Caroline Harvie-Teare, Venues Ōtautahi

Step up to the plate and hit us with your elevator pitch. What does Venues Ōtautahi do?

Venues Ōtautahi owns and manages Christchurch Town Hall and Christchurch Arena on behalf of the people of Christchurch. We also manage the Airforce Museum of NZ, Orangetheory Stadium and Hagley Oval, and will be responsible for the operation and management of the new Canterbury Multi Use Arena. These iconic venues enhance our quality of life and the economic prosperity and social wellbeing of the region.

Why have you decided to do Bayleys Plate up for a Purpose this year?

It’s a genuine privilege to support the City Mission in making sure every child in our community has the same opportunities. We all have a role to play in supporting the more vulnerable members of our community and I just hope that this wonderful event makes a real difference to many. There are too many times we tell ourselves we wish we could do something to make a difference, but we just don’t know how. I couldn’t be more grateful to the City Mission for creating this opportunity for all of us involved.

Who’s your chef hero and why?

Dan Shanks, Executive Chef at Venues Ōtautahi, has designed a menu that celebrates the wonderful produce of the Canterbury region. Everything he cooks has been procured ethically and locally. Not only do we have the most incredible food for our clients and guests to enjoy but we also deliver a significant direct economic benefit to Canterbury business.

What’s your signature dish?

With five house moves in the last six months the volume of cooking at our house is pretty limited right now. But I’ll lay claim to making a pretty cracking banana cake that’s special because it’s always made for a special occasion.