Case study

Auckland City Council

Co-ordinating a complex programme of high profile events

Within one year Auckland, New Zealand, hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC), was involved in the America's Cup Yachting Regatta and was the first city to welcome the new millennium - and they turned to PA Consulting for help.

APEC was the largest and most internationally significant political meeting in the southern hemisphere during 1999. It represented 57% of the world's economy, 42% of the world population, and 46% of the world merchandise trade. There were over 4,000 official attendees from 21 countries, 3,000 media and the presence of about 3,000 police and other security staff. During the America's Cup Regatta the largest gathering of Super Yachts ever to gather in one place arrived in Auckland and over 300,000 people flowed into and out of the 'Village' each day. Being the first city to enter 2000, Auckland's millennium night celebrations were the focus of the world's media and a benchmark for gauging the impact of the 'millennium bug'. The creativity and unique manner in which this was marked in Auckland was commented on favourably by the BBC and contributed to the BBC requesting New Zealand to participate yearly in worldwide broadcasts to mark the new year.