Wellington has secured the hosting rights for the 62nd ISOCARP World Planning Congress, scheduled to take place at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre from April 27 to 30, 2027.
The event is expected to attract around 500 global city planners, policymakers, and researchers, injecting nearly NZ$975,000 (US$583,200) into the local economy. Hosted by the Wellington City Council, the congress will focus on sustainable urban development, climate change resilience, regeneration, and spatial equity.
Elisabeth Belpaire, president of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), stated that New Zealand’s commitment to incorporating Te Ao Māori perspectives into urban planning and governance was a key factor in selecting the city.
“Hosting the 62nd ISOCARP World Planning Congress in Wellington places the Pacific at the centre of the conversation – where questions of resilience, regeneration, indigenous knowledge, and spatial equity are lived realities,” Belpaire said.
