The NZICC is the first of the three convention centres in New Zealand to be certified silver by the Australian-headquartered but globally adopted EarthCheck standard. The country’s other two young convention centres have opted to have their sustainability benchmarked by New Zealand programs.
“Achieving EarthCheck Silver with zero non-conformities is an exceptional result,” said EarthCheck’s founder and CEO, Stewart Moore.
“NZICC came to the audit fully prepared, with every system documented, every data point in order and no gaps identified across its evidence or procedures.
“What sets NZICC apart is that sustainability here isn’t a retrofit; it is foundational.
“The operational performance and cultural integrity we assessed speak for themselves, and that is exactly what the global events market is looking for.”
EarthCheck’s certification independently audits the venue against benchmarks for energy, water and paper use, carbon emissions, chemicals, waste and its impact on both employees and the community.
“This is a major milestone and one we are incredibly proud of,” said NZICC’s director of customer experience and marketing, Tracey Ha.
“Completing the audit with zero non-conformities is a powerful acknowledgement of the standards set across the venue, and of the care, rigour and commitment behind them. It reflects a sustainability approach that has been built carefully, carried consistently and will continue to guide how we operate.
“This certification reinforces the role NZICC was built to play for Auckland and for Aotearoa.
“It gives our clients, partners and guests confidence that they are choosing a venue that operates to an internationally recognised sustainability standard, while still reflecting the values, culture and ambition of New Zealand.”
Covering the travel and tourism space, EarthCheck requires venues, hotels and businesses seeking certification to commit to a “sustainability pathway” and continuously improve their sustainability each year in order to maintain their certification.
Silver status is awarded to those who successfully achieve this for one to four years. Those who have achieved continuous improvement for five years reach gold certification.
The NZICC opened in February.
