Thursday, November 7, 2024

Wellington wins urban health conference hosting bid

Wellington is set to host the 21st edition of the International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) in 2025 – the first time the event has been in Oceania in its 21-year history.

The International Society for Urban Health’s (ISUH) flagship conference has the goal of transforming urban environments to improve health, equity, and environmental sustainability in cities worldwide.

The bid for the event was led by award-winning research centre the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities, based on the University of Otago’s Wellington campus. It was supported by Business Events Wellington and Tourism New Zealand Business Events.

Distinguished Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman, Director New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities, Department of Public Health, University of Otago | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka says: “We are delighted to announce that the 2025 International Society of Urban Health Conference will be held at Tākina, our new state of the art, 5-star Green Star conference centre on the harbour in Pōneke, Wellington, the capital city of Aotearoa, New Zealand. 

“We are planning an exciting and stimulating conference looking at urban design, indigenous and public housing, climate change, sustainable transport and inclusive neighbourhoods.”

The conference, to be held at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre in November next year, will bring together researchers, academics, policy makers, philanthropists and the nonprofit sector to further health and wellbeing research and policy.

“As the first ICUH conference to be held in the Oceania region, Wellington provides an unparalleled opportunity for our delegates to engage with the pressing urban health issues facing New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific islands,” said ISUH Executive Director, Giselle Sebag.

“Hosting ICUH 2025 in Wellington is not just about bringing our conference to a new region — it’s about connecting our international community with a city that is at the forefront of global urban health innovation.

“Wellington is a city that exemplifies the intricate relationships between physical infrastructure, environmental stewardship, social services, and public health. We are excited to see the conversations and collaborations that will emerge from ICUH 2025.”

Business Events Wellington Manager, Irette Ferreira said it was exciting to welcome the important international event to Wellington and Tākina.

“Aside from the economic benefit to the city, estimated at $1 million, hosting a conference on urban health aligns extremely well with Wellington’s Economic Wellbeing Strategy to create a thriving suburban city,” she said.

“Conferences like these are win-win for New Zealand,” said Tourism New Zealand Global Manager Business Events, Penelope Ryan.

“Our country benefits from an influx of international visitors in the off-peak season and is enriched by the knowledge they bring, while the delegate visitors are able to enjoy both the beauty of Wellington and learn from its innovative research,” she said.

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