MEETINGS, which opened its 2026 iteration last night, is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest national tradeshow dedicated to the business events industry. As the premier annual event of its kind, MEETINGS provides a platform to connect influential buyers from New Zealand, Australia, and international markets with regional destinations, venues, accommodation providers, off-site experiences, and tourism offerings.

• MEETINGS has been held annually since 1997 and is owned and managed by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA).

• Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is the host city for MEETINGS 2026, and the exhibition venue is the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC). Auckland Convention Bureau is offering Hosted Buyers a special one-day destination familiarisation on Tuesday, 16 June.

• Across two days at the NZICC, buyers can pre-schedule 32 appointments of their choice from 253 stands representing 18 regions of New Zealand, including 12 first-time exhibitors.

• Over 240 Hosted Buyers and media will attend from New Zealand and Australia, plus groups from South-East Asia, China, India, and North America.

• More than 1,500 attendees are in attendance, with 600 buyers from across Australia and New Zealand, and more than 6,000 prescheduled meetings planned.

• MEETINGS buyers include event managers, professional conference organisers, and anyone looking to plan corporate events, conferences, product launches, incentive experiences, exhibitions, roadshows, and team-building events in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Exhibitors include venues, production and event design companies, hotels, regional convention bureaux, caterers, attractions and activities from across New Zealand.

• MEETINGS 2026 will make full use of NZICC’s flexible and scalable spaces. They include the purpose-built exhibition hall Ariki, Te Paepae theatre and all the meeting spaces, supported by advanced technology, in-house catering and an experienced event delivery team.

• MEETINGS 2025 generated $110 million of business bookings for New Zealand.

• Business events delivered a $925 million boost to New Zealand’s economy last year, according to BEIA research. More than 16,500 international delegates arrived in Q1 2026, up over 50% year-on-year and only 4% below pre-COVID 2019 levels.

• MEETINGS 2026 major partners are Air New Zealand, Auckland Airport, Auckland Convention Bureau, EventsAIR, Exhibition Hire Services, NZICC, Peek Exhibition and Tourism New Zealand Business Events.

• Celebrity Speakers NZ is hosting two lunchtime speaker showcases to experience top speakers and MC talent and inspire New Zealand programme ideas.

• The Luxury Collection will showcase New Zealand’s luxury incentive products, venues and services in an exclusive zone with champagne hosting during the day.

• Social events are a key part of the networking opportunities offered at MEETINGS and are set to showcase Auckland and New Zealand’s best event and entertainment talent. They include the Official Opening Function at NZICC on 16 June, and the MEETINGS Electric Garden Celebration night headlined by Synthony also at NZICC on 18 June.

About Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland: a world-class business events destination

• Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is a world-class business events destination, offering a diverse range of venues, accommodation, dining and tourism experiences. FY2025-26 hotel openings include DoubleTree by Hilton, Radisson RED and TRIBE Auckland by Accor.

• Auckland is the most culturally diverse city in New Zealand and the world’s largest Māori and Polynesian city, enabling authentic indigenous cultural experiences and vibrant, diverse event programs.

• Auckland has a strong base of academics and industry experts who bring fresh thinking, innovation and global connections – ideal for knowledge-driven business events.

• Auckland’s key growth sectors include technology and innovation, investment, creative industries, the green economy and social innovation – providing a slate of opportunities for events focused on innovation and resilience.
• Events with an innovation focus can look to benefit from Auckland’s recently established Auckland Innovation and Technology Alliance, which brings together leaders from research, business and government to drive innovation and commercialisation across the region.

• Further, the Government’s 2025 announcement of the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT) in Auckland – designed to support high-value manufacturing and deep tech – reinforces the region’s innovation momentum.

• Conference participants can experience Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique Māori culture in Auckland with Treasures of Tāmaki Makaurau, the ultimate go-to guide connecting visitors with authentic cultural experiences – from tours and art to food, performance, and maritime journeys.

• The purpose-built New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), opened in February 2026, allows Auckland to host events at a scale never before possible in New Zealand.

• Auckland Airport is the best-connected in Australasia to North America, with new direct flights to Buenos Aires with China Eastern Airlines coming soon, and a multi-billion-dollar upgrade underway across terminals and airfields for a seamless travel experience.

• The City Rail Link (CRL), expected to open in late 2026, will make moving around Auckland’s city centre easier than ever for delegates and business travellers.

• Auckland is safe, welcoming, stable and progressive – offering events that can limit their environmental footprint while extending their cultural and social impact.

About Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA)

Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) is the official membership-based association representing New Zealand’s business events sector, which encompasses meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

BEIA brings together an industry membership from across regional convention bureaux, tourism, hotels, convention centres, event suppliers, and event organisers, working to grow and benefit the business events industry in New Zealand. Its efforts aim to create positive outcomes for members, stakeholders, and the wider economy, encouraging both domestic and international opportunities.

New Zealand’s business events sector delivered $925 million in economic and productivity benefits in 2025, according to research from BEIA.

BEIA is also the custodian of Pīata Mai, the national strategic direction for New Zealand’s business events sector. Launched in 2024, this 10-year strategy outlines a clear path to address the industry’s challenges and unlock sustainable growth opportunities.

Beyond advocacy, BEIA plays a central role in developing the sector’s capability, offering professional development, education, and accreditation for individuals working in business events. The association represents more than 460 organisations and maintains an extensive network of buyers and organisers across New Zealand and Australia.

Through its work, BEIA continues to elevate the business events sector as a vital contributor to New Zealand’s visitor economy and wider society

 

Edited by:  Peter Needham at MEETINGS in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland – © 2026.

Read Time: 3 Minutes.

 

About the Author.

With more than 35 years in travel journalism, Peter Needham has filed stories from Fleet Street to Fiji, and just about everywhere in between. As Managing Editor (Australasia) for Global Travel Media, he shapes industry coverage with the steady hand of someone who’s seen fashions come and go and knows what lasts.

Since going freelance in 1993, his byline has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, Reader’s Digest and Qantas’ inflight magazines. He edited Inside Tourism for seven years, wrote the long-running Travel Tales column for Vacations & Travel, and even crafted copy for Tourism Australia ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

A Reuters, Guardian and AAP veteran, Peter has travelled widely from South American backpacking trails to a Saudi military hospital, gathering stories the old-fashioned way: by being there.

 

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