As the capital of New Zealand, it’s unsurprising that Wellington is a hub for the country’s business events.
The city is home to most of New Zealand’s central government agencies, educational institutes, and crown research institutes. Alongside these sectors, Wellington is popular with the information and technology industries, start-ups, and established brands such as Xero.
Considering the variety of sectors represented within the country’s capital, it’s unsurprising that the city plays host to numerous international conferences and events.
Business Events Wellington explains that business is drawn in by a several step strategy. In the ‘attraction’ stage, it appeals to events whose size, topic matter, and importance that suits Wellington and New Zealand. The ‘retention’ stage sees Business Events Wellington work with various organisations to retain specific conferences by signing multi-year agreements.
Overall, these conferences align with sectors of importance to Wellington, such as the Festival of the Future and the New Zealand Game Developers Conference.
For Wellington, providing value also includes the development of its venues and infrastructure. Notably, the 2023 debut of Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre is already set to host both MEETINGS and the Festival for the Future conference in its inaugural year.
David Perks, Wellington City Council general manager of Tākina’s commercial development, comments on the venue’s contribution to the region: “The intent of Tākina has always been underpinned by a small number of critical principals.”
“First and foremost, we look to the centre as a driver of vibrancy and prosperity for our city,” he continued. “Wellington has sound experience of investing in central business district (CBD) infrastructure and activation that makes the city a better place for locals and visitors.”
Perks explains that an important focus for Tākina is to contribute to Wellington’s public events programme, which is also supported by venues such as Te Papa Tongarewa (the national museum) and the Sky Stadium.
“Tākina will be a place dedicated to business events and providing our organisations, institutions, and Government with a place to speak from, to share, and collaborate,” Perks adds.
This goal fits in nicely with the venue’s name – one of the meanings of which is ‘to connect’ in te reo Māori.
Wellington did not neglect its experiential market in its citywide developments. The sweet tooth in every MICE organiser must have been awakened at the announcement of the Wellington Chocolate Factory’s expansion. Taking full advantage of its proximity to Tākina, the factory’s second site already plans to lure the centre’s peckish delegates in with group chocolate making tours and tastings.
More traditional experiential functions are also prominent in Wellington. This includes the country’s first electric passenger ferry, Ika Rere, which awaits post conference cocktail receptions in the city’s harbour.
To talk about hosting your conference in Wellington, contact official convention bureau Business Events Wellington: BusinessEvents@WellingtonNZ.com or call on +64 4 916 1219
