Te Pae Christchurch, a crown-led anchor project for the regeneration of Christchurch has appointed a new director of culinary services, Darren Tait. Tait joins the team in July, bringing with him international experience as a manager. He will be responsible for leading the convention centre’s food and beverage team and managing Te Pae’s culinary strategy.
“Darren stood out for his diverse, international experience managing food and beverage teams and supporting Michelin-starred restaurants in the U.K.,” said Ross Steele, general manager. “We’re looking forward to seeing him express that creativity as he builds a unique, first-class food and beverage service for the region.”
Tait has worked for more than 25 years in senior management across New Zealand and the U.K., including some of the finest country house hotels in Scotland, the largest function venues in England, and the largest entertainment venue in Christchurch. Before this appointment, Tait was the food and beverage manager at the Christchurch Casino where he managed six restaurants and bars, as well as a large function space.
Tait said, “Christchurch is my home, and I’m honoured to play a part in the regeneration of this great city. I’m looking forward to working with the team in developing a world-class food and beverage offering—with a key focus on local produce and Kiwi hospitality.”
Te Pae is opening in October of 2020 and will have the capacity to host up to 2000 delegates for a variety of national and international events.
