A new NZ$45.6 million (US$25.7 million) convention and events venue in Central Otago, New Zealand, will open soon, positioned as a scenic alternative for conferences and events seeking easy access to Queenstown without being based in the resort town itself.
Te Puna Mahara – Cromwell Memorial Events Centre will officially open on July 18 in Cromwell, about 45 minutes from Queenstown International Airport. The council-owned facility has been more than 20 years in the making and is designed to serve both the local community and the wider Central Otago and Southern Lakes region.
Located beside the Kawarau River and adjacent to Cromwell Heritage Precinct, the venue combines conference infrastructure with museum, exhibition and hospitality offerings under one roof.
Delegates will have access to waterfront views, nearby galleries and cafes, and panoramic outlooks across Central Otago’s distinctive schist landscapes and the junction of the Kawarau and Clutha/Mata-Au rivers.
At the heart of the centre is a 400-seat auditorium with retractable seating that can be converted into a banquet space. The facility also includes breakout rooms, exhibition areas, a boutique 40-seat cinema, museum and gallery spaces, a dance studio, onsite catering and a seven-day cafe.
According to venue representatives, Te Puna Mahara is targeting conferences, incentives and corporate events, with capacity for gala dinners of up to 240 guests and cocktail functions for up to 500 standing attendees.
The venue’s largest function space overlooks the surrounding mountains and river landscape, a feature operators believe will help differentiate it within New Zealand’s meetings market.
The venue’s marketing and sponsorship lead, Annabel Roy, said interest has been strong despite the venue only recently beginning sales activity.
“It’s brand new and it has a view that rivals nothing else really in New Zealand,” said Roy.
She added that the venue would help address a gap in the market for larger conference and auditorium-style events in the lower South Island, noting that few comparable facilities exist south of Christchurch.
