Auckland will leverage the upcoming New Zealand International Convention Centre to drive economic growth through business events
Auckland is entering a defining new chapter in its evolution as a premier business events destination, fuelled by a dynamic blend of strategic vision and new infrastructure, headlined by the upcoming New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC).
“We’ve got a really powerful story to tell,” said Ken Pereira, head of Auckland Convention Bureau.
“We want Auckland to be an incubator of ideas born in this part of the world, and to be able to compete with Singapore and Vienna. Tech and innovation are a big focus for our city, and our event strategy is about connecting business events with economic development and broader city aspirations.”
Major transformation is translating into impressive results.
According to Nick Hill, chief executive of Tataki Auckland Unlimited: “This year, we estimate a 35 per cent increase in the economic impact of business events, up from NZ$35 million (US$20.4 million) last year to NZ$48 million. Visitor nights have increased by 48 per cent to reach 113,000.”
The momentum looks set to accelerate, with Hill noting that a strong pipeline forecast will “lock in business for NZ$107 million”.
Infrastructure is front and centre in Auckland’s rise. The NZICC, opening in February 2026, is hailed as “game-changing” by Pereira, and is expected to reshape New Zealand’s ability to attract and deliver major global events.
“It will allow us to operate at a scale that no other convention centres in New Zealand can currently match. For both Auckland and New Zealand, it’s a huge opportunity,” said Pereira.
The centre offers 7,000m2 of flexible exhibition space, and a 2,850-seat theatre that can convert into a banquet hall. Already, 23 international events are confirmed between 2026 and 2028, bringing 23,000 delegates, 126,000 visitor days, and an estimated NZ$90 million in economic impact, according to NZICC’s general manager Prue Daly.
Supporting the venue is an expanded hotel inventory, with more than 5,000 new hotel rooms added in the past five years, many within walking distance. The City Rail Link, nearing completion, will further enhance access to the city centre.
Auckland Airport is also undergoing its most significant transformation in decades, with NZ$300 million committed to expanding terminal capacity and building an integrated domestic jet terminal. The project will deliver 23 per cent more gates, and a 44 per cent increase in passenger processing capacity.
Air connectivity is still catching up. According to Auckland Airport’s chief customer officer Scott Tasker, the current number of airline seats remains 11 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, though routes and capacity are rebuilding.
There is heightened awareness of what is at stake.
“If we do this right, all the other consequential outcomes like visitation numbers, GDP, economic impact – all that good stuff will happen,” said Pereira. “We’re genuinely on a journey to learn from world leaders, to see how they connect investment and tech outcomes through business events. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
South-east Asia is a priority market, especially Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
“Singapore makes the strongest strategic sense, given its influential role in the region, both for associations and the corporate sector,” Pereira noted.
Thanks in large part to NZICC, Auckland is preparing to host some major events over the coming months, including the International Coral Reef Symposium for the first time, expected to bring 2,500 delegates and 15,000 visitor days in July 2026, generating NZ$6 million in economic impact.
Also confirmed are the International Society for Microbial Ecology next July and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) 57th Annual Scientific Congress in November 2026 with about 1,700 delegates each.
