A first of its kind partnership with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Wētā Workshop is set to welcome themed entertainment and leisure professionals from 12 countries to New Zealand for the TEA SATE Asia-Pacific Conference.
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has partnered with creative services company Wētā Workshop, and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU), the region’s cultural, events and destination agency for the conference, which will run 24-29 August, with organisers saying it will be a celebration of New Zealand’s themed entertainment industry, as well as innovation and creation the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
“The TEA SATE Asia-Pacific conference is an important annual event for the themed entertainment industry,” said Melissa Oviedo, chief executive officer, TEA. “Our members have wanted to visit and learn from New Zealand for quite some time. We are proud to host this exclusive opportunity. We know it will leave a lasting impression with attendees for many years to come.”
Kicking off on 24 August at Auckland’s Sky Tower, TEA SATE Asia-Pacific 2025 will include experiences at destinations including: The All Blacks Experience Tour (Auckland) Wētā Workshop Unleashed (Auckland) The Hobbiton™ Movie Set (Matamata) The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Wellington) Wētā Workshop (Wellington) The World of WearableArt (Wellington) HyperCinema (Auckland), and Roxy Cinema (Wellington)
Wellington-based, Wētā Workshop will host attendees for an unforgettable visit to the Wētā Workshop Unleashed Dinner Experience at their themed Auckland entertainment site on Federal Street.
Oviedo adds: “We are especially excited Entertainment and Cultural Advisors (ECA) will provide an exclusive preview of the 2024 TEA Global Index. The annual report is comprehensive study of global attractions attendance and provides critical insights into trends shaping leisure and entertainment markets worldwide. ECA will share key findings from this new report exclusively to SATE attendees ahead of its official public release.”
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s head of business events Ken Pereira, says: “Kicking this event off in Auckland is a testament to the region’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation and creativity, and this conference will allow us to share New Zealand’s rich expansion into themed entertainment. This is a thriving global industry, and this event will provide a vital in-person chance to exchange knowledge and make connections to help drive continued growth.”
To learn more about the event and TEA, visit teaconnect.org.
