Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) has revealed that Meetings will remain at Auckland’s New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) for the next three years, providing long-term certainty for New Zealand’s flagship business events tradeshow.
The announcement was made by BEIA’s chief executive Lisa Hopkins at the official opening of Meetings 2026 on June 16, marking the first time the industry showcase has been held at the newly-opened NZICC.
“This commitment provides certainty for our industry, confidence for our buyers and continuity for an event that continues to play such an important role in connecting the business events sector with (this country) and the world,” Hopkins told delegates. “Most importantly, it allows us to keep building on the momentum we are creating together.”
More than 750 industry representatives attended the opening event, while over the next two days, more than 600 buyers from New Zealand, Australia, North America, China, India, Japan and South-east Asia will meet with exhibitors representing 18 regions and more than 220 organisations across New Zealand.
BEIA also introduced several new initiatives aimed at improving the visitor experience. For the first time, delegates were provided with live English interpretation of Māori ceremonial welcomes during the official opening, and international hosted buyers were sent eSIMs ahead of arrival to ensure seamless connectivity throughout their visit.
Closing the official opening programme was a cultural performance commissioned by Auckland Convention Bureau, with Māori, Pacific, Chinese and Indian traditions sharing the stage in a showcase of the multicultural identity that Auckland is promoting as a point of difference for business events.
The decision to keep Meetings at NZICC through 2029 comes as Auckland seeks to strengthen its position in the international meetings and conventions market. Meetings 2027 will also mark the event’s 30th anniversary.
Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson said the city was seeing strong returns from investment in the sector.
“Analysis from the ACB shows that for every dollar invested in business events activity, Auckland sees an estimated NZ$63 (US$36.7) return,” she said. “Auckland is 100 per cent ready to host events of scale, significance and global importance.”
Simpson described the NZICC as a major step forward for Auckland’s ability to compete for large international conferences, while highlighting broader investments including the City Rail Link, airport upgrades and new hotel developments.
Tataki Auckland Unlimited chief executive Nick Hill added that ACB has secured 76 business events for the region between April 2026 and February 2029, representing an estimated economic contribution of NZ$107 million and more than 258,000 visitor nights.
Hill said Auckland’s cultural diversity was increasingly becoming a competitive advantage in attracting international events.
“For business events, that creates something distinctive,” he said. “It means delegates don’t just attend. They experience a destination grounded in culture, place and identity.”
