Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre is the most significant new building to open in Wellington since Sky Stadium was built two decades ago.
Kura Moeahu, Chair Te Runanganui o Te Āti Awa ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui Inc, was joined by other members of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Papa, to officially open the new site at a dawn ceremony with a karakia and blessing of the three-storey building.
The iconic building, located opposite Te Papa, will contribute $44 million a year to the local economy, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to Wellington to attend conferences and the large-scale exhibitions it will hold.
Tākina will be hosting an open day on Saturday 15 July with guided tours for the public to visit and explore the normally private convention floors.
There are already 118 multi-day conferences and events on the calendar, and the internationally acclaimed interactive LEGO® brick exhibition, Jurassic World by Brickman®, is getting set to take Wellington on an epic adventure when it opens on Saturday 3rd June.
This will be closely followed by a major world first-exclusive exhibition in October.
Amongst key events in the first weeks of operation are The Festival for the Future, Aotearoa’s biggest leadership and innovation summit, and MEETINGS 2023 the only national tradeshow in New Zealand for the Business Events industry, this will be the first time that Wellington has had the capacity and capability to host such a national event.
