QUAKE CAN’T SHAKE KIWI CAPITAL EVENTS

WELLINGTON’S conference and business events infrastructure remains fully operational, following the magnitude 7.5 quake which shook the capital and Kaikoura earlier this week.

The city’s portfolio of conference and performance venues have all been inspected and deemed safe to occupy, with the CBD also completely open for business, confirmed David Perks, gm venues and projects, Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA).

He said while minor cleanup and cosmetic repairs were made, “delegates and organisers will have no issues getting to, staying in and enjoying Wellington during their conferences”.

Conference and Incentives New Zealand’s chief executive officer Sue O’Sullivan reiterated Perks’ safety message, commenting that visitors to New Zealand could be assured of a warm welcome upon arrival.

“Earthquakes are part of life here and while unpredictable, we are well-equipped to deal with them,” she commented.

O’Sullivan added: “In many parts of the country, including Christchurch and New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland daily life is unaffected”.

Wellington will play host to a series of multi-day conferences this week, which are set to be hosted at the Michael Fowler Centre, TSB Bank Arena & Shed 6, plus scheduled performance events at St James Theatre and The Opera House.

MEANWHILE, Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism’s (CCT) chief executive Vic Allen is urging visitors to keep their travel plans, reassuring visitors the disruption is confined to Kaikoura, which is located 180 kilometres north of the city.

Allen said whilst further aftershocks can be expected the city is well-prepared for earthquakes and set up to assist visitors.

This week, Christchurch will host one of its largest-ever conferences, the SingularityU New Zealand Summit, which will bring 1,500 delegates to the city.