Lisa Hopkins: Business Events Industry Aotearoa CEO on the Government's plan to create a coordinated National Events Strategy
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Why does New Zealand need a coordinated National Events Strategy?
We've got uh new national events strategy. International competition to secure major events is only getting tougher, they tell us. So Lisa Hopkins is the chief executive of business events industry and is with us. Lisa, a very good morning to you. Good morning, Mike. So we haven't had a coordinated approach. Um do we need one and does everybody end up eating or trying to eat ev everybody else's lunch?
Uh no, they won't eat each uh everyone else's lunch, but that coordinated approach is really required.
How have missed opportunities highlighted the need for a joined‑up approach?
We haven't had one before. And I think there's been uh a lot of opportunities that we've missed out on because we haven't been joined up as much
as we should be. Okay, the regional tourism story uh is an interesting one. They've ran or run individual campaigns from region to region into different markets around the world. That seems to be working. Why wouldn't that theory be the same for your industry?
Well, we do uh it's a more national approach, uh, sitting within the business event sector and in the major event sector. It it's it's a uh it's a longer lead time.
What benefits will a longer‑lead‑time, national events plan give NZ against global competitors?
That's the most important thing. So we're not talking about something that's going to happen within the next six to twelve months. It can take a couple of years. And uh we really also are in a heavily competitive uh environment globally. And so I think what this is going to do, it's actually going to put us on a much better uh footing against some of those competitors. who are doing exactly this. They are getting more joined up. They are leveraging major events and business events together and they're being very successful at doing it.
How are other countries leveraging major and business events together successfully?
Good. Time zones and facilities, are they an issue for us or not?
No, I mean not actually. No, no. Look, um, we're seeing that um uh people are prepared to travel, uh, for what the things that they really enjoy. I mean, you know, Mike, you're an F one fan, if look how many Kiwis are travelling across the world to to F one. Conferences are are a big uh draw card. Collectively between major events and business events, uh we attracted about two billion dollars in in economic contribution in in uh two thousand and twenty five.
What economic impact do major and business events generate for New Zealand?
So There's the and there's a lot more. That's just uh tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more to come. So this is actually a really exciting approach.
Well I'm excited for you. Well done. Appreciate it very much. Lisa Hopkins, Chief Executive of Business Events Industry in this country. For more from the Mike Asking Breakfast, listen live to News Talks Ed B from six AM weekdays or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why does New Zealand need a coordinated National Events Strategy?
0:00–0:29
2
How have missed opportunities highlighted the need for a joined‑up approach?
0:29–1:03
3
What benefits will a longer‑lead‑time, national events plan give NZ against global competitors?
1:03–1:33
4
How are other countries leveraging major and business events together successfully?
1:33–2:09
5
What economic impact do major and business events generate for New Zealand?
2:09–2:31
Speakers
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