Auckland has been selected to host
WIPCE 2025 – the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education.
WIPCE is the largest, most
diverse Indigenous education forum in the world, and is expected to attract
some 3,000 representatives from around the world to New Zealand to share strategies for culturally
grounded education.
The event will be held in November 2025 and will be one of the first
international conferences held in Auckland’s New Zealand International
Convention Centre (NZICC), delivering an estimated economic impact to the city
of more than NZ$6m.
The bid was led by Auckland University of Technology’s Office of Māori
Advancement and Te Ara Poutama – its Faculty of Māori and Indigenous
Development with support from Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB), a division of
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Tourism New Zealand’s Business Events team.
The bid also received support from Māori King Te Arikinui Tūheitia Paki, the
Chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Marama Royal, and distinguished academic
leaders in Māori advancement.
AUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor
for Māori Advancement, Professor Pare Keiha, is the Chair for WIPCE 2025 and
says the WIPCE International Council voted unanimously for Te Wānanga Aronui O
Tāmaki Makau Rau (AUT) to host the event in 2025.
“The WIPCE council was elated by the calibre of our bid, by its
multi-generational focus. My esteemed colleagues have done Aotearoa proud in
bringing this home, a job made possible with the full support of others,
including Tourism New Zealand and the Auckland Convention Bureau,” Professor
Keiha said.
“We look forward to welcoming thousands of our global Indigenous brothers and
sisters to the shores of Aotearoa New Zealand, so that we may collectively work
to transform the lives of our young people, the world over.”
Head of ACB Ken Pereira said: “We are proud of the opportunity to celebrate the
mana of our indigenous Māori culture and highlight the important work being
done in our education sector on a world stage. This win is an example of the
importance of industry partners working together to bring world-class events to
Tāmaki Makaurau.”
Tourism New Zealand general manager New Zealand & Business Events Bjoern
Spreitzer added: “It’s truly exciting to be able to share New Zealand’s unique
Māori culture and world view with the manuhiri (visitors) who will attend this
conference.
“The authentic and transformative cultural knowledge
and experiences that Aotearoa New Zealand can offer business event attendees
really sets us apart as a destination. This event will create excellent
opportunities for knowledge sharing and positive legacies.”
NZICC’s Director of Sales & Marketing Prue Daly says: “As the only venue in
New Zealand large enough to host a conference of this scale, it is a privilege
to be welcoming WIPCE and their delegates to the New Zealand International
Convention Centre as one of our first international conventions after our
much-anticipated opening in 2025.
“The sharing of knowledge and showcasing New Zealand’s manaakitanga are
fundamental values of the NZICC, and to be able to foster this through the
WIPCE conference, who are utilising all 32,500 sqm of our world-class venue, is
very exciting.”
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
