Aotearoa New Zealand brings unique culture to AIME 2025

Aotearoa New Zealand will showcase the different cultural elements that make it unique at this year’s Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) in Melbourne. 

The Tourism New Zealand 100% Pure New Zealand stand will host its largest ever contingent at AIME 2025, with 36 different New Zealand business events organisations and operators exhibiting. 

Tourism New Zealand’s global manager for business events Penelope Ryan says: “We’re delighted to be showcasing such a broad range of activations at AIME that highlight the variety of experiences available in New Zealand for business events. From authentic engagement with Māori culture to magical, once-in-a-lifetime, activities, and world-class convention centres, New Zealand can deliver it all.” 

Present at the stand alongside Tourism New Zealand will be destinations Auckland Convention Bureau, Business Events Wellington, ChristchurchNZ Business Events, Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, RotoruaNZ Business Events, Destination Marlborough, Destination Queenstown, as well as flagship airline Air New Zealand, and industry association Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA). 

A taste of New Zealand

Auckland’s New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) will serve up a taste of the highly anticipated new venue at the hosted buyers’ lunch on the first day of AIME, with a special New Zealand menu curated by NZICC Executive Chef Rob Cullen. 

The Hobbiton Movie Set will bring a little piece of Middle-earth to AIME for the first time, with a full-scale Hobbit Hole, complete with real grass and gardens. Created in the Hobbiton workshops, the interior will display the craftmanship that has gone into creating the new Bagshot Row interior Hobbit Holes. 

Tourism New Zealand is also sponsoring a session in this year’s AIME Knowledge Program. 

Change the World Through Tourism will see Nadine ToeToe, director of Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours, explore how indigenous tourism can be a catalyst for positive change in an era where tourism can either uplift or exploit communities.