Tākina Convention & Exhibition Centre injects $120M into the Wellington economy in its first three years
Published Date: 29 May 2026
Three years on from opening on 31 May 2023, Tākina has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors to its eight exhibitions and hosted 119,758 event delegates across 306 business events—generating over $120 million in economic impact to Wellington’s economy.
The venue stands as a vibrant hub of connection, creativity and economic growth, bringing together communities, industries and ideas from across Aotearoa and beyond.
“Tākina was created as a place to bring people together, and three years on, that vision is alive in every event, every exhibition and every connection made here,” says Mark Oldershaw, CE at WellingtonNZ.
“The venue has quickly proved its value, generating more than $120 million in economic benefit to Wellington in just three years.”
“Tākina is an important asset for Wellington, drawing high-value visitors to the capital and driving further spending in our hospitality, accommodation and tourism sectors.”
Purpose-built to host larger conferences than previously possible in the capital, Tākina has strengthened Wellington’s position as a premier destination for business events. Over the past three years, Tākina has been the backdrop for globally significant conferences and conversations, highlighting its role in creating meaningful and long-term impact.
The 21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference brought leaders together to develop the Aotearoa New Zealand Declaration on Rural Health 2026, now endorsed by the Ministry of Health and helping strengthen rural health systems nationwide.
Similarly, the 30th ICDE World Conference led to the Tākina Accord and an ongoing Education Policy Forum, influencing national dialogue around equitable access to tertiary education.
Beyond conferences, Tākina’s varied exhibition programme has drawn hundreds of thousands through its doors. Visitors have explored immersive experiences including: Jurassic World by Brickman, Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Exhibition, Doctor Who: Worlds of Wonder and Disney: The Magic of Animation, alongside thought-provoking exhibitions such as The Art of Banksy and The World Press Photo Exhibition 2025.
More recent highlights, including Michelangelo: A Different View and the recently-announced upcoming LEGO® Star Wars™: The Exhibition, position Tākina as a must-visit destination for both locals and out-of-region visitors.
At street level, the venue has become a destination in its own right, with Zephyr Café building a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere and exceptional food. It is also home to the i-SITE visitor information centre, a key tourism asset that encourages exploration of the region and connects visitors with local tourism operators.
Beyond conferences, Tākina’s varied exhibition programme has drawn hundreds of thousands through its doors. Visitors have explored immersive experiences including: Jurassic World by Brickman, Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Exhibition, Doctor Who: Worlds of Wonder and Disney: The Magic of Animation, alongside thought-provoking exhibitions such as The Art of Banksy and The World Press Photo Exhibition 2025.
More recent highlights, including Michelangelo: A Different View and the recently-announced upcoming LEGO® Star Wars™: The Exhibition, position Tākina as a must-visit destination for both locals and out-of-region visitors.
At street level, the venue has become a destination in its own right, with Zephyr Café building a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere and exceptional food. It is also home to the i-SITE visitor information centre, a key tourism asset that encourages exploration of the region and connects visitors with local tourism operators.
Tākina by the numbers – the first three years:
- 119,758 business event delegates
- 300,000+ exhibition attendees
- 1,000,000 pastries devoured
- 5,400kg of beef fillet cooked to perfection
- 7,800 portions of food donated through our partnership with Kaibosh Food Rescue
- 3,000,000 litres of water supplemented through on-site rainwater harvesting