Auckland hosts 1,300 business events yearly, expanding with the NZICC opening in 2026 and adding new hotels to support growing international conference demand. Photo Credit: Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Tourism New Zealand, the world’s oldest destination marketing organisation, is ramping up its MICE positioning by showing how international conferences can drive global thought leadership.
In 2024, international visitors contributed NZ$12.2 billion – a 23% rise year-on-year – including NZ$287 million from conference delegates. To support future growth, NZ$3 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will fund bids for conferences with 200+ delegates, with annual bid targets increasing from 90 to 110.
“We’re marketing our expertise in agritech, medicine, geology, forestry and tech,” said Penelope Ryan, global manager business events. “Delegates spend well over NZ$100 per day more than leisure travellers.”
Trade ties with India are strengthening, especially in tech, with discussions underway for direct flights.
Penelope Ryan highlighted New Zealand’s strengths in agritech, medicine, geology, forestry, and tech, noting business event delegates spend significantly more than leisure travellers. Photo Credit: TMS APACAuckland: Expanded capacity and demand
Auckland hosted 1,300 business events in 2024, 70% of which were conferences and meetings. Corporate and association events are central to its MICE strategy.
The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), opening in February 2026, will host 3,000 delegates for conferences and 4,500 for other events. It already has 20 international events confirmed and over 200 proposals in the pipeline.
With 18,000 hotel rooms and new entries like JW Marriott and Horizon by SkyCity, Auckland is primed for larger global events.
Wellington: A knowledge hub rising
Tākina Wellington Convention Centre, opened in 2023, boosts capacity for large international events, aligning conferences with local research strengths.Wellington uses its capital city status and research strengths in AI, renewable energy and Antarctic studies to attract conferences aligned with local expertise.
“Events contribute to our community’s wellbeing and economic growth,” said Irette Ferreira, manager, Business Events Wellington.
The opening of Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2023 has boosted capacity. Upcoming events include the World Conference on Open and Distance Education (2025) and WONCA World Rural Health Conference (2026). Local associations are now more actively bidding for international events.
Christchurch: A model for sustainable conferences
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, opened in 2021, offers flexible, sustainable event spaces and is one of the world’s first net carbon zero-certified venues.Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre hosted over 220 events in 2024 and is among the world’s first net carbon zero certified venues.
With 2,500 hotel rooms nearby and four more hotels underway, Christchurch is growing sustainably. Its Conference Legacy Project found strong delegate approval for waste management and sustainability.
“Expectations are changing,” said Kath Low, head of Visitor Economy. “People care about the wider impact of events.”
Queenstown: Incentive excellence and team development
HQNZ’s Peak Teams Programme offers immersive virtual leadership simulations in extreme environments to build teamwork, decision-making, and resilience.Queenstown remains a top pick for luxury incentives and team retreats, especially among South-east Asian groups visiting during winter.
HQNZ’s Peak Teams Programme offers simulated leadership scenarios filmed in extreme environments like mountain summits or ocean settings. Non-skiers can enjoy team-building with snow caves, hikes, and tobogganing.
_Editor’s note: This article is an abridged version of the full feature published in M&C Asia Apr–June 2025 eBook. Read the full version here.