Auckland Convention Bureau Bid Fund Secures Conference

Media release

31 October 2012
Auckland Convention Bureau Bid Fund Secures Conference for Auckland

Auckland has been selected to host a major international conference in 2016, with the help of the new Auckland Convention Bureau Bid Fund.

The fund was only introduced in July this year and was instrumental in helping to secure the 23rd International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences 2016 for Auckland.

The four-day conference is to be held at SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre, with a minimum of 1,000 delegates expected to attend. The estimated economic value of the event is more than $4 million.

As well as the financial benefits, this symposium has a well established reputation as one of the best forensic science conferences in the world, and New Zealand has an international reputation for world leading forensic science. This provides a strong, important and exciting opportunity for knowledge transfer and growth in this area for New Zealand.

Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB) Manager Anna Hayward says this is a superb result for Auckland, and for the city’s conventions industry.

“The Bid Fund was created for the purpose of attracting more conference business to Auckland, and securing a meeting of this scale is fantastic,” she says.

“Without adequate and dedicated funding, it can be difficult to compete internationally. However, with the ACB Bid Fund we are able to sell Auckland and all it has to offer by putting forward bids of the highest quality.”

Ms Hayward says one of the most important aspects of hosting international conferences is the contribution they make to economic development within Auckland and New Zealand and not just within the tourism sector.

“The knowledge and expertise that is shared helps to drive innovation, investment and growth – in this case across the forensic sciences industry,” she says.

Ms Hayward adds that the successful tendering for the symposium is an excellent example of all parties working together to achieve a common goal.

ACB worked with SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre and the New Zealand branch of the Australia New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) in creating the bid, with strong support from New Zealand Police, the Auckland Mayoral Office, The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) and the New Zealand membership of ANZFSS.

The Auckland Convention Bureau markets Auckland as a destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and events. Find out more at www.aucklandnz.com/conventions

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