Venues Ōtautahi make strides to carbon neutral target

Venues Ōtautahi has stepped up efforts to decarbonise its venues as part of its goal to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The Christchurch City Council-owned venues and events company has reported significant decreases in carbon emissions across four major areas: electricity emissions down 11 percent, stationary fuels emissions down 13 percent, transport fuels emissions down 37 percent and waste emissions down 14 percent.

Ensuring the portfolio of venues were making positive steps forward environmentally was critical for the organisation according to Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare.

“Environmental sustainability is essential for the long-term viability of major events,” she said.

“Caring for the environment using thoughtful and sustainable methods and always acting with future generations in mind are long term strategic priorities for us.”

Venues Ōtautahi, owns the Christchurch Town Hall and Wolfbrook Arena, and manages the Airforce Museum of New Zealand, Apollo Projects Stadium, Hagley Oval and One New Zealand Stadium, due to open in April 2026.

“We introduced our Carbon Reduction Roadmap in 2023 which has set a baseline of our emissions and set an ambitious but achievable plan to be carbon neutral by 2030. We live in such a beautiful region and it is so important we look after it,” Harvie-Teare said.

While work was being carried out across the full portfolio of venues, including the electrification of the majority of vehicles including two forklifts, the early focus has been on Wolfbrook Arena.

“Wolfbrook Arena is responsible for 50 percent of our carbon emissions, so it is important that we highlight the opportunities to make significant shifts to make the venue more environmentally sustainable.

“Work carried out so far include the upgrade of lighting in the venue to energy efficient LEDs , the installation of motion sensors for lighting and the installation of water meters at the venue to support smarter water use and provide a baseline for further improvement.

The largest project centres around the Arena’s four diesel boilers, responsible for heating the 4000 square metre venue.

“The diesel boilers, used to heat water, account for 39 percent of our carbon emissions alone,” Harvie-Teare said.

“We are currently working through the design process for the electrification of water heating, to in time, eliminate the use of all fossil fuels at the venue. It is a significant piece of work, but such an important investment for our organisation and the environment. We expect the replacements to be installed in early 2027.”

While Wolfbrook Arena required plenty of attention, it would not be the same case for One New Zealand Stadium had been designed with sustainability at the heart.

“One New Zealand Stadium will be the most sustainable stadium in the country. A huge amount of mahi has been put in to ensure the stadium supports environmentally sustainable operations and that means there will be no gas on site, enhanced biodiversity with more than 20,000 square metres of vegetation across the site, energy efficient lighting, natural ventilation and a design able to support our environmentally focused waste management operations.”

Venues Ōtautahi is monitoring its carbon emissions and its path to being carbon neutral through Green Halo and report on its progress through its Annual Report.

Venues Ōtautahi

Venues Ōtautahi is the Christchurch City Council owned venues and events management company.

Venues Ōtautahi, is the largest venue, event and culinary services management company in New Zealand and operate the Christchurch Town Hall, Wolfbrook Arena, the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Apollo Projects Stadium, Hagley Oval and One New Zealand Stadium.