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Day one of the BEIA and AGM conference 2025 ended with a high notes with BEIA’s strategic direction and Te Haeata Launch.
The session- BEing Bold and Te Haeata Launch, chief executive Lisa Hopkins spoke of the organisation’s strengthened strategic direction, reinforced by Piatamai — New Zealand’s business events roadmap to 2035.
Lisa says “The Tourism Growth Roadmap seeks to double the sector’s value to $19.8 billion by 2034, return visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels by 2026, and grow employment in the sector.”
But it was the details of Te Haeata, the New Zealand Certificate in Business Events that delegates were eagerly awaiting. Developed with ServiceIQ and Grow Tourism, the $500+GST NZQA-certified qualification aims to build a confident, skilled workforce with practical training in event design, sustainability, financial management, and stakeholder engagement. The programme will eventually reach high schools by 2027, creating a talent pipeline for the industry.
International delegate attraction was also highlighted, with BEIA’s Sharon Auld working alongside Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand to bring buyers from key global markets. Regional convention bureaux and the Hosted Buyer Program were praised for showing off the country’s strengths, particularly as new infrastructure such as the NZICC promises a much needed economic lift.
The update also touched on regulatory and wellbeing initiatives- from Medicines Act amendments supporting medically significant events to New Zealand’s involvement in ISO sustainability standards, improved data insights through the Business Events Data Project, and health-focused partnerships like Kai Pae with Stroke Aotearoa.
