Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is set to host the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) in July 2024, making it the first time in almost three decades that the event will be held in the Southern Hemisphere. The conference is expected to attract over 1,000 international and national delegates to Ōtautahi Christchurch, delivering an estimated $1.6m to the local economy.
The IAMCR conference will focus on Indigenous knowledge and communication research and will be hosted by Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha|University of Canterbury (UC) academics. UC’s bid for the conference was submitted in partnership with mana whenua (the local tribe), with the support of ChristchurchNZ and Tourism New Zealand.
The conference theme, “Whiria te tangata | Weave the people together: Communicative projects of decolonising, engaging, and listening,” highlights the need for reflection on the terms and models appropriate for contemporary communication, including the political and moral goals embedded in them.
New Zealand’s unique bicultural history and position make it an ideal location for the conference, according to Tourism New Zealand General Manager NZ & Business Events Bjoern Spreitzer. He says that visitors attending the conference will be able to explore the country’s unique culture and perspectives.
UC’s formal partnership with local iwi Ngāi Tūāhuriri contributed to the successful bid. UC is also home to the country’s first journalism school and is the only institution to offer a Māori communications major.
Professor Donald Matheson, the lead academic bringing this conference to Ōtautahi Christchurch, says that holding the conference in Aotearoa is a chance to put decolonising communication and Indigenous media at the heart of academic thinking. He adds that it is also an opportunity for New Zealand to share its experience of a partnership between mana whenua and settler society.
Supporting this conference is a unique opportunity for New Zealand’s academics to share their perspectives on Indigenous knowledge with the broader world, according to UC Tumu Whakarae|Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey. She believes that the conference may inspire communications research globally.
ChristchurchNZ’s Head of Business Events, Megan Crum, adds that delegates can expect easy access through the international airport, a warm welcome, a vibrant and walkable city with incredible new infrastructure, and stunning regions to explore after the conference.
The conference is set to take place from July 12-16, 2024, and will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, and presentations from experts in the field of Indigenous communication research. With New Zealand’s unique bicultural history and position, the conference promises to be a unique opportunity to reflect on the importance of Indigenous knowledge in contemporary communication and to explore ways to promote decolonising communication and Indigenous media.
Overall, hosting the IAMCR conference is a chance for New Zealand to showcase its unique culture and perspectives, promote the importance of Indigenous knowledge in communication research, and bring together experts worldwide to discuss and learn from one another. It promises to be a transformative event for all involved.
Written by: William Trevan
