Christchurch's new convention centre has gained official recognition for its trail-blazing sustainability efforts, taking home a Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award from Qualmark.

Following on from its earlier achievement of Toitū enviromark gold certification, Te Pae is setting a new standard in sustainable building. Qualmark is all about recognising the best sustainable tourism businesses in Aotearoa, and the gold award given to Te Pae Christchurch is the highest of three possible levels.

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.”

Judges assessed Te Pae for its performance in economic, cultural, environmental, social, and health and safety sectors, and scored excellent or very good scores across them all. It delivered particularly good results in the economic, environmental and cultural areas.

Qualmark praised Te Pae's commitment to sustainability, including the centre's partnership with Waste Management and sector-leading initiatives such as the eWater system and GAIA dehydrator for food waste. Te Pae Christchurch also got well-deserved props for its kaupapa of manaakitanga, and its strong sense of identity through the cultural narratives underpining its design and place in the city. So early on in its tenure, Te Pae is already leading the way in making New Zealand a world class sustainable tourism destination.

tepae.co.nz