Set to be held in November 2025, WIPCE will be one of the first international conferences held in Auckland’s New Zealand International Convention Centre.
Auckland has been selected to host WIPCE 2025 – the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education.
WIPCE is the largest, most diverse Indigenous education forum in the
world, and is expected to attract some 3,000 representatives from around
the world to New Zealand to share strategies for culturally grounded
education.
The event will be held in November 2025 and will be one of the first
international conferences held in Auckland’s New Zealand International
Convention Centre (NZICC), delivering an estimated economic impact to
the city of more than NZ$6 million (US$3.8 million).
The bid was led by Auckland University of Technology’s Office of
Māori Advancement and Te Ara Poutama – its Faculty of Māori and
Indigenous Development with support from Auckland Convention Bureau
(ACB), a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Tourism New
Zealand’s Business Events team.
The bid also received support from Māori King Te Arikinui Tūheitia
Paki, the Chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Marama Royal, and
distinguished academic leaders in Māori advancement.
AUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Māori Advancement, Professor Pare
Keiha, is the chair for WIPCE 2025 and says the WIPCE International
Council voted unanimously for Te Wānanga Aronui O Tāmaki Makau Rau (AUT)
to host the event in 2025.
“The WIPCE council was elated by the calibre of our bid, by its
multi-generational focus. My esteemed colleagues have done Aotearoa
proud in bringing this home, a job made possible with the full support
of others, including Tourism New Zealand and the Auckland Convention
Bureau,” Professor Keiha said.
“We look forward to welcoming thousands of our global Indigenous
brothers and sisters to the shores of Aotearoa New Zealand, so that we
may collectively work to transform the lives of our young people, the
world over.”
Head of ACB Ken Pereira said: “We are proud of the opportunity to
celebrate the mana of our indigenous Māori culture and highlight the
important work being done in our education sector on a world stage. This
win is an example of the importance of industry partners working
together to bring world-class events to Tāmaki Makaurau.”
Tourism New Zealand general manager New Zealand & Business Events
Bjoern Spreitzer added: “It’s truly exciting to be able to share New
Zealand’s unique Māori culture and world view with the manuhiri
(visitors) who will attend this conference.
“The authentic and transformative cultural knowledge and experiences
that Aotearoa New Zealand can offer business event attendees really sets
us apart as a destination. This event will create excellent
opportunities for knowledge sharing and positive legacies.”
NZICC’s director of sales & marketing Prue Daly says: “As the
only venue in New Zealand large enough to host a conference of this
scale, it is a privilege to be welcoming WIPCE and their delegates to
the New Zealand International Convention Centre as one of our first
international conventions after our much-anticipated opening in 2025.
“The sharing of knowledge and showcasing New Zealand’s manaakitanga
are fundamental values of the NZICC, and to be able to foster this
through the WIPCE conference, who are utilising all 32,500 sqm of our
world-class venue, is very exciting.”
Source: M&IT