The NZ Events Association presented the award to the team at a ceremony this week.
AF2025, the flagship event of the World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP), saw nearly 2000 global experts convene in Ōtautahi Christchurch for the largest climate adaptation event ever held in New Zealand.
Pacific and Indigenous leadership also featured strongly across the conference, including a pre-conference wānanga led by Ngāi Tahu leader Lisa Tumahai, which drew more than 300 international participants.
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC)’s leadership and experts played a key role in the event with Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey opening the conference and UC experts delivering presentations and contributing to panels throughout.
"It was a privilege to open Adaptation Futures 2025 here in Ōtautahi Christchurch and to witness the passion, expertise and commitment of those who took part,” Professor De la Rey says.
“A tremendous amount of mahi went into creating a conference that connected global knowledge with locally led climate adaptation solutions.
“I congratulate everyone whose contribution made the conference such a success and led to this well-deserved recognition. To be recognised as Business Event of the Year is a proud moment,” she says.
Held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, the conference brought together scholars, scientists, policymakers and Indigenous leaders to accelerate solutions protecting communities, economies and environments from climate impacts.
"Events such as Adaptation Futures are an important way universities contribute to their regions. They bring people and ideas together, strengthen local, national and international partnerships, and demonstrate our ability to co-host major global events that create lasting benefits for Ōtautahi Christchurch," Professor De la Rey says.
Conference co-chair Professor Bronwyn Hayward says the award is also a reminder of why climate adaptation matters beyond the conference itself.
“We are proud to have hosted this event at UC with so many partners who made it happen from marae here in Canterbury and leadership across the Pacific to global research partners in Africa and Asia.
“The award to AF2025 is a reminder that adaptation makes important business sense - protecting investment, employees, communities and the planet in a rapidly changing climate. We only need to look at the heat impacts in Europe this summer to understand why we urgently need to both reduce emissions and protect people and places for a more climate resilient economy and future,” Professor Hayward says.
The event was delivered with the support of ChristchurchNZ, Tourism New Zealand Business Events, The Conference Company, the Adaptation Fund and university partners.
