SUSTA I NAB I L I TY] is on board, and feels confident and capable to deliver sustainable events,” Vandy says. “For venues, sustainability is no longer just waste separation. It is fundamentally changing the way they operate and ensuring that all parts of their operation address environmental impacts, as well as working with organisers to deliver economic and social outcomes for clients, stakeholders, and for the community. “For event organisers, knowledge and understanding on sustainability is expected as a bare minimum. Sustainability is all encompassing for events – it includes having a strategy, developing policies, transport, accessibility, diversity equality and inclusion, circularity, procurement of products, certifications and accreditations, and reporting on progress and outcomes,” she says. LEADING THE WORLD Tourism New Zealand general manager New Zealand and Business Events, Bjoern Spreitzer says event organisers are incorporating more sustainable initiatives into their event decision-making and programmes. “New Zealand offers some excellent options to help deliver events with greater connection to the local community and less environmental impact.” Our flagship carrier Air New Zealand has bold sustainability goals and has recently released its Sustainability Report and announced Mission Next Generation Aircraft. It aims to lead the world in introducing a more sustainable fleet, and to have the first zero emissions aircraft take flight in New Zealand by 2026. It recently received the first delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to New Zealand and aiming for one percent of its fuel to be SAF in 2023. In partnership with Air New Zealand all Australian and New Zealand hosted buyers who participate on BEIA’s MEETINGS 2023 programme will FlyNeutral. Hosted buyer manager, Sharon Auld says BEIA will offset carbon emissions associated with hosted buyers’ travel to Wellington to attend the event. “Air New Zealand’s FlyNeutral lets us offset hosted buyers’ share of carbon emissions with carbon credits from international projects, while accelerating biodiversity and climate outcomes in New Zealand,” she says. “FlyNeutral is just one of the many initiatives introduced to MEETINGS as we continue to identify and introduce the latest in best practice sustainability goals for the business events industry.” CITY-WIDE APPROACH ChristchurchNZ head of business events, Megan Crum says the city is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and has a goal of net zero emissions by 2045. The CBD is walkable, making for a smaller delegate carbon footprint, and transport options include electric car shares, e-scooters and e-bikes, and electric public buses to and from the airport. Christchurch Airport was the first airport in the world to be awarded Level 4 Airport Carbon Accreditation – the highest possible rating, it has decreased its emissions by 90 per cent since 2015 and is now building a 400-hectare solar energy park on its campus. The city’s key venues have sustainability at their core. New Zealand’s first newgeneration convention centre, Te Pae Christchurch has invested significant time and resources to lead the way in sustainable operations over the past few years. It recently received Gold recertification and the award for Exceptional Achievement in Environmental Management from Toitū, and its community partnerships with City Care, Canterbury Community Garden Association, Just Dirt Trust and Foodbank Canterbury are starting to come to fruition. Te Pae general manager Ross Steele says having a solid sustainability plan in place was a given. “We know it’s a key consideration for many people when booking events, particularly those coming from overseas – and to be honest we view it the same way we would electricity – it’s just got to be there,” he says. “Since we began Te Pae Christchurch’s operational journey three plus years ago in our pre-opening office, sustainability has been a key operational pillar for our team and one that touches each of those benefit areas. “It’s why we chose to align ourselves with nationally and internationally recognised programmes such as Toitū Enviromark and Qualmark.” PRACTICAL STEPS Tourism New Zealand has developed a Sustainability Toolkit which outlines some of the environmental initiatives that organisers should consider when planning an event in New Zealand. “We also encourage organisers to use the Toitū Envirocare programme for carbon footprint measurement and mitigation and to partner with Trees that Count to explore sustainable gifting and legacy project options,” Bjoern Spreitzer says. “Event organisers are encouraged to ask delegates to make the Tiaki Promise while they are here – an initiative to help all visitors to New Zealand care for our people, place, and culture. “In New Zealand, we feel a special connection to the land and believe we have a duty of care to look after it for future generations,” he says. Megan Crum meeting newz [nov dec] 2022 [31]
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