Short answer: Te Pae Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre offers spaces for 50 to 2,000 people at 188 Oxford Terrace, beside the Ōtākaro Avon River. On 28 September 2026 it said it had retained the World Travel Awards title of Oceania's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre. Explera DMC New Zealand plans rooms, transfers and touring for Te Pae Christchurch conference groups.
Te Pae is the purpose-built convention centre in central Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island. This briefing is for MICE planners, association organisers and tour operators who are weighing Christchurch for a conference, a congress or an incentive meeting with South Island touring.
What is Te Pae?
- The venue. Te Pae Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre is at 188 Oxford Terrace in central Christchurch, and its banquet space overlooks the Ōtākaro Avon River.
- Size. Te Pae's website lists 12,880 m² of flexible event space and spaces for 50 to 2,000 people.
- The auditorium. The tiered auditorium seats 1,364 and divides into two spaces of 682 seats each.
- Exhibitions and dinners. The website lists 2,800 m² of exhibition space, divisible into three halls, and a banquet space of 860 seats that can be split into two rooms.
- Operator. The venue's September 2026 release says it is managed by Legends Global.
What has Te Pae announced in 2026?
- An award retained. On 28 September 2026 Te Pae said it had won Oceania's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre at the World Travel Awards for the second year running.
- Events since opening. The same release says the venue has hosted more than 980 events and over 447,000 visitors since it opened.
- Christchurch on a 2027 list. In October 2026 Te Pae reported that Booking.com had named Christchurch a Trending Destination for 2027, the only New Zealand destination on that list.
- TRENZ 2027. New Zealand's main tourism trade event is booked at Te Pae from 11 to 13 May 2027. See our TRENZ 2027 briefing.
What should Te Pae Christchurch conference groups plan for?
- A walkable centre. Te Pae sits in the rebuilt central city, close to the river, hotels and restaurants. We plan coach transfers for arrival days and evening events.
- Getting there. Christchurch Airport is the South Island's main international gateway. Air New Zealand has announced non-stop services from Singapore, Tokyo Narita and Perth for the summer, covered in our Christchurch summer briefing.
- Step-free access. Te Pae says its entrance and public areas are step free, with drop-off and pick-up points in front of the main entrance on Oxford Terrace.
- Venue details. Room plans, catering and technical services are confirmed with the venue. We coordinate the ground arrangements around them.
What touring fits around a Christchurch conference?
- Akaroa and Banks Peninsula. A day trip south-east of the city to the harbour town of Akaroa.
- The Southern Alps. Arthur's Pass, Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook work as pre- or post-conference touring.
- Kaikōura. A coastal day or overnight for marine wildlife, north of Christchurch.
- Rooms first. Large conferences and events fill central Christchurch hotels, so we hold rooms with a release date as soon as the meeting is likely.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We are the Christchurch DMC for travel agents, tour operators and conference organisers, planning MICE and incentive programmes, group tours, hotels and lodges and coach and private transfers. See also our Te Kaha stadium briefing, our NZICC Auckland briefing and our Tākina Wellington briefing.
FAQ
How many people can Te Pae Christchurch host? Te Pae's website lists spaces for 50 to 2,000 people, with 12,880 m² of flexible event space.
How large is the Te Pae auditorium? The tiered auditorium seats 1,364 and divides into two spaces of 682 seats each.
Where is Te Pae? At 188 Oxford Terrace in central Christchurch, beside the Ōtākaro Avon River.
What award did Te Pae win in 2026? It retained Oceania's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre at the World Travel Awards, announced on 28 September 2026.
What touring works around a Christchurch conference? Akaroa, Kaikōura and the Southern Alps, including Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook, all work before or after a conference.
Sources
- Te Pae Christchurch retains Oceania's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre title, Te Pae Christchurch, 28 September 2026
- Christchurch named a Trending Destination for 2027, Te Pae Christchurch, 16 October 2026
- Venue information, Te Pae Christchurch, checked 26 October 2026
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
