Nelson welcomes the biggest conference to the region in two years.
Posted on Thursday 25 March 2021
Nelson Regional Development Agency has been working with local conference organisers, OnCue, on the biggest conference to land in Nelson Tasman since 2014.
Over 550 delegates from across New Zealand are being hosted in the region this week from March 24 to 26, for the New Zealand Planning Institute conference. This was originally scheduled for April 2020, but due to COVID-19 it was moved to 2021. This conference will have a significant positive economic impact on the region, injecting at least $500k into the region’s economy.
The three-day itinerary includes business sessions at both Rutherford Hotel Nelson and the Trafalgar Center, MC’d by Mike McRoberts and with Hon David Parker and Hon Nanaia Mahuta as guest speakers, alongside social functions and field trips, giving delegates a full experience of what our region has to offer.
Field trips include an afternoon with NZ Hops, time with the team at Port Nelson and a visit to the Waimea Dam site. Nelson’s best mountain bike trails will be explored, as will the Great Taste Trail using bikes from Kiwi Journeys and Gravity. Delegates will also visit Brook Waimarama Sanctuary and Cable Bay Adventure Park and experience a pōwhiri at Whakatu Marae on their arrival to the region.
The conference will culminate in a gala dinner at Trafalgar Centre with many ancillary providers involved. It is expected that many delegates will spend time in the region after the conference has finished to see even more of what Nelson Tasman has to offer outside of the conference room.
‘We are excited to finally see this conference happen in Nelson Tasman. We have enjoyed working alongside the team from NZPI on their diverse programme, as it meant we have been able to use many local suppliers and activity providers which will help tourism and hospitality at a time when it is most needed in our region.’ Says Lea Boodee, Managing Director at OnCue.
It has taken 1.5 years in planning to ensure the conference is accessible to all, should alert level changes limit travel. This year the conference is referring to itself as a hybrid event, meaning if delegates are unable to make the conference in-person, they can attend from literally anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.
‘After a challenging time for events in the past 12 months it’s encouraging to see the interest in Business Events rise again. The NZPI 2021 Conference has been a long time coming, and the work our Business Events team and OnCue have done to get us here over the past year is now coming to fruition.’ Says Toni Power, interim CE of Nelson Regional Development Agency. ‘We are grateful to have the opportunity to showcase our region as a destination for business and offer an exciting and creative itinerary that showcases the diversity of our region.’
About Business Events Nelson Tasman
Business Events Nelson Tasman is a service offered by the Nelson Regional Development Agency (NRDA) aimed at attracting targeted business events into the region, that support increased visitor spend and profiles the region as a great place to live, work and play.
We do this by assisting conference, event and incentive planners with advice and support to create an extraordinary experience in our region as well as connect event organisers with suitable venues, suppliers, transport providers, accommodation options, and support services as required. Based in the Mahitahi Colab,
NRDA is connected right at the heart of the business community, are across the latest innovation initiatives and clever business start-ups and are well connected with strong relationships with local tourism operators & businesses in the region.
