Tākina Convention & Exhibition Centre has contributed more than NZ$120 million to Wellington’s economy in the three years since opening on 31 May 2023.
During that period, the venue has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors to eight exhibitions and hosted 119,758 delegates across 306 business events. The venue has become a major hub for events, exhibitions and industry gatherings, bringing together communities, organisations and visitors from across New Zealand and internationally.
Mark Oldershaw, chief executive at WellingtonNZ, said Tākina had quickly demonstrated its value to the city. “Tākina was created as a place to bring people together, and three years on, that vision is reflected in the events, exhibitions and connections taking place there,” he said. “The venue has generated more than $120 million in economic benefit to Wellington in just three years.”
Wellington mayor Andrew Little said the centre had become an important driver of visitor activity in the capital. “Tākina is an important asset for Wellington, attracting high-value visitors to the city and supporting spending across the hospitality, accommodation and tourism sectors,” he said.
Designed to accommodate larger conferences than Wellington had previously been able to host, Tākina has helped strengthen the capital’s position as a business events destination. Over the past three years, the venue has hosted a number of international conferences and sector gatherings. The 21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference resulted in the Aotearoa New Zealand Declaration on Rural Health 2026, which has since been endorsed by the Ministry of Health.
The 30th ICDE World Conference led to the Tākina Accord and the establishment of an ongoing Education Policy Forum focused on equitable access to tertiary education.
Tākina Events has also reported continued growth in visitor satisfaction, with its Net Promoter Score increasing from +56 to +83 over the past year. Financial performance across conference and exhibition activity is also tracking ahead of budget expectations.
Andrew Dorrington, general manager venues at Tākina Events, said the venue’s operational approach continued to focus on manaakitanga – hospitality, kindness and respect. “Three years ago we opened the doors with ambitious goals for what Tākina could become,” he said. “What has developed since then is a team focused on hospitality, visitor experience and supporting clients to deliver successful events.”
Sustainability and design remain central to the venue’s operations. Tākina is a 5-star Green Star rated building and holds Qualmark Gold certification. Environmental initiatives include rainwater harvesting and food rescue programmes aimed at reducing waste.
The building has also received international architectural recognition, finishing runner-up in the World-Architects Building of the Year awards. Relationships with mana whenua, including Te Āti Awa, have also played a significant role in shaping the venue’s identity.
Oldershaw said the venue would continue to play an important role in Wellington’s future visitor economy. “Every event held at Tākina creates wider benefits across the city through visitor spending, employment and community connection,” he said.
