Bookkeepcon26: A Full-Service PCO Partnership

Bookkeepcon is New Zealand's leading bookkeeping conference, the flagship annual event for the Institute of Certified NZ Bookkeepers (ICNZB), bringing together members, business owners and industry partners from across Aotearoa. Bookkeepcon26 marked the conference's 14th year, and with ICNZB's small internal team already stretched, the Institute needed a partner who could take full ownership of delivery: sponsorship, marketing, logistics and a two-day, multi-stream programme culminating in the Gala Dinner and Excellence Awards.

HPCE Aotearoa's Involvement

As ICNZB's appointed Professional Conference Organiser, HPCE Aotearoa took full-service ownership of Bookkeepcon26 from the earliest stages of planning through to post-event wrap. Our involvement touched every aspect of the conference, from the strategic to the operational, and everything in between.

Event planning and project management formed the backbone of our work, with budget management and supplier negotiation handled throughout to ensure the event was delivered to the highest standard within the agreed financial parameters. Programme design across both conference days included keynote and breakout session scheduling, exhibition hall layout, and the Gala Dinner and Awards evening, and each element was planned to flow seamlessly and deliver a cohesive delegate experience from start to finish.

We managed sponsorship liaison directly, working closely with confirmed partners to ensure their experience was seamless and that every deliverable was met with care and professionalism. Exhibition management ran in parallel, with our team working alongside exhibitors from initial site plan layout through to the full site-build on the ground.

Marketing and communications for Bookkeepcon26 was led by HPCE Aotearoa, with a campaign that drove registrations and delivered ICNZB's strongest month of the year for both website traffic and social media engagement. Registration management was handled through our own platform, providing delegates with a smooth and professional experience from sign-up through to arrival.

On the ground, we coordinated all supplier and site logistics including the venue, AV, catering, and registration desk, ensuring every moving part was accounted for, and every supplier was briefed and supported. The two full days of live event operations were managed entirely by our team, with livestream access provided for ICNZB members across Aotearoa who were unable to attend in person.

Following the event, HPCE Aotearoa delivered comprehensive post-event reporting for both the organisation and its sponsors, alongside personalised thank-you communications to every speaker, sponsor, and supplier who contributed to Bookkeepcon26’s success.

The Results

Bookkeepcon26 welcomed 233 confirmed registrations; 211 delegates in the room at Napier plus 22 members joining via the conference's first-ever livestream, representing 14 regions across Aotearoa. 24 exhibitors and 10 sponsor partners supported the event, and 106 guests joined the Gala Dinner and Awards to celebrate the ICNZB Excellence Awards.

The event also drove ICNZB's strongest month of the year for digital engagement: website sessions up around 20%, Facebook views up around 20%, LinkedIn impressions up around 120%, and LinkedIn reposts up around 650%. The conference companion app saw roughly 99% adoption among attendees, and delegate feedback was strongly positive, with many describing it as the best Bookkeepcon yet.

Momentum carried straight into next year: within days of the conference closing, 38 members had already registered interest in Bookkeepcon27, nearly double the target at this stage.

Our Industry Partners

Bookkeepcon26 was made possible by an incredible group of partners who brought their expertise, creativity and care to every detail.

A heartfelt thank you to Napier War Memorial for providing a venue that set the perfect tone for the event, and to our catering team, whose food was, by all accounts, genuinely divine.

The Production Agency set the soundtrack for our social events, with an acoustic soloist for cocktail hour and a band bringing the energy to dinner. Progressive Print delivered our conference printing with their usual excellence, while SWEA Design brought the conference collateral to life with beautiful, considered design.

Event Solutions provided the event app that kept delegates connected and informed across both days, while our sister company, Wild Apricot Creative Events, no strangers to creating extraordinary atmospheres, worked their magic on the Gala Dinner and Awards evening with their signature event theming.

We’re incredibly grateful to each of these partners for the role they played in creating such a memorable experience for our delegates. And finally, a big thank you to our own team, Craig, Jodie, Teleios, Mia and Deb for all the work behind the scenes that brought Bookkeepcon26 together.

Looking Ahead

We are absolutely thrilled to continue our partnership with ICNZB in 2027, and already, the planning has begun. Next year's conference will take place in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, and we are determined to make it bigger, better, and more memorable than ever, so watch this space!

From sponsorship strategy and programme design to supplier coordination and on-site delivery, HPCE Aotearoa partners with associations, businesses, and community organisations across Aotearoa to deliver events people remember and want to come back to year after year.

If you have a conference, gala dinner, awards evening, or community event on the horizon, we would love to talk!

Get in touch with our team to start the conversation.