NZCA Conference 2025: This is Not a Drill

Thursday 14 August 2025

Napier War Memorial Centre, Hawke’s Bay

NZCA AGM (Online): 10.30am Wednesday 13 August 2025 Members Only
Conference & Networking: Thursday 14 August 2025, Napier

Our cruise future is on the line and this is our moment to act.

The 2025 New Zealand Cruise Association Conference, themed This is Not a Drill, arrives at a pivotal time. Challenges are mounting, decisions are looming, and opportunities for real progress are on the cards. If ever there was a time to show up, speak up, and step up this is it.

Join us in Napier this August for a bold, future-focused programme that puts the big issues on the table.

Expect no fluff. Just honest conversations, hard questions, and the sharpest minds in the cruise world including senior leaders from Holland America, Princess, Carnival, Heritage Expeditions, CLIA, and major NZ ports and more sharing insights and solutions that matter.

Why you need to be there:

• Meaningful Connections: Build relationships with decision-makers from across cruise lines, ports, regions, and government.
• Real Conversations: Tackle the hard stuff (infrastructure, guest experience, regulation, supply chains, and sustainability) with people who can make change happen.
• Global + Local Lens: Get the latest regional outlook from CLIA, alongside frontline NZ operators delivering cruise on the ground.
• Fresh Perspectives: Hear rapid-fire insights from across the broader visitor economy, from aviation to retail, and see how cruise fits into the bigger picture.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Napier and the stunning Hawke’s Bay, this conference delivers substance with style — all wrapped in the warmth of Art Deco hospitality.

Don’t miss the cruise industry’s most important day of the year. Register now and secure your place at the 2025 NZCA Conference. Together, let’s proactively shape the future of cruising in New Zealand.

This is not a drill. Let’s make this count.

REGISTRATION

Included in your registration fee:

• Attendance at the conference on Thursday 14 August
• Networking breakfast on 14 August
• Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
• Networking function on 14 August

PROGRAMME DETAILS

Morning Schedule

Lunch

Afternoon Schedule

Evening

CONFERENCE SESSIONS TO DATE WITH MORE TO COME …

Keynote

Reimagining Shore Experiences: Creating Meaningful Connections in a Changing World
Keynote Speaker – Melanie Lewis Carsjens, Director Shore Excursion Operations & Product Development, Holland America Line & Seabourn

In an era where travellers are seeking more than just sightseeing, the future of shore excursions lies in experiences that spark genuine connection — with people, place, culture, and the environment. With over 25 years at the helm of cruise operations and product development, Melanie Lewis Carsjens shares her insights on how to design destination experiences that are immersive, authentic, sustainable, and operationally seamless.

Drawing from her global leadership across two international cruise brands, Melanie explores how to meet evolving guest expectations while responding to sustainability imperatives, building strong local partnerships, and delivering with agility. Whether you’re a tourism operator, port destination, or product innovator, this keynote will inspire fresh thinking on crafting shore experiences that leave a positive, lasting impact.

Turn Around Infrastructure: What It Takes to Make It Work
Chris Mills, General Manager – Marine and Multi Cargo Operations, Port of Auckland Keynote Sponsor

Turnaround ports are critical to cruise success — and infrastructure plays a central role. Chris Mills from Port of Auckland will share an update on the port’s dedicated cruise berth and terminal development, the latest on biofouling infrastructure trials, and Auckland’s role in offshore promotion and cruise line attraction. 

Panels

Panel – Future-Proofing Cruise: Real Talk from Industry Leaders

Building on last year’s dynamic “Headwinds and Tailwinds” session, this panel brings together key leaders from across the cruise and port sectors to explore what a truly sustainable and successful cruise future looks like for Aotearoa.

Expect honest conversation, insights on progress to date, and discussion on what still needs to be done.

• Matt Rutherford, VP APAC Princess Cruise Lines
• Nathan Russ, Operations Director & Expedition Leader, Heritage Expeditions
• Todd Dawson, CEO Napier Port
• Chris Mills, General Manager Marine and Multi Cargo Operations, Port of Auckland
• With more to come …

Moderator – Jacqui Lloyd 

More Than a Cruise – 5 Points in 5 Minutes + Panel Discussion

This dynamic session flips the format with a series of rapid-fire talks from leaders across key sectors — including aviation, travel trade, hospitality, retail, and provisioning. Each speaker will deliver five key points in five minutes, offering fresh insights into how their industry connects with and supports the cruise sector.

From regional business engagement to the depth of New Zealand’s supply chains, you’ll get sharp, thought-provoking perspectives that reframe cruise in the broader visitor economy. The talks will be followed by a moderated panel discussion and live Q&A to spark cross-sector conversation and collaboration.

• Scott Tasker – Auckland Airport
• Julie White – TAANZ
• Winsome Dormer – Food & Beverage
• Pip Thompson – Napier Business Association
• With more to come …

Moderator – Paul Yeo 

Panel – From Port to Ship: Strategies for Guest Experience Success

This panel brings together experts across cruise lines, operations, and local product to explore what it really takes to create standout guest experiences in New Zealand.

We’ll dive into how to get your product noticed and included onboard, how ports play a critical role as the first and last impression of a destination, and how to adapt both operations and offerings within a shortened season. We’ll also examine how evolving passenger preferences are shaping experience design — from wharfside welcomes to immersive regional encounters.

Expect practical insights, fresh thinking, and a candid conversation about what’s working — and what’s not — when it comes to delivering the difference on shore.

• Melanie Lewis Carsjens – Holland America & Seaborn
• Sophie Phillips – Gannett Safaris Overland
• Matt McKeown – Princess Cruise Lines
• Rohanca du Plessis – Wentzel – IDNZ
• With more to come ….

Moderator – Debbie Summers

SPEAKERS

Hon Louise Upston – Minister of Tourism and Hospitality
A key government voice for tourism, Minister Upston joins the conference to share her perspective on the role of cruise in New Zealand’s visitor economy and the importance of cross-agency coordination.

Hon James Meager – Associate Minister of Transport & Minister for the South Island
Minister Meager brings a transport lens to the future of cruise, offering insights into infrastructure, connectivity, and government support for sector growth.

Where We Are and Where We’re Going
Jacqui Lloyd – Chief Executive, NZCA
Jacqui Lloyd will provide a clear-eyed look at the current state of cruise in New Zealand. She’ll share key numbers, outline what’s changed since our last conference — the wins worth noting and the hurdles still in our way — and lay out the day ahead. This session sets the stage for a day of honest conversations, shared challenges, and a focus on building a stronger, more resilient cruise sector for New Zealand.

State of the Global Cruise Industry & Regional Outlook
Joel Katz – Managing Director, CLIA Australasia
Get the big-picture view from one of the industry’s key voices. In this address, Joel will provide an update on the global state of cruise — including trends, recovery trajectories, and challenges — with a spotlight on what it all means for our region. Expect valuable insights to help position New Zealand within the wider cruise landscape and inform strategic thinking across the sector.

Fireside Chat
Nathan Russ – Heritage Expeditions & Debs Summers – Deputy Chair, NZCA
Join a candid conversation between Debs Summers and Nathan Russ, Operations Director & Expedition Leader of Heritage Expeditions — a proudly New Zealand-owned, family-run cruise company operating in some of the most remote and protected parts of the world. From navigating government processes and DOC regulations to operating in the Subantarctic Islands, this session will offer valuable insights into what it takes to deliver responsible, small-ship cruising on the edges of the map. A unique perspective on the intersections of conservation, regulation, and opportunity.

ACCOMMODATION

We have secured accommodation at Scenic Hotel Te Pania which is directly across the road from the conference venue. You can book and pay for your room as part of the registration process.

$255 per room per night, Superior Room. Price is GST inclusive and room only.

CONFERENCE LOCATION: Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay is an incredibly beautiful part of the world occupying around 14,000 square kilometres on the east coast of New Zealand. It’s a fusion of simplicity and sophistication, centred around the cities of Napier and Hastings and is based on three naturally occurring ingredients: a climate with Mediterranean leanings, an ability to grow all manner of things, and an irrepressible enthusiasm amongst the locals for making the most of the abundant resources at their fingertips.

Napier, a city by the sea, is internationally renowned for its Art Deco architecture. Our conference will be hosted at Napier Conferences & Events, located at the Napier War Memorial Centre on Marine Parade. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this purpose-built facility is within walking distance of downtown hotels, offering convenience and world-class hospitality for delegates.
The Hastings district adds another layer of charm with its geographically diverse landscape, including Cape Kidnappers, Te Mata Peak, Havelock North, and Hastings itself. The area offers an eclectic mix of retail shops and eateries, along with a wide range of outdoor activities and wineries.

Hawke’s Bay is celebrated as New Zealand’s wine capital and recently named a Great Wine Capital of the World. Boasting over 160 years of winemaking heritage, with more than 200 vineyards and 76 wineries, the region produces over 80% of New Zealand’s Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah grapes. Beyond wine, Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s fruit bowl and a paradise for foodies, offering fresh local ingredients that elevate every meal.

With its spectacular venues, Mediterranean-like climate, and renowned food and wine, Hawke’s Bay is the perfect destination to host our conference. We are thrilled to bring our event to this remarkable region and encourage all delegates to take time to experience all it has to offer.

DELEGATE DEALS AND DINING SUGGESTIONS

Make the most of your time in stunning Hawke’s Bay. Delegates will be able to enjoy exclusive deals from local NZCA members and other providers to extend their stay and explore all the region has to offer. Take advantage of these offers to experience world-class wineries, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant local culture.

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