The First International Joint Workshop of JTC1 & JTC3 on Landslide Risk Assessment, Communication and Geo-education will take place at the Millennium Hotel Queenstown in April 2026. The bid was led by the New Zealand Geotechnical Society (NZGS), with support from Tourism New Zealand Business Events and Queenstown Convention Bureau.
Themed ‘Landslide Geo-Education and Risk’, it will bring together two international bodies – JTC1, Natural Slopes and Landslides, and JTC3, Education and Training – for the first time to address the full lifecycle of landslide risk management.
Ross Roberts, NZGS representative, says both Queenstown’s renowned natural beauty and appeal to international visitors, and the surrounding area’s susceptibility to landslides helped to secure the event.
“Landslides are one of New Zealand’s most significant natural hazards. More than 50% of the alpine land around Queenstown is mapped as known landslides, with the underlying rock very susceptible to deep-seated failures.”
“This event encompasses the need to educate the next generation of landslide risk managers, the need to robustly understand landslide risk, and the need to communicate that risk to the public and decision-makers so that real change is implemented. New Zealand’s vibrant and high-quality landslide research sector is well integrated with practitioners and government agencies responding to emergency events, which makes this event particularly attractive to international experts.”
The event is expected to attract up to 350 delegates to Queenstown and deliver more than $900,000 in economic benefit to the resort town in its off-peak season.
Tourism New Zealand Global Manager Business Events Penelope Ryan adds, “This conference is an important profile platform for New Zealand’s leading earth science sector, as well as a compelling opportunity to attract international visitation to Queenstown and beyond during one of our off-peak seasons.”
The event will incorporate a range of workshops, presentations, training courses, and high-quality field trips, offering an opportunity to connect with the local community and environment.
The conference will also focus on geo-education development, aligning with the re-launch of the University of Canterbury’s Professional Master of Engineering Geology qualification.
Roberts adds, “This event will help to develop the science and skills we need to keep New Zealanders safe from landslide risk for decades to come.”
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