Sustainability at Tākina

Wellington's sustainable future

Tākina, Wellington's Convention and Exhibition Centre, is leading the way in sustainable venue operations in Aotearoa New Zealand. From our initial design through to daily operations, we've embedded environmental responsibility and cultural values into everything we do.

Recognised for excellence

Our commitment to sustainability has been recognised with two of New Zealand's highest environmental and tourism accreditations:

5-Star Green Star Custom Tool Certified Built Rating
In 2024 Tākina became the first convention centre in Aotearoa to achieve this prestigious rating from the NZ Green Building Council, representing New Zealand excellence in environmental sustainability and leadership in green building.

Gold Qualmark Accreditation
In 2025, Tākina underwent its first Qualmark evaluation, we achieved Gold — the highest recognition for sustainable tourism in New Zealand and officially recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). This identifies Tākina as one of the businesses leading the way in making New Zealand a world-class sustainable visitor destination.

How we achieved gold

For us, sustainability means caring for our environment, our people, and our community in everything we build and deliver. The Gold Qualmark award recognises excellence across five key areas: community and culture, health and safety, people, environment, and business systems.

Environment
Our design and operational practices deliver measurable environmental benefits:
•60% reduction in energy use compared to a comparable new build
•66% reduction in operational carbon emissions when benchmarked against similar venues
•30% reduction in heating and cooling energy through our specially selected glass façade
•30% reduction in water consumption through rainwater harvesting

Technical sustainability features
Tākina's environmental performance is built on robust design and operational systems:
•Enhanced thermal insulation and high-performance double glazing using SEFAR technology for improved thermal comfort and energy efficiency
•Rainwater harvesting system (30,000 litres) for toilet flushing and evaporative cooling
•Adaptable and demand-controlled air conditioning system reducing energy use
•Predominantly heat pump heating to reduce reliance on fossil fuels
•Post-occupancy energy optimisation systems to monitor and fine-tune energy usage
•Future-proofing to accommodate on-site renewable energy generation via solar array
•Environmentally preferable materials and timber sourced from sustainable forestry for improved indoor air quality
•Motion-sensor lighting throughout the building to minimise power usage
•No car parking by design to promote sustainable transport options
•Display screens communicating real-time building sustainability metrics including water and energy consumption and carbon emissions

Community & culture
From the earliest design stages, our partnership with Taranaki Whānui embedded tikanga Māori into the building. The Mouri Stone in our foyer symbolises the building's spiritual essence, and this cultural foundation shapes how we care for our people and maintain a safe environment.

Health & safety and people
All staff are paid a living wage and have access to an Employee Assistance Programme with weekly on-site support. QR codes throughout the venue enable instant hazard reporting, supported by weekly operations meetings with a dedicated Health & Safety Specialist.

Business systems
Post-event surveys and annual benchmarking against major New Zealand venues ensure we continuously improve how we serve our clients and reduce our environmental impact.

Whether you’re planning a large conference or an intimate gathering, Tākina provides a sustainable venue designed to operate efficiently at every scale.