MEETINGS 2026 is on track to sell out, with exhibitor demand surging for New Zealand’s largest business events showcase.
On 17 and 18 June, over 250 leading New Zealand product and service providers will fill the exhibition hall of the brand-new New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Auckland.
Hosted buyer places are also in high demand for the 29th MEETINGS run by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA).
This year, fully hosted buyers can shape their own program, giving greater scheduling flexibility.
BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins, says meeting all of New Zealand under one roof at the country’s latest and largest convention centre will be an unmissable experience.
“We are thrilled to be working with the NZICC team to maximise this stunning new venue and to be celebrating New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. The appointment program will be boosted by engaging dialogue with industry experts and innovators.
“At a time when global uncertainty is rising, New Zealand offers a safe and compelling destination for business events. Modern infrastructure, connections, diversity and a highly engaged industry give organisers confidence in both delivery and experience. MEETINGS is a unique opportunity to experience all this firsthand,” Hopkins says.
Hosted buyers receive a package of benefits including complimentary travel courtesy of Air New Zealand, accommodation across one of 16 host hotels, and invitations to all MEETINGS’ official social functions.
The MEETINGS experience extends beyond the show floor, starting with the Auckland Host City Famil on Tuesday, 16 June. Australian buyers can also apply for an extensive range of pre- and post-MEETINGS famil programs across the country. Early applications are strongly encouraged to secure preferred destinations.
“For those planning business in other destinations, this is the perfect opportunity to explore what is available, from the well-known to the up-and-coming gems,” Hopkins says.
MEETINGS is also set to appeal to day buyers who can visit the show without prescheduled appointments.
Limited spaces are available on the MEETINGS 2026 Hosted Buyer program. Applications close on 10 April 2026 and can be made online at meetings.co.nz.
Edited by Peter Needham – (c) 2026.
Read Time: 4 minutes.
About the Writer.
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.
