Waikato Business News August/September 2023

30 CONFERENCE & EVENTS
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023
FIFA Women’s World Cup
highlights positive power
of events
The success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia
provides a copybook example of how well-run events can have a positive
impact and leave a lasting legacy, says Aimee Tyson, Events Manager for
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism.
Hamilton hosted five
matches as part of
the tournament,
attracting tens of thousands
of fans who provided
vibrancy and a welcome
boost to tourism spend across
Waikato. But beyond the
economic benefits, the tournament
also made a positive
impact in a range of other
areas, Tyson says.
“It fostered inclusion
and opened the door for
important discussions around
pay parity between male and
female athletes. It encouraged
environmental awareness
through achievement of green
building certification by all
participating stadiums and
initiatives like tree planting
days for fans, and respect
for and awareness of Māori
culture through pōwhiri
welcoming players and fans at
matches in New Zealand.”
Preparations for the
tournament led to upgrades
to the changing rooms of 30
Meet in your own backyard!
stadiums and community
sporting facilities that hosted
visiting teams, resulting
in individual rather than
communal showers and
conversion of urinals into
gender neutral bathroom
facilities. Ultimately, this
has created a more inclusive
environment for many of our
current and future female
athletes, Tyson says.
“The FIFA Women’s World
Cup is massive but the way it
was organised this year, with
a commitment to leaving a
legacy for New Zealand and
Australia, is an example of
how event planners of today
are working to ensure their
events can be a force for
good.”
Tyson says event managers
and tourism operators alike
are embracing regenerative
tourism, a concept that is part
of New Zealand’s Tourism
Industry Transformation
Plan. While turning a
profit is important for the
sustainability of any event,
she says the industry is acutely
aware that maintaining
community support requires
their events to contribute
across all four well-beings
– cultural, societal and
environmental, as well as
economic.
This more enlightened
thinking is becoming
commonplace for events of all
sizes, from sports events and
music festivals to trade shows
and conferences.
“We’re seeing some
impressive initiatives from
conference organisers who
are bringing their events
to the Waikato. There’s a
strong desire to celebrate and
support host communities
and conference organisers
are putting huge efforts into
offering low-carbon activities
or options.”
Rather than providing
a bottle of wine or another
conventional gift for a speaker
at an event, some conference
organisers are now expressing
their thanks by donating to a
local community group of the
speaker’s choice, Tyson says.
Other common initiatives
include field trips to
exchange knowledge or take
part in activities such as
tree planting, community
engagement by international
speakers who are attending
events, and sourcing of food,
drink and other supplies from
the local region.
Be a mighty local!
The Waikato has award winning venues, unique attractions and a proven track record for
delivering exceptional events.
To book with a local supplier or to find out more visit meetwaikato.com
With Covid-19
restrictions
behind us and
what we hope
will be a record
event season
heating up,
Hamilton and
Waikato are well
placed to enjoy
the benefits.