Construction of the events complex is currently underway in the city’s central Government Gardens.

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners announced today that they expect more than 500 delegates from New Zealand and overseas to descend on Rotorua when they stage their annual gathering at the Energy Events Centre in 2007. The college’s Chief Executive, Karen Thomas, said her organisation had outgrown the Rotorua Convention Centre where it had successfully held their 2002 conference. She said the development of the new Energy Events Centre meant Rotorua was now able cater for their growing needs.

“We congratulate those responsible for the vision to develop this innovative complex. We wouldn’t be on our way to Rotorua in 2007 without it.”

Rotorua’s national profile will also be boosted next year when the Energy Events Centre features live on national television to a large audience. The complex has been chosen as the venue for the prestigious 2007 National Bank Young Farmer Contest to be broadcast on TV One in July.

Young Farmers event organiser Steve Hines said Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre will not only provide the capacity and flexibility his organisation needs to stage the National Bank Young Farmer Contest, but equally important is that the complex has been designed with the very specialist needs of modern television productions in mind. 

“Ours is a big production by any standards, with a range of sub events taking place over several days including a seated audience of more than a thousand for the televised event, and a major banquet.

“The Contest grows in size every year and it’s a huge profile builder for any city that can stage it. We are very pleased we can bring it to Rotorua for the first time because of the city’s commitment to develop an impressive new multi-purpose events complex. Well done Rotorua.”

Building officials from around the country are yet another group that has announced they have chosen Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre as the venue for their major conference next year. The 2007 Building Officials Institute of New Zealand annual conference  is expected to attract more that 300 delegates to the city in April next year.

Event Venues general manager Peter McLeod says there is still more good news on the horizon with a number of other national organisations already confirming they have selected the Energy Events Centre for future events. “We are working with them on bookings as far out as 2011, although details of many bookings are under wraps at this stage for commercial reasons.”

Mr Mcleod said his marketing and events teams have been very active in promoting the new complex around the country and the response had been just fantastic, and way ahead of initial forecasts. “There’s no doubt New Zealand’s events industry will make good use of this facility and the economic impact and benefits for Rotorua are going to be very significant indeed.

“It hasn’t been easy selling a venue that hasn’t even got a roof on yet. But the decision to produce a hi tech virtual tour presentation on CD for potential clients has certainly helped clinch a number of bookings. The promotional CD has whetted the appetites of many organisations seeking new locations for their events.”

Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre is currently under construction adjacent to the city’s iconic Museum of Art and History in the picturesque Government Gardens precinct. It is a community partnership project of the Rotorua District Council and the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, with financial support from a number of business and philanthropic partners. Building is expected to be complete by the end of this year with the complex open for business early in 2007.