We loved attending the Eventing the Future Conference and the New Zealand Event Awards Gala Evening last week!
We learnt about emerging trends, sustainable events post-COVID, technology for safer and smarter events, industry collaboration and incorporating authentic Māori culture in events.
It was great to get together as an event industry to connect and hear what amazing events have been held under COVID conditions and the unique and inventive ways event professionals were able to reimagine their events.
We celebrated our industry colleagues achievements at the Gala dinner held at the newly refurbished ToiToi Arts and Events Centre in Hawke’s Bay which was a remarkable showcase of the talent in the NZ events industry.
Here’s a few key learnings from some of the incredible speakers and discussions:
Delivering against the odds
Andrea Nelson (CEO ICC Women’s World Cup 2022) shared her insights on focusing on purpose and “working along side all your partners”.
“The key change moving forward is a lack of certainty, which means an increased focus on the importance of working with your stakeholders, managing risk and contingency planning.”
Strong recovery is ahead
Kylie Hawker-Green (Manager NZ Major Events, MBIE) profiled the impressive portfolio of events receiving Major Events support in the pipeline for 2023.
It’s been a tough time for our industry but boy, are we in for an exciting 2023 of events!
Authentic Māori Culture in events
The panel of speakers have seen an incredible enhancement in events with meaningful, authentic culture. Key things for an event organiser to implement and consider when planning their event include:
- The importance of delivering authentic culture throughout the whole event for example in in pre and post event communications, on stage, banners throughout the event.
- Remembering that the cultural make up of Aotearoa is so diverse, especially in Tamaki Makaurau – how can we authentically represent this within our events?
- Communication with local iwi should be brought in from the very beginning of event planning to provide input in the early stages
- The importance of representation, and using your networks available to engage young Māori people for diverse perspectives
Nigel Latta: Focus on what you can control
We always love Nigel’s presentations! Tailored to help our industry, Nigel talked about the feeling of being overwhelmed by the uncertainty from COVID and that the challenge is learning to live with it.
“It’s important to know that bad stuff happens regardless, but we are in charge and we can choose how we react to it.”
Nigel shared that there is huge value in nurturing your organisation’s culture through teamwork, good communication and ensuring team members feel safe to express their thoughts and ideas – the stronger the team, the better the psychological safety.
Everyone has something to bring and “culture eats strategy for breakfast”!
