Wellington has won the bid to host the iPRES 21st International Conference on Digital Presentation in 2025.
It will be the first time the major annual conference on digital preservation is hosted in New Zealand and will take place Tākina, Wellington’s new Convention and Exhibition Centre.
iPRES is the oldest international conference about long-term digital preservation, bringing together hundreds of researchers and practitioners from all over the world to discuss the latest research and practice for protecting and making accessible digital collections.
New Zealand’s capital city is home to the National Library of New Zealand – the entity leading the conference bid – as well as Archives New Zealand, with whom the National Library shares a digital preservation programme. The National Library has a specific focus on collecting, preserving, and making accessible the documentary heritage of New Zealand, in every format including digital.
This expertise in digital preservation and National Library’s history of engagement with the international digital preservation community, as well as Tākina’s ability to host a hybrid in-person/virtual conference, were key factors in the city winning the conference.
The bid for the event was supported by Business Events Wellington and Tourism New Zealand’s Business Events team.
“This is an excellent win, attracting international delegates to Wellington and bringing valuable knowledge to assist with the ongoing preservation of New Zealand’s digital heritage,” Tourism New Zealand general manager New Zealand & Business Events Bjoern Spreitzer said.
The win is just the latest in a series of wins for Tākina, which is on track to open mid-2023. The purpose-built venue will be able to accommodate a plenary of up to 1,600 delegates, alongside exhibition space and stand-alone meeting rooms.
“We’re already seeing great interest in Tākina, winning conferences that wish to capitalise on the benefits of hosting an event in the capital city, home to many of New Zealand’s national organisations and thought leaders,” Business Events Wellington manager Irette Ferreira said.
