TRENZ farewells Auckland as Christchurch confirmed for 2027 event
TRENZ 2026 has wrapped up in Auckland after facilitating 16,000 business meetings and welcoming 1,200 delegates from the global tourism industry, with Christchurch now confirmed as the host city for TRENZ 2027.
New Zealand tourism’s largest annual trade event, TRENZ 2026, has wrapped up in Auckland, with organisers confirming the event will head to Christchurch in 2027.
Held over 2.5 days at the New Zealand International Convention Centre, this year’s event welcomed around 1,200 delegates and facilitated more than 16,000 business meetings between international buyers and New Zealand tourism operators.
READ: TRENZ 2026 lands in Auckland; travel buyers from dozens of countries attend
Tourism Industry Aotearoa Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram said TRENZ 2026 would be remembered for both its innovation and Auckland’s strong hosting performance.
“TRENZ 2026 has seen 1,200 delegates hold a massive 16,000 business meetings over 2.5 days; doing good business and driving tourism export growth for future years,” Ingram said.
“Auckland has been a stand-out host city this year. The weather has been exceptional, NZICC is a fantastic venue and our key events partners at Tataki Auckland Unlimited, Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand have helped make this a very special TRENZ.”
She said new initiatives, including the International Media Marketplace, had helped elevate the event.
“The event feedback from our buyers and sellers has been exceptional, and we’re already thinking about how we can continue growing TRENZ even more in the future.”
Organisers also confirmed that TRENZ 2027 will be hosted at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre from May 11-13, 2027.
It will mark the fourth time the event has been held in Christchurch and the second time at Te Pae.
Ingram said Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region were experiencing strong tourism momentum.
“Tourism is thriving in this part of the country; Ōtautahi Christchurch is a modern, vibrant and exciting city and a top-shelf destination for international visitors,” she said.
According to TIA, 287,000 international visitors passed through Christchurch Airport between November 2025 and March 2026, representing a 22 percent increase year-on-year and contributing an estimated NZ$860 million to the South Island economy.
Anne Newman, General Manager of Visitor Economy at ChristchurchNZ, said the city was excited to welcome the industry back.
“Building on the strong platform showcased in 2023, the city has continued to evolve, with new infrastructure, visitor experiences and accommodation enhancing the visitor offering,” Newman said.
“There’s a real buzz in Ōtautahi, and we’re looking forward to sharing that energy with the travel trade and our industry partners.
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