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One hundred Australian buyers are attending Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s MEETINGS 2023 in New Zealand’s capital, the largest MEETINGS gathering in the 27-year history of the event.

This year’s MEETINGS has 224 exhibition stands representing 19 regions, including 26 first-time exhibitors.

Over 400 buyers are attending, including 100 from Australia and ten from international markets.

MEETINGS 2023 kicked off on Tuesday night with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand.

MEETINGS 2023 is the first international trade exhibition to take place at New Zealand’s newest convention centre, Tākina Wellington, and this is the first time MEETINGS has been held in Wellington.

Speakers at last night’s event included New Zealand’s Tourism Minister Peeni Henare and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau. Both acknowledged the sector’s role in developing New Zealand’s economic, cultural, environmental, and social success.

Invited guests included the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ms Harinder Sidhu.

BEIA Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins says MEETINGS demonstrates the considerable interest in New Zealand as a world-class conference destination.

“New Zealand has it all. New-generation infrastructure including brand-new convention centres, excellent international connections, and superb support services including accommodation, hospitality, and visitor attractions make it a highly desirable meeting place,” Hopkins said.

“Over the next two days we are showcasing Wellington’s stunning new convention and exhibition centre and making the most of its superb location on the waterfront opposite sister venue, Te Papa.”

This year’s event will be the most sustainable yet, with MEETINGS 2023 working towards Toitū net carbonzero certification as a Certified Event Operation.

MEETINGS’ 2023 venue, Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, holds a 5-Star Green Design certification from the New Zealand Green Building Council. BEIA is carbon-offsetting hosted buyers’ air travel with Air New Zealand’s FlyNeutral program, reducing printed material, eliminating satchels, and partnering with local charities Kibosh Food Rescue, Gillies McIndoe Research and Wellington Zoo to make donations on behalf of every hosted buyer.

Business Events Wellington and Tākina Events helped stage last night’s welcome event, which was emceed by one of Johnson and Laird’s top presenters, Tupe Solomon-Tanoa’I. Guests sampled the Wellington region’s culinary best with a bespoke menu designed by Tākina Events Executive Chef Ilavarasu Rajendran. Serving both Tākina and Te Papa, their food philosophy focuses on collaborating with local suppliers, with 90% of their produce sourced from within the Wellington region.

While enjoying the hospitality at Te Papa, which included local Lighthouse Gin and Wellington’s excellent Waitoa beer, guests were also allowed to experience the museum’s acclaimed Te Taiao – Nature After Dark exhibition.