Released ahead of the New Zealand general election in November, Business Events Election Year 2026: Connection. Influence. Impact. sets out BEIA’s priorities for the next government and its position that business events are New Zealand’s “silent strategic economic and intellectual asset”.
The November election presents an important opportunity to ensure the value of business events is understood by those shaping New Zealand’s future, states Lisa Hopkins, BEIA chief executive. “Multi-day conferences contributed approximately $925 million to the New Zealand economy in 2025. Globally, business events generated an estimated US$3.1 trillion in total business sales, contributed US$1.8 trillion to global GDP and supported 24.2 million jobs in the same year. Business Events Election Year 2026 sets out actions that will strengthen the sector and support wider economic growth. It proposes that the incoming government looks at business events through a broader lens. The business events sector has been measured primarily through visitor spend, hotel nights and regional dispersal for many years – outcomes that Business Events Election Year 2026 indicates “remain important.”
“However, leading destinations increasingly view business events as a platform for economic growth, international influence, knowledge exchange, innovation and investment attraction," Hopkins adds. “Business events bring together decision-makers, researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, academics and industry leaders. When aligned with national priorities, they become a mechanism for accelerating trade, attracting talent, strengthening capability and building international relationships.”
The manifesto argues that these wider benefits present a significant opportunity for New Zealand to leverage business events more deliberately as part of its economic development strategy, with Hopkins saying that business events are already generating considerable economic value.
"The opportunity now is to build on that contribution by using them more strategically to support New Zealand’s wider economic priorities. This is not at the expense of the tourism and hospitality benefits generated by events, which are already substantial. The question for New Zealand is no longer whether business events matter. It is how they can be used more strategically to support national priorities and long-term economic growth.”
Fieldays – A Business Event in Action:
Fieldays – one of New Zealand’s largest business events – is a strong example of how the sector can support economic growth, international engagement and knowledge exchange. Fieldays 2026 was held at Mystery Creek Events Centre from 10-13 June, featuring more than 1,100 exhibitors (including 74 international exhibitors from 14 countries), and welcoming 35 ambassadors, consuls-general and trade commissioners. New Zealand National Fieldays Society’s CEO Richard Lindroos, says Fieldays shows firsthand that business events are about much more than attendance.
"They create environments where industries connect, innovation is showcased, knowledge is exchanged, and relationships are formed that lead to long-term business growth. Fieldays brings together farmers, researchers, innovators, exporters, policymakers and businesses from New Zealand and around the world. Those connections spark new ideas, accelerate the adoption of technology, open export opportunities and strengthen one of New Zealand's most important sectors. Business events have the power to influence industries, shape future thinking and create lasting economic and social impact. Recognising and leveraging them as strategic assets, is an important shift in thinking, because the benefits extend well beyond the days an event is held."
Business Events Election Year 2026: Connection. Influence. Impact. can be downloaded from the BEIA website.