The announcement was made on Monday morning at New Zealand’s newest convention centre, Tākina, in Wellington, by the country’s tourism and hospitality minister, Louise Upston.
The funding will come from New Zealand’s International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy which is paid by many short term visitors to the country.
The $3 million in new funding is expected to generate $30 million for New Zealand’s economy over the next few years, through the international delegate spending from the extra events secured.
“We’re giving business events a boost,” said Upston.
“We know business event participants spend NZ$175 more per day than other visitors on average, and importantly they often visit in the off-peak period between March and November.
“This funding will allow Tourism New Zealand to increase their annual conference bid development from 90 to 110 bids, attract high-value incentive programmes and enhance New Zealand’s presence at key international trade events.
“This is a chance to showcase our new conference facilities, fantastic hotels and experiences, and pitch New Zealand as a world class location for business events.”
New Zealand is in the midst of a convention centre boom, going from no open purpose-built, major convention centres in 2021 to three young centres in 2026, when the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) opens next February.
Over the last several years in Auckland there has also been a considerable boost in supporting infrastructure, with a 23 per cent increase in hotel inventory since 2019.
Meanwhile, in Christchurch, there are a couple of hotels in various stages of development, with a site close to the city’s convention centre, Te Pae, earmarked for a five-star property and the former Rydges hotel, closed since the 2011 earthquake, set for a significant refurbishment to reopen as another five-star hotel.
And in Wellington, there is expected to be some progress in the development of new hotels close to Tākina this year.
“To boost conference visitor numbers, it makes sense to supercharge the Conference Assistance Programme work that is already happening in Tourism New Zealand,” said Upston as part of today’s announcement, referencing Tourism New Zealand’s program which supports organisations that are bidding to bring international meetings to the country.
New Zealand’s business events industry body, Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), has welcomed news of the funding.
“It signals that New Zealand is actively recognising the importance of business events, and this new funding helps level the playing field with our main competitor, Australia,” said BEIA chief executive, Lisa Hopkins.
“This is a high-spend, high-value sector. The global business events industry is valued at US$1.6 trillion.
“Our industry association has been seeking support for the sector for two decades.
“New Zealand’s business events industry has come of age with investment in world-class infrastructure.
“The three new convention centres are expected to create 1,400 new jobs, over 300,000 room nights annually and direct spend in excess of NZ$150 million. This excludes downstream economic contribution or when the international delegate stays on as a tourist and visits other parts of the country.
“We know that we have brilliant infrastructure and the downstream financial effects are proven. Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, for example, is making a significant impact on the national economy.
“Business events are much more than economic contributors, they also heavily influence positive outcomes for society, communities and create long-term legacies and they lift New Zealand on the world stage,” said Hopkins.
