What to Expect
TWO DAYS THAT WILL
MOVE YOUR INDUSTRY FORWARD
Keynote speakers. Ministerial updates. Hands-on breakout sessions. Industry networking. And a Gala Awards Dinner to cap it all off. Here's what's in store at NZICC Auckland on 4 & 5 August 2026.
📍 NZICC, Auckland
📅 4 & 5 August 2026
👥 ~400 Professionals
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Full Programme
The Agenda
Tickets are available for individual days or the full two-day conference — choose what works for you. Both days are packed with content, connection and conversation.
Tuesday 4 August 2026
Conference Day One
Day One opens with a Mihi Whakatau and sets the tone for two days of bold ideas. Expect research, audience insights, an industry fireside, a direct address from the Minister of Tourism & Hospitality, and an evening of face-to-face business connections at Event Exchange.
Morning — Arrival & Welcome
10:30am
Conference Opening & Mihi Whakatau
A formal welcome opens the conference, grounding us in place and purpose as we begin two days of industry conversation.
10:45am
Welcome from the NZEA Chair & GM
Andrea & Elaine
Hear from NZEA leadership on the state of the industry and what this conference means for New Zealand's events sector.
Sessions — Ideas & Insights
11:00am
Local Iwi Engagement at Events
Practical frameworks for meaningful, respectful and authentic engagement with tangata whenua — from planning through to delivery.
11:20am
Wellbeing Research
Sandra Goh — AUT
New research from AUT examining wellbeing across the events workforce — what the data tells us, and what it means for how we lead and work.
11:40am
Marketing & Audience Engagement
Nick Becker (Auckland FC) · Karl Budge (Blues) · Ange Monaghan (World of WearableArt)
Three very different events, one shared challenge: how do you grow, retain and deepen your audience? An honest conversation about what's working — and what isn't — in 2026.
Afternoon — Big Picture & Bold Conversations
1:15pm
Fireside Chat with Industry Stalwarts
David Higgins (Duco Events) & Brent Eccles (Eccles Entertainment)
A candid conversation with two of the people who've helped shape New Zealand's events landscape. What have they learned, what would they do differently, and where do they see the industry going?
2:00pm
Franchise vs One-Offs
David Dome · Greg Peters · Graham Parks — facilitated by Andrea Nelson
The business case for recurring events versus standalone moments — exploring the strategic, operational and commercial differences that shape how we plan and grow.
3:00pm
Minister of Tourism & Hospitality
Minister Louise Upston
A direct address from the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality — hear government priorities for the sector, followed by a panel discussion on the future of events in New Zealand.
3:15pm
Future of Events in New Zealand
Deborah Jones · Richard Lindroos · TBC
Where is the industry headed? This session brings together forward-thinking voices to map out the opportunities, threats and transformations on the horizon for NZ events.
4:00pm
Booking Agencies — Under the Hood
Stuart Kruger — WME
A rare inside look at how booking agencies operate — how acts are packaged, deals are structured, and what event organisers need to understand when working with international talent.
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Event Exchange 2026
Pre-scheduled, face-to-face meetings with the buyers, decision-makers and suppliers who matter most to your business. A structured marketplace format that maximises every conversation. Find out more →
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Wednesday 5 August 2026
Conference Day Two
Day Two goes deeper — cities, new venues, sponsors, data, AI and the people behind the magic. The morning opens into concurrent breakout sessions, before the afternoon brings fresh speakers and a close that leads into pre-dinner drinks and the NZEA Awards Gala.
Morning — Welcome & Big Picture
9:30am
Cities & Events
How are cities using events strategically to drive visitation, economic benefit and place identity? An examination of the relationship between event organisers and the cities that host them.
10:00am
Ministerial Update
A further government perspective on the events sector — policy directions, funding opportunities and regulatory context relevant to our industry.
10:15am
Why Sponsoring Events & Venues Makes Sense
James Fuller — HNRY
Hear directly from sponsors about the value they see in backing events and venues — and what event organisers can do to build stronger, longer-lasting partnerships.
Breakout Sessions — Choose Your Room (11:30am)
11:30am
Room A
Temporary Traffic Management
Wayne Smith
Practical guidance on TTM planning, compliance and best practice for events of every scale.
Room B
Driving Entertainment in Sport
William Thomas — 18K Sport
How to elevate the fan and live experience beyond the scoreboard — building entertainment layers that keep crowds coming back.
Breakout Sessions — Choose Your Room (12:10pm)
12:10pm
Room A
Event Medical Planning
Alofa Goodall — MRI
Medical risk frameworks, on-site health planning and practical guidance for managing crowd wellbeing at any scale.
Room B
Council Event Teams Hui
A dedicated session connecting local government event teams — sharing challenges, comparing approaches and finding solutions.
Afternoon — Stories, Data & New Spaces
12:45pm
Behind the Scenes — The People Who Make the Magic
Duco Events · Tracy Magan · Mitch Lowe
The best events look effortless. This session pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes — from some of the people who've produced New Zealand's most iconic moments.
2:15pm
New Venues in New Zealand
Caroline Harvie-Teare · Michael Gillings · Prue Daly
A look at new and upcoming event spaces across the country — what's opening, what's changing, and what it means for how we plan and pitch events.
2:45pm
Data & AI in Events
Vistr · Fever
From ticketing insights to AI-assisted planning, this session explores how smarter data practices and emerging technology are transforming how events are conceived, executed and evaluated.
3:15pm
Jono Ridler — What the Ocean Teaches Us About Tenacity
In January 2026, Jono Ridler embarked on his most audacious challenge yet — attempting to swim the entire length of the North Island, 1,400 kilometres from North Cape to Wellington, over 90 days. He completed it — making it the longest unassisted staged swim in history. Before that, he swam almost 100 kilometres non-stop from Aotea Great Barrier Island to Auckland — the longest unassisted continuous ocean swim in New Zealand history. Jono brings to the stage a raw, honest conversation about what it takes to keep going when every rational voice says stop — and why the lessons learned in the water apply directly to the way we lead, plan and persist in our industry.
Evening
Pre-Dinner Drinks & NZEA Event Awards 2026
Pre-dinner drinks from 6:00pm · Seated for the NZEA Awards Gala from 7:00pm · Black tie, NZICC Auckland — the fitting finale to two days that matter. Awards conclude 11:00pm.
6:00pm – 11:00pm
Programme subject to change — additional speakers and sessions to be announced
Ticket Options
Come for One Day or Both
Flexible ticketing so you can attend what works for your schedule.
Day Ticket
Conference Day One
Tuesday 4 Aug
Tuesday 4 Aug
- Full Day One conference programme
- Morning tea & lunch included
- Access to Event Exchange evening
Best Value
Two-Day Conference
4 & 5 August
4 & 5 August
- Full Day One & Day Two programme
- Morning teas & lunches both days
- Event Exchange — evening networking
- Breakout session access Day Two
Day Ticket
Conference Day Two
Wednesday 5 Aug
Wednesday 5 Aug
- Full Day Two conference programme
- Morning tea & lunch included
- Choice of four breakout sessions
The Venue
New Zealand International
Convention Centre
Auckland's world-class NZICC is the perfect home for Eventing the Future 2026 — a landmark venue right in the heart of the city, purpose-built for conferences of ambition and scale.
103 Waterloo Quadrant, Auckland CBD
4 & 5 August 2026
~400 event professionals expected
Ready to Be Part of It?
Tickets are on sale now. Join 400 of New Zealand's best event professionals at NZICC Auckland this August.
4 & 5 August 2026 · NZICC Auckland