Some 70% of international business events delegates surveyed indicated they were likely to use public transport during their stay.
In Auckland, a new public transport pass has been launched for business events delegates visiting the New Zealand city.
Developed by Auckland Transport in partnership with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s business events arm, Auckland Convention Bureau, the Hui Pass offers eligible business delegates unlimited bus and train travel for up to five days during their stay.
Launched at MEETINGS 2026, a business events tradeshow held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) from 16 to 18 June, the Hui Pass responds to demand from Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) and international visitors.
According to Rachel Cara, group manager of Public Transport Operations at Auckland Transport, 70% of international business events delegates surveyed indicated they were likely to use public transport during their stay.
In a survey and trial for the pass conducted by Auckland Transport and Auckland Convention Bureau, business events delegates showed strong interest.
Some 83% of collected passes were used during the trial, with an average of 9.1 trips made per card.
Auckland is expected to host around 300,000 business events delegates annually, with numbers expected to grow following the opening of NZICC.
Ken Pereira, Head of Business Events at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited believes the Hui Pass will help power the next chapter for business events in Tāmaki Makaurau.
“With the opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre to complement our existing venues such as the Aotea Centre, and the City Rail Link strengthening connectivity, Auckland is entering a new era for business events. The Hui Pass supports this by enabling seamless, more sustainable travel,” Pereira said.
How the pass works
The Hui Pass is a five-day public transport pass priced at NZ$20 (US$11.57) per delegate, available to event organisers for bulk purchase, providing unlimited travel on bus and train services. If a delegate remains in Auckland beyond the five-day period, the card can be topped up and used in the same way as an AT HOP card, including for ferry services and continued bus and train travel.