Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s economic and cultural agency, has released its Sustainability Story, an overview of the organisation’s actions and activities around climate change and sustainability for the 2021/22 financial year.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) proudly takes a holistic approach to climate change and sustainability, considering not just environmental, but also the social and economic outcomes of its activities. This approach acknowledges TAU’s commitment to honouring te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, while celebrating the multi-cultural communities of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
TAU’s actions and activities around climate change and sustainability are defined by the strategic outcomes highlighted in its Statement of Intent 2022–2025, including to build a sustainable future-focussed organisation.
Nick Hill, Chief Executive of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, says that climate change is among the most critical challenges facing Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Aotearoa New Zealand: “It will impact all our communities and industries, which will only flourish if we have an environment that supports our social, cultural, and economic activities".
For our region and its businesses and people to thrive in the face of climate change, we all need to play a part.
TAU is developing an organisation-wide climate change and sustainability strategy that will touch on all areas of its work, with many initiatives already underway. To ensure that climate change is considered across all strategic decision-making, TAU Board Director Dan Te Whenua Walker will champion the climate change response at the governance level.
“While we still have a way to go, we are making changes across the organisation that set us on the path to a more sustainable future. We measure and plan to reduce emissions across all our assets and venues, adopt waste minimisation programmes and sustainable procurement practices, build cultural capacity among our kaimahi and run programmes that are focused on our people’s wellbeing,” says Nick Hill.
Significant steps during 2021/22 include continued emissions measurement and reporting that saw TAU recently confirm its Toitū carbonreduce certification for the second time, with Auckland Zoo proudly achieving Toitū net carbonzero certification for the sixth year by taking the extra step to offset its emissions.
To accelerate Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s climate response, TAU invests in a broad range of initiatives and events that help to build capacity and improve social cohesion across the region. The organisation works to ensure that its venues and public spaces continue to become climate resilient, inclusive, and accessible for all Aucklanders and it partners with organisations that aim to create better outcomes for Auckland’s businesses and communities.
As an Auckland Council-controlled organisation, TAU plays a key role in the implementation of the economy section of Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan and contributes to Auckland Council Group’s emissions reduction target for the region of 50 per cent by 2030 and aim to achieve net-zero waste by 2040.
As part of its work to support the region’s transition to a low carbon and regenerative economy, TAU has brought to life the climate innovation hub, Climate Connect Aotearoa. Established on behalf Auckland Council, the hub will connect organisations and individuals to develop, test and grow solutions needed to ensure Auckland and New Zealand reduce emissions in line with global agreements.
Nick Hill says TAU’s Sustainability Story reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to climate change and sustainability.
“As an organisation, we are determined to enhance our activities to deliver sustainable outcomes for the environment, economy and our communities. We are proud to share our journey with others and seek to inspire more organisations to plan their climate response, so together we can enable a sustainable and future-proof Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.”
- You can read Tātaki Auckland Unlimited's Sustainability Story here.