrients.

Te Pae Christchurch Reaches Significant Event Milestone

Posted on by Ben Buchanan

Te Pae Christchurch Reaches Significant Event Milestone

20 September 2022

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has reached a significant milestone, hosting 100 events in the four and a half months since its first conference in May.

The 100th event, held over the weekend, was the Take Charge Christchurch Expo hosted by the Christchurch City Council.

The free public expo featured more than 50 electric battery vehicles in and around the Centre, and attracted close to 9000 visitors.

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre General Manager Ross Steele said given the support from the Ōtautahi Christchurch community since the Centre began operations, it was only fitting the 100th event was for the public.

“We’re delighted that our milestone 100th event was one that supported our city and the community, particularly given that Te Pae Christchurch was built as a regeneration project for Ōtautahi Christchurch,” Mr Steele said. “It’s been fantastic to attract and host so many events that we can see are having a direct and positive impact on businesses across the city.”

Event organiser, Christchurch City Council Resource Efficiency Manager Kevin Crutchley said it was great the Take Charge Christchurch Expo happened to be the 100th event held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, particularly with it being a free community event.

“Te Pae offered an excellent facility for a public event, with the exhibition hall large enough to house the 56 battery electric vehicles on display. We were grateful to have the facility infrastructure that Te Pae offers as well as their friendly staff support for the event,” he said.

Of the 100 events so far, Te Pae Christchurch has hosted 36 multi-day conferences, including two international events; 30 banquets, 27 meetings and seminars, six exhibitions and one live entertainment event.

More than 40,000 guests have attended events at Te Pae Christchurch, resulting in 42,000 room nights in the city’s hotels and almost $30 million in direct economic value for the wider city.

Mr Steele said for the Centre to have already held 100 events so soon after opening was quite remarkable.

“Business to date has absolutely exceeded our expectations. While some of this can be attributed to the impacts of covid condensing this year’s event schedule, it also speaks to the interest and pent-up desire for Ōtautahi Christchurch as a destination for business events.”

Photograph supplied by Christchurch City Council.

Te Pae Christchurch Launches New Recruitment Drive Following Increased Demand for Events

Posted on by Ben Buchanan

Te Pae Christchurch Launches New Recruitment Drive Following Increased Demand for Events

18 August 2022

Due to unprecedented event demand Te Pae Christchurch is looking to bolster its ranks earlier than expected.

Since operations recommenced just over three months ago, the Centre has hosted more than 60 events for close to 40,000 people, with another 120 events planned before the end of the financial year, including 52 multi-day conferences.

As a result, the Centre is looking to fill a host of new permanent, fixed term and casual positions, predominantly in its operational teams.

Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said “while we have a fantastic team working with us already, business has bounced back stronger than expected so we are looking to employ more people ahead of schedule.”

He said that alongside the increase in events, the Centre’s team was also noticing extremely high delegate numbers – “greater than expected in just about every case”.

Among the roles on offer are fixed term coordinator and supervisory roles in culinary services and event operations, as well as permanent and fixed term sous chef and chef de partie roles operating in one of the largest and most modern kitchens in the country.

Both the Centre’s culinary services and event services teams are also looking to increase their casual staffing pool ahead of a very busy 2023, with wait staff, barista, event set-up and guest assistant positions available.

As Australasia’s newest convention centre, Te Pae Christchurch is looking to further grow its audio-visual offering with a host of specialised roles up for grabs. Successful candidates will be working with the latest audio-visual equipment in New Zealand’s first international standard convention centre.

Also working with the latest technology will be the newest members of the building services team, with the department soon to begin recruiting for roles to assist with the ongoing maintenance of the facility.

Along with competitive wages, training and uniforms, the Centre offers staff a host of additional opportunities through its parent company ASM Global.

“As part of the ASM Global family, we are fortunate to be able to offer international job and career opportunities for staff through our worldwide network of 350 venues,” Mr Steele said.

“Staff at Te Pae Christchurch will have access to the ASM Global Passport, a program designed to facilitate employment for team members if they decide further down the track to travel overseas.” A number of job opportunities are already on the Centre’s website with more being listed over the coming weeks. Prospective candidates are encouraged to check out the careers page on www.tepae.co.nz for more information.

Global Event Leader Joins Te Pae Christchurch

Posted on by Ben Buchanan

Global Event Leader Joins Te Pae Christchurch

5 August 2022

As Te Pae Christchurch ramps up operations it has bolstered its leadership ranks with the appointment of highly experienced event professional Nicolette Elia as Director of Event Services.

Nicolette has more than two decades of experience across venues on three continents, including her most recent event role as Director of Operations for Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.

Specialising in venue management and operational and event services management, Nicolette will be overseeing Te Pae Christchurch’s Event Services department, including the event planning, audio-visual and floor coordination teams.

Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said as an international standard convention centre, it was important to hire someone with global experience to ensure the Centre would remain at the forefront of business events in New Zealand.

“We are thrilled that Nicolette will be joining the team. She has incredible knowledge of the business events industry, as well as the nuances of managing a high performing event team with a strong client focus. Her knowledge and leadership experience will be of huge benefit as we ramp up operations, support our clients and seek to take the business to the next level.”

Nicolette said she was tremendously excited to be joining the team at Te Pae Christchurch and becoming part of the ASM Global family.

“This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a new venue, build strong foundations and leave a legacy for the people of Christchurch. Being part of something this grand is a great honour and I look forward to contributing to its success.”

Nicolette commenced her role this week.

Te Pae Christchurch Finalist for Global Innovation Award

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Te Pae Christchurch Finalist for Global Innovation Award

10 June 2022

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has firmly announced its arrival on the world stage a month after resuming operations post-covid.

The Centre has been named as a finalist in the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) Innovation Award for its Taste of Te Pae Activation Hub initiative.
 
Te Pae Christchurch is in good company, named alongside six venues from some of the world’s leading conference destinations, including Vienna, Paris, Québec and Taipei.
 
The Centre is the only New Zealand venue shortlisted and joins fellow ASM Global venue ICC Sydney in the prestigious list.
 
Ross Steele, Te Pae Christchurch General Manager said the team was thrilled to be recognised as both an international standard venue and leading innovator in the convention space.
 
“To be named as a finalist alongside some of the world’s top business event venues and destinations is an incredible achievement for a new venue.
 
“We’re so proud to be putting Te Pae Christchurch and Ōtautahi Christchurch on the world stage,” he said.
 
The biannual AIPC Innovation Award is designed to showcase and recognise innovation and creative thinking in all areas of centre management, marketing and operations. There are two categories where Te Pae Christchurch has a chance to win, with a delegate’s choice award up for grabs alongside the overall innovation award. Both will be announced at the AIPC Annual Conference in Budapest in July.
 
The Centre’s Taste of Te Pae activation, launched in response to covid-related delays featured a food truck, as well as activation areas with interactive displays, a virtual reality dome and information about the Centre’s design, cultural narrative and role in the community.

The eight-week pop-up, which took place from March to May 2021, was designed to give the industry, clients and community a realistic view of how Te Pae Christchurch would operate during an event, and highlight the benefits the Centre will provide for the local community.

Te Pae Christchurch to Host Community Day

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Te Pae Christchurch to Host Community Day

9 June 2022

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is hosting a Community Day on Sunday 17 July 2022 for Ōtautahi Christchurch residents who have supported the Centre on its journey to opening.

The free ticketed event will be a self-guided tour through the Centre taking in all of the building’s key spaces, including the 1,400 seat Auditorium, riverside banquet rooms, 2,800sqm Exhibition Hall and meeting rooms.
 
It will also provide an opportunity to see the spectacular Hana and other design features up close, as well as learn more about the design and cultural inspiration behind the building.
 
Tickets will be available on Ticketek from Friday next week (17 June), with further information available on Te Pae Christchurch’s website and social media. To reduce queueing, the event will work on a booking system with entry to the Centre commencing at 9am and taking place every 30 minutes until 6pm.
 
Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said the Te Pae Christchurch team was eager to showcase the Centre to the community.
 
“We appreciated all the support from local residents during our pre-opening period and we recognise there is a huge desire from Cantabrians to come and have a look through the building,” he said.
 
“A small gap in our event schedule aligned perfectly with the July school holidays. We’re hoping people will make a real day out of it and spend time enjoying all the central city has to offer before or after their visit to Te Pae Christchurch.”
 
Original plans to host an open day in February were scuppered by a change to the traffic light setting.

Te Pae Christchurch Welcomes First Conference

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Te Pae Christchurch Welcomes First Conference

3 May 2022

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has officially welcomed its first conference through the Centre’s doors, kick starting a full roster of more than 100 events scheduled for the remainder of the year.

Appropriately given the Centre’s status as a major piece of public infrastructure, the inaugural conference was the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga Looking Ahead Symposium, during which Te Waihanga launched its Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2052.

Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said the Te Pae Christchurch team had been eagerly awaiting this day.

“It’s wonderful to see the Centre busy and operating as it is meant to be – filled with people connecting face-to-face, sharing knowledge and ideas and engaging in conversations that will have a real impact on our collective future,” he said.

“I could not think of a better way to open our convention account than with the launch of a strategy that will help build a thriving Aotearoa.

“Te Pae Christchurch itself is a crown infrastructure project built to provide economic value to New Zealand and to Ōtautahi Christchurch and with 60 conventions between now and December, along with many other events, we’re excited to get to work and make a difference to our city.”

Te Waihanga Event Manager Chetana Dahya said “It’s been really special to be the very first conference held in Te Pae, and appropriate too for an infrastructure event. We’re really pleased to be a part in the ongoing rejuvenation of Christchurch.

“Te Pae has worked really well for us and our delegates, with plenty of space and great facilities. It’s also meant we’ve had a chance to explore the central city.”

Chris Peak, Project Manager at The Conference Company worked with Te Waihanga and the Te Pae Christchurch team to deliver the event.

“From a planning process, the experience was seamless, you would not have known it was the first event,” he said. “The catering has been top notch, we’ve been really impressed.”

Of the events planned at Te Pae Christchurch for the remainder of 2022, more than 60 are conferences, including eight international events. Combined, they will bring over 67,000 people into the central city, and generate an estimated $37.2 million in direct economic value.

A mix of business and public events, the scheduled events in 2022 include:

  • Harcourts National Convention, May
  • New Zealand Dance Awards, May
  • Christchurch Art Show 2022, June
  • MEETINGS 2022, June
  • Roofing Association of New Zealand Conference, June
  • Bookeepcon 2022, July
  • House of the Year Awards, July
  • Maia Health Foundation FEAST 2022, September
  • Archipro – Meet, Greet & Eat 2022, September
  • Armageddon Expo, December

Mr Steele said looking beyond the end of 2022, the Centre had a solid pipeline of business moving forward.

“In total, through to October 2024, we have 146 events scheduled, which will bring close to 150,000 people into our city and generate more than $74m in direct economic value. This includes 88 conferences, 23 of which are international.

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Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre Achieves Gold Standard in Sustainability

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Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre Achieves Gold Standard in Sustainability

31 March 2022

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has expanded its sustainability credentials, receiving a Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award from Qualmark.

The award builds on Te Pae Christchurch’s earlier achievement of Toitū enviromark gold certification, and is another step in the right direction for a team committed to safe and sustainable operations and events.

Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said he was very proud of what the team had achieved so soon after opening.

“Very early on in our journey at Te Pae Christchurch we set a standard for how we want to operate and work with clients, suppliers and our industry. Sustainability and strong focus on customer service are key pillars for us and it’s humbling to see our efforts recognised with gold by the Qualmark team.”

Qualmark is judged on sector specific criteria across four areas – economic, environment and culture, social/people and health and safety. Across the 26 criteria Te Pae Christchurch was assessed on, the Centre represented best practice in six, and achieved an excellent or very good score in the remainder.

Two areas the centre performed particularly well in were economic and environment and culture.

Among feedback provided by Qualmark was praise for Te Pae Christchurch‘s commitment to sustainability: “your environmental commitment goes right across every aspect of your core operation”. In making the comment Qualmark touched on the Centre’s partnership with Waste Management to minimise, recycle and measure every possible substance, along with sector-leading initiatives such as the eWater system and GAIA dehydrator for food waste.

Te Pae Christchurch’s underlying kaupapa of manaakitanga was also singled out as a highlight of operations, along with its customer feedback procedures, and the Centre’s strong sense of identity through the cultural narratives underpining its design and place in the city.

Qualmark recognises businesses that are delivering a holistically sustainable experience. Gold is the highest of three levels, recognising the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand – those involved in leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable destination.

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Te Pae Christchurch Opens New Generation Gathering Place

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Te Pae Christchurch Opens New Generation Gathering Place

17 December 2021

The future is looking bright for Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre ahead of its ceremonial opening today.

The first of three brand new international standard convention centres to open in New Zealand, Te Pae Christchurch has a solid roster of events on its books, including over 50 multi-day conferences, and a number of other events ranging from exhibitions to live entertainment, banquets and smaller meetings and seminars.

Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said while there was a strong contingent of domestic bookings in the first year, it had been pleasing to see the return of interest and bookings from international markets, particularly Australia.

“We can see that people are missing that connection that only comes with being face-to-face, and we know there is pent up demand for New Zealand, in particular Christchurch, so it’s been great see interest translate to bookings for later in 2022 and beyond.”

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Te Pae Christchurch Strikes Gold with Sustainable Operations

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Te Pae Christchurch Strikes Gold with Sustainable Operations

27 September 2021

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has struck gold, achieving Toitū enviromark gold certification ahead of its December opening.

The Toitū enviromark programme has been tailored for New Zealand businesses so they can establish, implement, and maintain an effective environmental management system.

General Manager Ross Steele said to receive Toitū enviromark gold was a huge achievement for the team.
“From the outset the Te Pae Christchurch team has been committed to sustainable operations and taking positive environmental action. We are exceptionally proud to reach this milestone in our pre-opening phase, particularly given how challenging the past few months have been.”

Enviromark Programme Advisor Chris Bailey said at gold level, certified organisations have implemented controls for both regulatory obligations and significant opportunities to improve their performance. Impacts are measured so they can be properly managed on an ongoing basis.

“Te Pae Christchurch chose to proactively implement managing their environmental risks and opportunities,” Mr Bailey said.

“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. By implementing control systems well in advance of opening, Te Pae Christchurch is managing their risks and opportunities from the start.”

Te Pae Christchurch has been working with Toitū since early 2020. Venue Presentation Manager Jason Stewart has led the programme internally.

“The process to certification has had many benefits. 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,” Mr Stewart said. “And by getting every department thinking about what they do and the impact it has, it has solidified our environmental mindset.”

Mr Stewart said with New Zealand’s reputation as a clean green destination, and venue sustainability becoming more important to clients during the decision making process, it was important Te Pae Christchurch aligned with New Zealand’s strongest environmental programme. “Toitū fits that bill with a wealth of experience providing a strong level of mentoring and guidance to support not only our team but also our clients.”

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