Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has been selected to host WIPCE 2025 – the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education. “This win exemplifies the importance of industry partners working together to bring world-class events to Tāmaki Makaurau.”
“My esteemed colleagues have done Aotearoa proud in bringing this home, a job made possible with the full support of others, including Tourism New Zealand and the Auckland Convention Bureau,” Professor Keiha says.
This event will create excellent opportunities for knowledge sharing and positive legacies.” The bid was led by Auckland University of Technology’s Office of Māori Advancement and Te Ara Poutama – its Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Development with support from Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB), a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Tourism New Zealand’s Business Events team.
“The sharing of knowledge and showcasing New Zealand’s manaakitanga are fundamental values of the NZICC, and to be able to foster this through the WIPCE conference, who are utilising all 32,500 sqm of our world-class venue, is very exciting.”
NZICC’s Director of Sales & Marketing Prue Daly says: “As the only venue in New Zealand large enough to host a conference of this scale, it is a privilege to be welcoming WIPCE and their delegates to the New Zealand International Convention Centre as one of our first international conventions after our much-anticipated opening in 2025.
“We look forward to welcoming thousands of our global Indigenous brothers and sisters to the shores of Aotearoa New Zealand, so that we may collectively work to transform the lives of our young people, the world over.”
Head of ACB Ken Pereira says: “We are proud of the opportunity to celebrate the mana of our indigenous Māori culture and highlight the vital work being done in our education sector on a world stage.
Tourism New Zealand General Manager New Zealand & Business Events Bjoern Spreitzer adds: “It’s fascinating to be able to share New Zealand’s unique Māori culture and world view with the manuhiri (visitors) who will attend this conference”.
WIPCE is the largest, most diverse Indigenous education forum in the world. It is expected to attract some 3,000 representatives from around the world to New Zealand to share strategies for culturally grounded education. The event will be held in November 2025. It will be one of the first international conferences held in Auckland’s New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), delivering an estimated economic impact to the city of more than $6m.
The authentic and transformative cultural knowledge and experiences that Aotearoa, New Zealand, can offer business event attendees sets us apart as a destination.
The WIPCE council was elated by our bid’s calibre and multi-generational focus.
AUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Māori Advancement, Professor Pare Keiha, is the Chair for WIPCE 2025 and says the WIPCE International Council voted unanimously for it.
Tāmaki Makau Rau (AUT) to host the event in 2025.
Written by: Jill Walsh
