First conference at Christchurch's Te Pae convention centre to be held in one year

Tuesday, 15 October 2019

Take an animated look at the yet-to-be-completed Christchurch convention centre, Te Pae.

Midwives, ecologists and classic car enthusiasts will be the first to use Christchurch's new convention centre.

The complex, Te Pae, is due to be finished in time for the New Zealand College of Midwives to hold its 16th two-yearly conference from October 15 to 17, 2020.

This will be followed from October 18 to 23 by the International Association of Ecology's 11th wetlands conference, expected to attract about 1000 delegates.

At Labour Weekend next year, October 24 to 26, the public will get a chance to see a classic car show at Te Pae, with about 200 Mustangs worth a total of $16 million to $20m on display.

**READ MORE:

Up to $20 million worth of Mustangs will be on display at Christchurch's new convention centre next year.

* Global venues giant to run Christchurch convention centre

* Christchurch's new convention centre nearly a quarter complete

Christchurch Convention Centre Te Pae general manager Ross Steele.

* ChristchurchNZ to take 'proactive' approach in chasing high impact events

* Christchurch Convention Centre looking for operator**

A drone picture taken of the Te Pae Christchurch convention centre site in May.

An artist's impression of the finished Christchurch convention centre.

The Crown-funded $475m complex is being built by Australian company CPB and will be managed by international venue operator ASM Global.

Te Pae general manager Ross Steele described the line up of events as strong, and said they would have a busy year taking on staff, finding suppliers, and planning for booked events. Te Pae will have a staff of about 200.

Roof installation is nearly finished, and 43,000 facade tiles are being installed. Work will then start on ceilings and adding internal timber panelling.

College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy said they were 'absolutely thrilled' to be the first conference and were expecting more than 600 delegates.

Despite being Christchurch-based, the college had not held a conference in the South Island for 10 years, she said.

Other events booked for Te Pae include the congress of the Federation of Asian and Oceanic Biochemists and Molecular Bio-chemists with 1000 delegates, the 800-delegate International Congress on Biological Invasions, and the 700-delegate International Education Conference.

With a 1400-seat auditorium, a 2800-square-metre exhibition hall that can be extended by opening other spaces to provide 3300sqm of exhibition space, and 24 meeting rooms, Te Pae will be able to host events for up to 2000 delegates.