From the Foreword

The devastating storms of January and February 2023 which impacted Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Aotearoa New Zealand highlighted the need for our organisation and our region to proactively face both the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change.

A number of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited facilities and venues were damaged, with varying levels of severity – reaffirming the importance of building resilience in response to the physical impacts of climate change.

As you will see in this document, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is developing adaptation plans to manage its climate risk, as well as measuring and reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

While the re-opening of Auckland and New Zealand as COVID-19 restrictions eased was a welcome boost to the region’s people and economy, the return to pre-COVID-19 activity levels also challenged Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s attempts to reduce its GHG profile in line with Auckland Council’s targets.

In addition, council’s budget shortfall for the 2023/24 year meant Tātaki Auckland Unlimited had to reduce its budget for the next financial year by $34.5 million – resulting in significant kaimahi (staff) and work programme cuts.

Despite the organisational changes caused by the budget reduction, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited remains committed to tackling climate change and focusing on sustainability as a priority across the business.

Amid navigating the challenges we face, it is important that we also acknowledge and celebrate the success of our kaimahi in delivering innovative and successful projects and programmes during the last financial year.

While Our Sustainability Story is not able to cover every project and programme at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, it does share some of our stories and experiences.

It also gives us a chance to look forward. In the coming year, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited will concentrate on what we are best placed to do: partnering with the arts and culture sectors, and businesses in the entertainment, visitor, tech and creative economies, to deliver events and programmes that make Auckland an exciting and stimulating place to live, work, visit, invest and do business.

We will continue to lead and implement the economy priority in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan and focus on the need for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, and to net zero by 2050.

As an organisation, we strive to embed a more cohesive approach to environmental sustainability at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. To help achieve that, we have developed a Climate Change and Environment Strategic Plan that is grounded in a holistic framework across social, cultural, economic and environmental pillars – and focused on action.

We have identified actions for the environment, with four priorities: climate resilience; emissions reduction; waste; and water; with the social pillar of empowered organisation to enable and embed climate change and sustainability practices. While the social, cultural and economic pillars are not yet covered in the strategic plan, we are committed to creating positive outcomes in line with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s strategic direction.

As we build climate change resilience internally, we also take a leadership role externally by supporting the ongoing development of Climate Connect Aotearoa – the region’s climate innovation hub. This year, the hub launched a challenge focused on community energy sharing, as well as working towards the launch of a food challenge.

As Auckland’s cultural and economic agency, we are steadfast in our aims to support communities and businesses through our experiences and events, investment and innovation and facilities – to ultimately enrich economic and cultural life in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

The stories captured in Our Sustainability Story cover a broad range of activities that contribute to showcasing languages, cultures and art, strengthening diversity and inclusion, and shaping the future of Auckland.

As we move forward on our sustainability journey as an organisation, I am proud to share these stories with you.

Nick Hill
Chief Executive,
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

See also

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited