Go ahead for new Wellington Convention Centre

Wellington City Council has agreed the construction of a new convention centre for a waterfront location in the New Zealand capital.

Planned to open in 2017, the proposed 4,400 metre2 facility will be able to host up to 1,200 conference delegates, with a banqueting capacity of up to 1,450 people. The development will also incorporate a 5-star hotel.

The news has been welcomed by Positively Wellington Tourism (PWT) Chief Executive David Perks, who congratulated the Council on securing a development which would see the capital jump ahead of other convention centre developments around New Zealand.

Perks explained “Wellington City Council are taking action at the right time.

“Central government recognises the value of international business events and is directing resource into securing more.

"Having a bespoke facility in the country’s culture capital as early as 2017 perfectly positions Wellington to capitalise on this activity.”

While there have previously been limits on the nature of conferences which the city  has been able to bid for, the new Convention Centre opens up a whole new range of potential business.

Perks added “the Business Events Wellington team has already been speaking with potential users about the proposal, which has been met with significant interest.

“Now the project is confirmed, we look forward to putting together bids and locking in new business for the region in the near future.”

It is estimated that the new Centre could bring millions of new expenditure into the region within its first year of operation.

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) has also welcomed the news, with Chief Executive Sue Sullivan saying it is another boost for New Zealand’s reputation as a growing and exciting business events destination.

Sullivan added “having a state of the art, purpose built and professionally run international facility in Wellington lifts the bar for the whole of New Zealand.

“We congratulate the Council, the developers and people of Wellington for recognising this opportunity and setting their sights on a world-class facility.”

Sullivan explained that Wellington has many advantages as a convention destination, but has needed the infrastructure to take it to the next level.

She concluded “Wellington is the geographic centre of New Zealand, the base of a high number of associations, with a good range of accommodation, easy access to government, and it’s a walkable city.

“But it’s been lacking good sized, purpose-built convention facilities configured to meet modern and future needs and expectations. The new convention centre will certainly meet and exceed those expectations and promises huge benefits for the city and the country.”

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