Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is launching a ‘Taste of Te Pae’ pop-up this month to showcase the venue to the local community ahead of the Centre’s proposed opening later this year.
The pop-up will launch to the public on Wednesday 17 March and operate for eight weeks until Saturday 15 May.
Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said the pop-up had been developed with the local community in mind.
“We get a lot of questions about the Centre and what it means for Christchurch,” he said.
“Convention centres are designed to bring in visitors and boost the economy, but they also exist to serve the cities they are built in,” Mr Steele said.
Ross Steele, Te Pae Christchurch General ManagerOne of the meanings of our name ‘Te Pae’ is a place where people can gather. Along with being a showcase of the very best of Canterbury, we truly want Te Pae Christchurch to be a place where the community can come and share ideas, celebrate together, or learn something new.
The pop-up, which will be located next to the convention centre site on Oxford Terrace, will include a food truck, as well as activation areas featuring interactive displays, a virtual reality dome and information about the Centre’s design, cultural narrative and role in the community.
The food truck, manned by Te Pae Christchurch’s Executive Chef Desmond Davies, will feature food from the Centre’s canapé and full day menus, which have been designed with an emphasis on locally-sourced produce. There will be a nominal charge for food, with all profits donated to Te Pae Christchurch’s charity partner, Cholmondeley Children’s Centre. Special culinary collaborations with local suppliers are also being planned to further highlight the incredible products on offer in Canterbury.
The activation area will include Te Pae Christchurch’s virtual reality walkthrough, developed by local company Jix Reality. Staff from across the business will be on hand to meet with local residents and prospective clients to answer questions, including the Centre’s human resources team ahead of Te Pae Christchurch’s upcoming recruitment drive.
A true reflection of Te Pae Christchurch’s service standards, design and food, the pop-up has also been designed using equipment, such as the food truck and outdoor furniture that will feature in the Centre once open.
The pop-up will be open four days a week, from Wednesday to Saturday between 11am and 3pm on weekdays and 10am to 3pm on Saturday. Weekly menus and special events, such as culinary collaborations and recruitment sessions will be advertised on Te Pae Christchurch’s Facebook page.
