Business Events Wellington Manager, Irette Ferreira, says: “Here in Wellington, we maintain a strong focus on attracting conferences and events aligned to our intellectual capital – not only to ensure we offer innovative content to visiting delegates, but also to maximise the benefits to the city through international networking and global exposure.”
“Our close partnership with Victoria University of Wellington has been the catalyst for getting these important conferences to the city. It is clear there is immense value in collaborating with local tertiary education providers to help secure conferences that have a positive impact on the city, its people, and its visitors.”
The three conferences, taking place in 2026 and 2027, will bring together delegates in science, music, and engineering – key fields where Wellington offers research excellence. Expected to host delegates from all over the world, the International Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World will be hosted in Tākina, Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre in 2026.
Dr Christopher Cornwall, Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology at VUW, says Wellington is the perfect place to hold the symposium, as the only city in New Zealand to have a marine reserve right on its doorstep, Taputeranga Marine Reserve, which is home to an incredible kelp forest ecosystem.
The only city in New Zealand to have a marine reserve right on its doorstep
“The effects of climate change threaten our marine ecosystems and resources. Ocean acidification, warming, and other stressors are manifesting now,” Cornwall says. “As New Zealand’s scientists, communities, mana whenua, and government are poised to tackle these difficult questions, this is the ideal time and location for them to come together with other world leaders in this field.”
In 2027, the Conference of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music will make the most of Wellington’s great music and arts scene. Visiting scholars will be able to tap into the work being done in the field at both VUW and Massey University’s Wellington campus, and access city resources, including the Turnbull Archives.
Dr. Geoff Stahl, Director of Communication at VUW and Chair of the Organising Committee for the IASPM 2027 conference, says: “This is an ideal opportunity to showcase Aotearoa’s rich and diverse musical cultures to international audiences. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the graduation of the first cohort of the new Bachelor of Popular Music degree, the first of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand, who will be graduating in December 2027.”
Wellington’s tech sector continues to thrive, and the International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications 2026 will bring together international networking scholars and researchers in the capital. Hosted by Dr Winston Seah, Professor of Network Engineering at VUW, the conference will provide a platform for sharing research in advanced networking and its applications, which are transforming how people live and work.
Tourism New Zealand Global Manager Business Events Penelope Ryan says: “We’re proud to have supported these bids through our Conference Assistance Programme. These wins highlight the strong connections between New Zealand’s convention bureaus and research and innovation networks, and it’s fantastic to see these events bringing international thought leaders to Wellington and New Zealand.”
Find out more about Business Events New Wellington here.
