More than 16,500 international delegates arrived for business events from January to March 2026 according to Stats NZ international arrivals data, with sector association Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) estimating a $54.1 million contribution to the New Zealand economy.[1]
Lisa Hopkins, Chief Executive of BEIA, says the surge in international arrivals reinforce the important role that business events play in attracting high-value visitors to New Zealand.
“These results show that the business events sector is delivering real economic value, and supporting New Zealand’s wider knowledge economy.”
“Business events are one of New Zealand’s most valuable visitor segments. Delegates travelling here bring global expertise, networks and knowledge into New Zealand, and support our venues, hotels, hospitality, transport and regional economies.”
Australia remains New Zealand’s largest source of international business delegates, with 8,204 arrivals, up 37% on 2025 and just 8% below 2019. The United States also recorded strong growth with 2,425 arrivals (up 53% year-on-year and 28% ahead of 2019), while China, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom also delivered year-on-year growth.
A number of major international conferences held in January, which is traditionally a quieter month for business events in New Zealand, have contributed to the strong start to 2026.
“The Special Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Auckland, the International Sedimentological Congress 2026 in Wellington, and the International Cool Climate Wine Summit in Christchurch were just some of the events that brought delegates into city centres during the summer holiday period,” says Lisa Hopkins.
“We also know anecdotally, that many who attended these conferences, stayed on and travelled around the country as leisure tourists, bringing additional economic value to our regions.”
While New Zealand is performing strongly, new research has reinforced the economic importance of business events. The New Zealand result comes as global business events continue to demonstrate their economic importance.
The Events Industry Council’s (EIC) 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study, produced with Oxford Economics, has found that business events generated US$1.8 trillion in direct spending worldwide in 2025 – a 12.2% increase over 2019 levels.
Lisa Hopkins says New Zealand is well-positioned to capitalise on this in the future, but notes that while “the outlook is good, we remain cautious.”
“New Zealand is well-regarded internationally as a safe, stable and secure destination to visit, and we have a strong appeal as a bucket list destination. Our newly-completed network of world-class venues – the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland, Tākina in Wellington and Te Pae in Christchurch – is also a drawcard for event organisers.
“At the same time though, the level of geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty across the world is currently high, so this is not the time to take our foot off the pedal.
“As we manage our way through the friction, we’re not hearing about “wholesale” cancellations of international conferences as our ability to leverage our exceptional exchange rate continues to work in our favour.”
Lisa Hopkins says the New Zealand business events sector will continue to work hard to keep the momentum high, converting international interest into confirmed events.
“Business events bring people from across the world here who can contribute well beyond the few days they are in the country.
“The business events sector in New Zealand has a great opportunity to not only continue bringing delegates to our shores, but also to attract the kinds of conferences that support New Zealand’s own growth, knowledge, productivity and innovation.”
[1] Based on BEIA’s latest sector value data: https://www.beia.co.nz/beia-events-and-programmes/be-data/national-business-events-value-data
Posted by Jasmine Deacon on May 25, 2026
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