A contingent of Australians boosted a gathering of more than 500 business events industry buyers and media at Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau yesterday for the opening of Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s two-day MEETINGS exhibition, which will culminate in a 25th anniversary gala celebration this evening.
After a two-year break, the trans-Tasman travel bubble has finally allowed buyers and media from Australia and New Zealand to meet and mingle, without need for masks. It’s an emotional occasion – as well as a business event for the business events industry – a rare international gathering in a world widely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
New Zealand’s Minister of Tourism, Stuart Nash, welcomed guests by video link from Parliament in Wellington, declaring his firm belief that keeping New Zealand free of Covid-19 was the best thing the country could do for its business events sector. Nash noted that “49 of our Australian cousins” were attending MEETINGS this year.
“It would have been a few more,” Nash noted, acknowledging that the lockdown in Victoria had presented obvious challenges.
At Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds, delegates were formally greeted to the host city with a mihi whakatau (a speech acknowledging those present at a gathering) on the show floor, led by New Zealander of the Year – theatre, film and television actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand CNZM. She gave a moving mihi in te reo Māori (te reo being the Māori language, which is increasingly used in contemporary New Zealand). Then Ngā Rangatahi O Tamaki – a group of passionate youth selected from a variety of high schools throughout Auckland – led a karanga, a call of welcome, and a powhiri welcoming ceremony.
BEIA’s Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins and Auckland Unlimited’s Head of Major and Business Events, Richard Clarke each spoke. The kapa haka group concluded with a vibrant action song and haka.
MEETINGS 2021 launched officially on Tuesday night with a spectacular function at Auckland’s newest experience 
and venue, Weta Workshop Unleashed, at SkyCity precinct. Many of the Australian attendees, who flew from Sydney aboard Air New Zealand flight NZ104, arrived just in time to catch the welcome by Weta creator and Academy Award winner, Sir Richard Taylor. Guests were soon immersed in the fantastical film effects inspired by Wellington’s Weta Workshop, making the most of the surreal environments and interactive experiences.
Hopkins told delegates that Australian and New Zealand business event decision-makers were attending the two-day MEETINGS to learn everything they could about New Zealand as a business events destination, and to book their events.
“Many of our buyers have been travelling around New Zealand since Friday taking the opportunity to explore Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch,” she said.
BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins
“Our regional tourism organisations have been hosting familiarisation tours of their cities, highlighting new infrastructure, activities and hospitality. Now they have the chance to meet all of New Zealand in pre-scheduled appointments and networking time with 149 exhibitors across two days.
“There’s a sense of confidence coming back, reflected in the number of buyers and the number of first-time exhibitors to MEETINGS this year. They sum up the diversity of this industry – everything from Tauranga-based Brewbus, to Auckland’s stand-out new Hotel Britomart,” Hopkins said.
New exhibitors include two South Island regions, Kaikōura on the South Island’s east coast, and Central Otago, who recently launched Central Otago Business Events, their own regional convention bureau. Five new exhibitors come from Queenstown this year, including hotels, production companies, and adventure operators.
Written by Peter Needham
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