The Professional Conference Organisers' Association (PCOA) annual conference will take place in Christchurch next year. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/totajla
The Professional Conference Organisers' Association (PCOA) annual conference will take place in New Zealand next year for only the second time in its history.
More than 400 conference and event organisers from Australia and New Zealand are expected to attend the event, taking place from 7 to 9 December 2025 at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. PCOA’s 2024 conference recently concluded in Brisbane.
ChristchurchNZ, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre and Christchurch Airport collaborated on the bid to bring the event to Christchurch.
ChristchurchNZ chief executive, Ali Adams said: “We can't wait to showcase our conference-ready city to the people who know best - this prestigious group of professional conference organisers, in-house event planners, and meeting industry professionals.
Related: New Zealand’s Wellington doubles down on conferences
A once-in-a-decade event is also coming to New Zealand, this time in 2026, when Wellington will host the Climate and Cryosphere Open Science conference in February 2026.
Hosted by the Antarctic Research Centre at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, the international conference focuses on how climate change is affecting the planet’s frozen regions. The event will take place at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre,
Sponsored by the World Climate Research Programme, the conference will be part of the United Nations International Decade of the Cryosphere and will bring scientists and policymakers together to better understand and predict climate impacts on frozen parts of the planet and the consequences of such impacts for people and ecosystems.
Tim Naish, professor of Earth Sciences and director at the Antarctic Research Centre, who helped lead the bid, said: “Global warming is melting the polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers at an alarming rate and will directly impact four billion people who live on the world’s coastlines through rising seas, and in high mountainous regions who rely on water stored in glaciers for food supply.”
Business Events Wellington manager Irette Ferreira added: “Climate change is a focus area for Wellington’s universities, businesses, science research institutes and its city council. Wellington is home to some of the brightest minds in this field, and having them collaborate with other experts from around the world can help us to fast track the progress made locally as well as make a global contribution.”