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The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) is the definitive association for the exhibition and event industry professional in Australia and New Zealand. EEAA represents all three sectors - organisers, venues and suppliers. New Zealand now has a stand alone chapter of the EEAA, a move that has already resulted in stimulating developments for the organisation and the industry as a whole.Since the decision to be an autonomous body was taken late last year, the New Zealand chapter has launched this website (designed and constructed by McGovern Online) and released OSH guidelines for best practice in health and safety.
While the New Zealanders retain a close working relationship with their Australian counterparts, they will work autonomously and have a separate secretariat, a dedicated website, carry out their own research, and a set of safety standards applicable to the workplace on this side of the Tasman.
Another positive spin-off from the decision will be the reduction of membership fees, in some cases to less than half of what was paid to the association when the New Zealand chapter was part of the Australian structure.
Dona White, president of the New Zealand chapter, says the former relationship with EEAA worked well but the exhibition sector here is now at a different stage in its development.
‘We will continue to share information with Australia and attend conferences and events, but this new move allows us to focus on the needs of the New Zealand industry and address the uniquely kiwi nature of the challenges that face our members.’
The move to an autonomous body was worked on by the board of the New Zealand chapter over several months and received an ‘official stamp’ with a networking function on January 31, 2007.
The chapter has its own secretariat. Tracy Hanify, based in Auckland, has previous experience in the exhibition sector and in providing secretarial services.
While the setting up of a secretariat, the launch of the website and the release of the OSH document are tangible results, plenty of other work has been going on behind the scenes. We have increased our media profile, improved member communications and taken some early steps toward initiating important industry research.