Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will host the International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) World Dairy Summit in 2026, anticipated to attract over 1,000 industry leaders and scientific experts to the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC).
The event is expected to deliver more than NZ$2 million to the region’s economy.
The summit is the flagship event for the 120-year-old Federation, which spans more than 40 member countries, representing more than 75 per cent of the world’s milk production. Over 2,000 people attended the event when it was last held in New Zealand in 2010.
The event will showcase the work the IDF is doing to enhance all aspects of dairy – from cows to consumers, including the vital role the Federation plays in helping to shape food policies and standards. Attendees will also hear from senior industry executives from across the globe and eminent technical experts about the sector’s opportunities and challenges.
This will be followed by technical tours of manufacturing plants, research institutes, farms, and the dairy industry, showcasing New Zealand’s wider agriculture sector. A programme of social tours will also enable visitors to explore Auckland and New Zealand.
Convenor Andy Williams indicated that this win reflects New Zealand’s standing in the global industry as the source of 40 per cent of the world’s traded dairy products.
“Hosting this summit will be great for New Zealand, it’s recognising our dairy expertise and leadership. We’ll be able to showcase what New Zealand is doing to stay at the forefront of this important global industry and how we’re adapting to emerging challenges. Dairy has an important role in the sustainability, safety and security of the global nutrient supply, and New Zealand must be at the table when the sector discusses how we will respond to these important issues.”
New Zealand was awarded this event following a bid by the New Zealand International Dairy Federation with support from the Auckland Convention Bureau, a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Tourism New Zealand.
