Tourism New Zealand aims to secure a record NZ$135 million worth of international conferences supporting sector and country recovery over the coming years.

Following a successful 84 bids worth NZ$120 million for New Zealand in the financial year 2023, Tourism New Zealand aims to bid for 90 international conferences in FY24.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive René de Monchy says the business events industry globally is now in full recovery mode, presenting good opportunities to attract high-quality events to New Zealand shores that will benefit the country’s economy, society, culture, and environment.

“Whether it’s conferences that aim to improve equity for women and girls in sport, or will grow New Zealand’s sustainable agri-food-tech sector, business events contribute to our country in many ways, both tangible and intangible,” de Monchy said.

“In FY24 Tourism New Zealand will work hard to support New Zealand’s business events sector to attract business that will also grow knowledge and collaboration across many of society’s important subjects and industries. This target is reflective of the recovery of the business events sector and our aspiration for success in this market, which is New Zealand’s fourth most valuable.”

The economic value of business events in New Zealand was estimated at NZ$1.48 billion in the year ending June 2019, the most recent year there is full data for before New Zealand’s border closed.

New Zealand now has two new purpose-built convention centres in Christchurch and Wellington and another in Auckland in 2025. With its diverse offering for smaller events and an array of experiences, this new infrastructure solidifies New Zealand’s status as a world-class conference destination.

The number of conference bids has grown consistently yearly from seven in 2012 to 89 in 2019 before the global COVID pandemic led to a drop.

Despite New Zealand’s borders being closed, bid activity continued, building a pipeline of conference business through to 2028.

Edited by: Peter Needham in Wellington, New Zealand

=================================