13 January, 2021

New Zealand secures global sustainability conference

New Zealand has secured a major global conference on coral reefs highlighting the plight of the South Pacific to the rest of the world.

The International Coral Reef Society’s symposium will be held in Auckland in the New Zealand International Convention Centre in mid-2025.

The conference will bring together top scientists, environmental managers, conservationists, and others, giving an opportunity for New Zealand and Pacific coral reef experts to share insights with their global peers.

Around 2,500 experts are expected to attend the conference – the largest number of delegates that New Zealand can host – bringing $6 million to the economy.

Tourism New Zealand and the Auckland Convention Bureau worked alongside Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Auckland and the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Fijian office to secure the event, winning over other nations such as Italy.

Commenting on New Zealand’s event bid, Dr Michael Sweet, corresponding secretary of the International Coral Reef Society, said: “We were particularly impressed by the inclusivity of the New Zealand approach in identifying the importance of Māori culture and the natural environment, and also the partnership with the Pacific.”

Tourism New Zealand’s global manager of business events, Lisa Gardiner, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with the Pacific, an area that due to its remoteness is often forgotten, despite the fact that its reefs are under considerable threat.”

The win follows a number of other major conferences recently secured by New Zealand, including the International Association of Women in Police Conference, which will be held in Auckland in 2023.

“It’s a real boost for the sector as we head into 2021 that we’ve got a number of great conferences in the pipeline,” Gardiner said.

“We are forging ahead to keep New Zealand an attractive place to host business events so the industry can keep staff employed and keep these high-value visitors coming to New Zealand.”

Featured image source: iStock/Tammy616

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Auckland Convention Bureau conference coral reefs International Coral Reef Society Lisa Gardiner New Zealand sustainability conference tourism new zealand University of Auckland Victoria University of Wellington Wildlife Conservation Society