Kia ora!

From compact, walkable Christchurch to the waterfront capital of Wellington, all the way up the dazzling skyline of Auckland, each stop on my trip to New Zealand presented a unique array of meeting, incentive and conference options.

Yet a couple of themes remained consistent across each city: first-class infrastructure and a thirst to welcome international delegates.  

Descending into Christchurch International Airport I caught a glimpse of the braided rivers that inspired the design of the new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.

After breezing through the airport, and being mindful not to bring any fruit or vegetables into the country, we headed straight for Novotel Christchurch Airport to enjoy welcome canapes overlooking the runway. I hasten to add, you couldn’t hear a peep from the planes taking off.

The 20-minute drive from the airport to downtown Christchurch didn’t require a freeway. Instead, we weaved through tree-lined roads and past Hagley Park.

Christchurch is designed for humans to walk and cycle around, with hotels and venues no more than 10 minutes from each other.  

We experienced this connectivity first-hand after freshening up at Crowne Plaza Christchurch and strolling a mere 30 seconds to Te Pae Convention Centre where we enjoyed a tour of the thoughtfully designed venue and sampled Canterbury’s finest produce.

Our second day in Christchurch was all about creativity, beginning with a culinary imagination test at Riverside Kitchen.

Fueled for the day ahead we summoned our perfumery skills to create signature scents at The Arts Centre, before channelling our inner Frida Kahlo at Paint’n’Sip Studio.

Christchurch is a place where you can forget about the classic commute and endless coach transfers. Its walkable design and inviting green spaces make it a pleasure to explore by foot, tram, bike or punt.

Its easy to find your space in Christchurch, with an eclectic mix of venues including the Te Pae Convention Centre to the brutalist 1970s Townhall – voted to have some of the best acoustics in the world.

If quirky is your client’s aim, the International Antarctic Centre is a must. We were lucky enough to take a ride in a Hagglund and experience Antarctic conditions in a simulator.

We tested golf coach Hillary O’Connor’s patience at Peppers Clearwater Resort Christchurch, but she kept us putting and swinging until we got a hole-in-one!

Before I knew it, it was time to fly north to explore New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. This little city at the bottom of the world on the water’s edge is surrounded by hills and fronted by a bustling harbour.

I soon discovered why Wellington has a reputation as the culinary capital of New Zealand.

On our first evening in the city, we dined at HIAKAI, a sophisticated, boundary-pushing restaurant that showcases Māori cuisine.

Our first full day in Wellington began at Zealandia ecosanctuary. This ground-breaking restoration project is based just 10 minutes from downtown Wellington, but it feels a million miles away from modern life. The sanctuary is home to New Zealand’s rarest birds including the Takahe, which was thought to be extinct until a family of three was discovered in Fiordland’s remote Murchison Mountains in 1948.

A ride on the Wellington Cable Car brought us back to the city and onto serious business with a tour of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings.

Wellington is home to the NZ Government, making it a great destination for international meetings focused on advocacy, activism, and government engagement.