Britomart,
Our Community,

Our sixth annual Sustainability Report is here! This year we celebrated twenty years of heritage restoration at Britomart – that's two decades of regeneration for New Zealand's largest urban heritage renewal project. In this report we continued to look at Mana Whakahaere (Governance), Te Tāngata (People and Culture) and Te Taiao (Environment) and the efforts we took to embed these sustainable principles in every aspect of our business.

Every year we set ourselves sustainability goals to achieve over the next 12 months. Some of them relate to longer-term commitments and others are one-off projects that help make Britomart a more sustainable place to work, play and spend time.

Every year we set ourselves new sustainability targets and report on how we measure up against our previous year’s goals. 

In 2019, Britomart Group began working with Toitū Envirocare to develop a base-case emissions profile for our group of businesses*, which gives an overall picture of our climate impact. The Toitū Carbonreduce plan that we are working to includes a five percent reduction in total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2026, which we plan to achieve through a wide range of undertakings, including monitoring building air temperatures to improve energy efficiency and upgrading plant (building systems) over time to improve efficiency and reduce refrigerant loss.

At Britomart, six buildings are rated for their energy-efficiency under NABERSNZ (National Australian  Building Energy Ratings System New Zealand). Each year, the buildings are re-assessed and re-rated.

It was two decades ago that Auckland Council signed an agreement with Britomart Group’s leaders that established a vision for the area’s regeneration, which included the retention and restoration of one of the most remarkable collections of heritage buildings in the country. Here, we take a look at 20 years of Britomart’s regeneration – and the environmental advantages of repurposing existing structures.

Above the soaring lobby of Auckland’s Chief Post Office building – now the nexus of the city’s rail network – are three floors of office space under refurbishment to 5 Green Star and WELL Gold standards. Development manager Deidre Gourlay talks about the changes inside this grand heritage structure and how sustainability is being built into them.

Development manager Dave Bensley discusses the balancing act of bringing new life to Britomart’s Maritime Building, originally built in the 1940s.

At Britomart we work hard to foster connections between people and place with a social sustainability programme featuring art, performance, music and other events. Our theory is that people will be more inclined to live sustainably if they value each other and the places they share. This section of the report covers some of the highlights of social sustainability efforts.

Comensa Group chef Nathan Houpapa is one of the participants in a pilot programme to help the hospitality industry decrease waste to landfill and its greenhouse gas emissions. The results so far have surprised him.

A slew of challenges for the central city – including deteriorating security and a reduction in pedestrian numbers – prompted a research project into the city’s potential as seen through the eyes of its residents. 

Keeping Britomart’s iconic street planters and flowerbeds lush and blooming is a relentless job. Head gardener Sayburn Miller joined the operations team in 2023 to bring new life to the precinct’s planting. A year and a half on, his colourful approach is working.

A new report by Britomart-based EY, produced in collaboration with WWF, looks at the importance of biodiversity in the economy – and how taking care of nature could result in financial benefits, too. Gina Morrissey, EY’s senior manager for Climate and Sustainability Services, talks about the report’s findings.

Our fifth annual Sustainability Report is looks into Britomart's carbon emissions, our community events and activations, our latest work to develop the Britomart neighbourhood's heritage buildings in a sustainable way, and how some of our lease partners are progressing with their own fascinating sustainability initiatives. 

How does Auckland stack up as a world city? A new report finds out.

How real-time GDP data can underpin economic sustainability. 

Community connection: how we try to make people feel welcome. 

High school students aren't just finding out about career possibilities at EY – they're teaching the organisation things, too. 

What Hoani Waititi students are learning at Britomart – and how they're leading businesses in the precinct. 

How Southern Pastures farms are making a sustainable future a reality. 

How Westpac's Sustainable Farm Loans are showing agribusiness options for more sustainable futures. 

A festival about the climate? How Michelle Kennedy's Auckland Climate Festival is leading the way. 

NZ Geographic has been focusing on a sustainable future for over 25 years. 

How David Maucor is helping businesses seize the opportunities of sustainability.