The flagship conference for the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) will be held at Wellington’s convention centre, Tākina, which opened in the middle of 2023.
The society and the conference explore the transformation of city environments for better health, equity and environmental sustainability.
When the meeting is held in Wellington in November next year, it will mark the first time the conference has been held in Oceania.
“As the first ICUH conference to be held in the Oceania region, Wellington provides an unparalleled opportunity for our delegates to engage with the pressing urban health issues facing New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific islands,” said ISUH executive director, Giselle Sebag.
“Hosting ICUH 2025 in Wellington is not just about bringing our conference to a new region — it’s about connecting our international community with a city that is at the forefront of global urban health innovation.
“Wellington is a city that exemplifies the intricate relationships between physical infrastructure, environmental stewardship, social services and public health,” said Sebag.
“We are excited to see the conversations and collaborations that will emerge from ICUH 2025.”
With support from Business Events Wellington and Tourism New Zealand, the bid was won by the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities which is based at the Wellington campus of the University of Otago.
“We are planning an exciting and stimulating conference looking at urban design, indigenous and public housing, climate change, sustainable transport and inclusive neighbourhoods,” said the director of the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities, distinguished professor Philippa Howden-Chapman.
Business Events Wellington manager, Irette Ferreira, said the conference’s economic impact is estimated to be NZ$1 million.
“It’s exciting to welcome this important international event to Wellington and Tākina,” she said.
“Aside from the economic benefit to the city…hosting a conference on urban health aligns extremely well with Wellington’s Economic Wellbeing Strategy to create a thriving suburban city.”
