New Zealand’s Wellington doubles down on conferences

Wellington gets wired up for dual tech and trade conferences.

Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre has received steady interest from conventions despite being open for only slightly over a year.
Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre has received steady interest from conventions despite being open for only slightly over a year. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Adam Constanza

Electricians, plumbers and internet experts will soon be converging on the New Zealand capital of Wellington as the local convention centre gears up to host two large conferences at the same time.

The conferences are being held at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre – New Zealand’s newest convention centre in the heart of Wellington that has been open for just over a year.

Over the course of the week, hundreds of delegates will be at Tākina, providing a valuable economic boost to the city’s hospitality, accommodation and retail sectors.

Upcoming events

The Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) meeting will be bringing together internet and networking expert government representatives, industry leaders, and others from around the world to learn, share ideas and develop policies related to Internet operations.

Meanwhile, The Advantage Conference 2024, run by New Zealand’s Laser Plumbing & Electrical and Australia’s O’Brien Electrical & Plumbing Group, will be the first combined conference for the group since the COVID-19 pandemic. This conference will also celebrate a centenary of experience and expertise for O’Brien.

Legacies in the making

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will be sponsoring 20 IT students to attend the conference, enabling them to connect with people in the IT industry. They will hear keynote speakers including Robyn Kamira, managing director of Paua Interface Ltd, whose topic is Telecommunications stories from the Frontline, and Jon Brewer, consulting engineer at Telco2 Ltd talking about the process of delivering broadband to rural Aotearoa.

The Advantage Conference 2024 will also be giving back to local communities – approximately 80 delegates will be participating in a project to provide much-needed electrical and plumbing upgrades to the Life Flight Trust – Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s Wellington base.

Business Events Wellington manager Irette Ferreira expressed enthusiasm for the activities planned – which the city was previously unable to do before Tākina opened.

“We are delighted to welcome both conferences to the capital,” she said. “And we value the efforts both organisations have made to create positive impacts for our city.”