Winning Wellington turns to conference goals

As New Zealand’s capital Wellington said its farewells to the FIFA Women’s World Cup football frenzy that drew more than 230,000 fans to watch nine games in the city, it is looking forward now to welcoming more than 40 multi-day conferences over the next few months. Wellington is set to host national and international conferences in this next period that are expected to attract more than 18,000 delegates, with delegate spend in the city expected to exceed NZ$25m (US$14.72m). The conferences will include the 36th International Symposium on Superconductivity, taking place at Tākina in November. Drawn to the city by Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington’s international reputation in superconductivity research, it is the first time the event will take place outside of Japan. Bid champions at the university also played an integral role in bringing in the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians; and the Asia Pacific Society for Physical Activity Conference to the city in the same month. The International Zoo Educators Conference, hosted by Wellington Zoo, was originally due to come to the city in 2021 but was postponed due to the pandemic and will now take place this October. With the recent opening of Tākina, Wellington is also playing host to some of New Zealand’s largest national conferences including the Water New Zealand Conference & Expo, expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates along with a large trade exhibition. This conference has never taken place in Wellington before as there was no venue large enough to accommodate it. Gillian Blythe, chief executive of Water New Zealand said: “The opening of Tākina has enabled us to bring multi-streamed programmes and exhibition events to Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington.” Other major national conferences include the New Zealand Dental Conference and New Zealand Game Developers Conference, expected to attract more than 800 delegates. City CVB Business Events Wellington Manager Irette Ferreira added: “It has been a busy and brilliant month in Wellington and now we’re looking forward to business events bringing a broad range of experts to our city across a range of sectors. Hosting these events kickstarts opportunities for knowledge sharing and wider positive social impacts that will benefit Wellington and New Zealand.”