TWO DAYS THAT WILL
MOVE YOUR INDUSTRY FORWARD

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, facilitated by Sarah Meikle.

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.

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, facilitated by Mike Wootton.

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.

Facilitated by EVANZ Chair Mark Mekalick, the panel take 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.

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.

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.