Ōtautahi Christchurch secures IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality in 2022

The New Zealand city of Ōtautahi Christchurch has secured the hosting rights for the 2022 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, making it the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to host the gathering of over 400 virtual reality experts from around the globe. Loren Heaphy, General Manager Destination and Attraction, said the conference was a natural fit for the city and a huge win for New Zealand’s fast-growing virtual reality sector. “As a host city we have so much to offer delegates, a strong and well-connected immersive technology sector, world-leading R&D expertise at the University of Canterbury (UC), alongside fantastic culture, hospitality and some of the most stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures to explore,” said Heaphy. Delegates will be hosted at the city’s new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre in the heart of the city, which is expected to open in 2021. Organisers said the level of expertise at UC, Otago University and across New Zealand, had been a big factor in selecting the destination. Professor Stephan Lukosch of UC’s HIT Lab NZ joined forces with colleague Associate Professor Tobias Langlotz from the University of Otago, to put together a bid, with help from Tourism NZ, to host the conference. “I am looking forward to welcoming the conference delegates to Christchurch. New Zealand has a vibrant research community on virtual and augmented reality, this is a great opportunity to showcase our work and to connect with others from around the world,” said Professor Lukosch. Professor Langlotz said the conference would help put virtual and augmented reality in New Zealand on the world stage. “This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the amazing work that is being done here,” he said. Tourism New Zealand Global Manager Business Events Lisa Gardiner said: “This conference is likely to attract internationally acclaimed experts in virtual reality to New Zealand whose knowledge will be invaluable to local experts in the field. The pre- and post-conference events being planned for delegates across the country will also provide an opportunity to showcase New Zealand’s virtual reality expertise on the world stage.”