New Zealand opens borders and ends capacity restrictions

The New Zealand government, 13 April, has ended Covid-19 restrictions that had put capacity limits on events. Lisa Hopkins (pictured), chief executive of Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), stated: “For the first time since mid-August 2021, the business events industry can finally breathe a sigh of relief. This announcement by minister for Covid Response, Chris Hipkins, coupled with the opening of air borders without the need to self-isolate for Australian visitors, was highly anticipated and welcomed by the business events sector industry.” The government has also ended vaccine mandates from 4 April and plans to phase out all border restrictions by October 2022. Hopkins added: “There is pent-up demand from Australian, international, and domestic event organisers with a robust booking pipeline waiting in the wings. “BEIA’s annual trade show, MEETINGS set for June 2022 has attracted registrations from hundreds of Australian and New Zealand event managers and professional conference organisers already. They will be ready to book future business with 200 exhibitors from 18 regions of New Zealand at the new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on 15/16 June,” Hopkins added. To learn more about New Zealand’s events industry during Covid-19 and its path to recovery, read our interview with Arna Wahl Davies, co-founder and director of PCO Composition, in our latest edition of the CMW magazine.