Thanks to its expanded infrastructure, including three popular new convention centres, New Zealand can now bid for conferences on a larger scale, with a renewed focus on the Asia-Pacific market
Brought to you by Tourism New Zealand
Demand for business events in New Zealand is on the rise and Tourism New Zealand has set itself a record target of 90 international conferences bids worth NZ$135 million (US$83.9 million) for the next financial year.
Instrumental to meeting demand are its new convention venues which now enable New Zealand to bid for events on a bigger scale, including regional and international association conferences from the Asia-Pacific market.
The three new convention centres stand out for their sustainable designs, cutting-edge technological capabilities, flexible function spaces and world-class culinary offerings.
However, each showcases its own identity, leveraging its host city’s knowledge strengths with impressive results.
Christchurch: Spotlighting earth science & aerospace
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre opened in May 2022 in the revitalised city centre of Ōtautahi Christchurch. Offering a 1,400-seat tiered auditorium divisible into two 700-seat venues, it hosted 290 events in its first 13 months of operation, including 13 international conferences.
This year, it will host the ACM VRST Symposium, attracting VR software and technology specialists and showcasing Christchurch’s world-renowned HITLab and tech sector; and the 1000pax-strong APSA Asian Seed Congress, drawing on the Canterbury region’s strong agri-tech sector.
In 2024, Te Pae Christchurch will host the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Annual Scientific Congress; and the Extreme Solar Systems V Conference, aligning with Christchurch’s burgeoning aerospace business cluster.
The International Conference on Geomorphology, set to host 1000 delegates, has also chosen the city for 2026, capitalising on the region’s strong focus on earth science.
Wellington: Aspiring to be a “Science City”
Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington officially opened its new conference and exhibition centre, Tākina, in May, with more than 50 conferences booked in its first year. Located opposite Wellington’s waterfront, Tākina is at the heart of the capital’s cultural precinct, with capacity for plenaries of up to 1,600.
This new facility has seen Wellington attract larger international conferences, including the International Council for Traditional Music’s 48th World Conference in 2025, which expects more than 800 delegates.
The city is also attracting more regional conferences, including the Annual Scientific Meetings of The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Conference and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2024.
Wellington’s focus on attracting conferences in the science and education sectors recently received a boost with the New Zealand Government’s plans to make Wellington a “Science City”.
Investment in three new research hubs will bring together expertise in oceans, climate and hazards, health and pandemic readiness, advanced manufacturing and materials, energy futures and biotech.
Auckland: Showcasing culture and sustainability on a grand scale
Due to open mid-2025, the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) will be the largest new venue in the country. Rising in the centre of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, it will link directly by air bridges to the new Horizon Hotel and the SkyCity entertainment precinct.
Its flexible space will cater for up to 4,000 people, including a theatre capacity of 2,850.
Ahead of its opening, the NZICC has already confirmed 11 international conferences, including the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) 2025, with an expected turnout of 3000 delegates, showcasing New Zealand’s Indigenous Māori culture and education sector.
Science will take centre stage at the International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME) in 2026 for 1800 delegates, while sustainability and the environment will be at the fore for the International Coral Reef Symposium.
The symposium, as well as the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers Associations (FAOPMA) Conference, are both expected to bring more than 2,500 delegates in 2026 to NZICC.
Tourism New Zealand provides funding and support to bring international conferences to New Zealand
To learn more about the assistance available, contact:
Edward Kwek
Tourism New Zealand
Trade Manager Business Events – Singapore, Southeast Asia
Contact: +65 9152 9122
Email: Edward.Kwek@tnz.govt.nz
For more details, visit businessevents.newzealand.com
