Welcome to the 7th World Potato Congress website.
Terry Olsen, Congress Committee Chairman
Thank you to those who have taken advantage of the Earlybird Registration and registered for the 7th World Potato Congress to be held in New Zealand next March.
Registrations for the Congress have exceeded our expectations, with delegates coming to New Zealand from around the world and representing all aspects of the potato industry. As delegates register from the different countries and various organisations involved in the potato industry, I am reminded of the marvellous networking opportunities World Potato Congresses provide.
The Congress theme, Nourishing our Future; 
Nutritious, Delicious, Sustainable, is increasingly relevant as more and more consumers demand nutritious food that is also grown sustainably. The 7th World Potato Congress is an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate the industry’s commitment to operating sustainably.
March in New Zealand is the end of the southern hemisphere summer. The warm weather and long evenings will give delegates from the Northern Hemisphere a welcome taste of summer and a chance to enjoy Christchurch at its best.
Christchurch and the South Island offer plenty of outdoor activities. From extreme sports like jet boating on centimetres of water to bungy jumping from bridges over raging rivers to the genteel pleasures of punting on the River Avon or strolling through the Christchurch Art Centre – Christchurch and Canterbury has something for everyone.
The Christchurch Convention Centre 
has hosted a number of prestigious international conferences and events. As the venue for the 7th World Potato Congress, the Christchurch Convention Centre is situated in the central city and a short walk from Cathedral Square, the Avon River and the cultural precinct. Accommodation is available from a number of hotels in the immediate vicinity and within easy walking distance.
The South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) organised by representatives of the local farming community, tags nicely to the end of the Congress. Beginning on Wednesday 25 March, SIAFD is New Zealand’s premiere agricultural event, attracting tens of thousands of farmers from around New Zealand. It’s based at Lincoln, just south of Christchurch city and an area with a long history of potato growing. We have provided complementary tickets to the Field Days as part of your registration.
Terry Olsen
Chair, 7th World Potato Congress Organising Committee
Chair, Potatoes New Zealand
Monday and Wednesday evening dinner options
Willowbank Wildlife Park and Ko Tane Maori Cultural show and dinner
Enjoy Willowbank’s native bird park see the shyest of New Zealand birds, the iconic kiwi then be entertained by Ko Tane kapa haka group before a buffet dinner. The Ko Tane Maori Cultural show will entertain and inform as you watch and join the Kapa Hake group as they sing waiata, kune kune (dance) and share Aotearoa’s native culture.
Jet Thrills and BBQ dinner
Racing and weaving along the Waimakariri River in just centimetres of water the Jet Thrills jet boats will get a work out and so will you. The famous Kiwi invention, the Hamilton jet boat is designed to skim along the shallow waterways at great spped. The Waimakariri River is one of Canterbury’s famous braided rivers that regularly changes course as the flow of the river varies. Once back on the river bank you’ll tuck into a good old Kiwi BBQ.
Black Cat Lyttleton Harbour Cruise
If a pleasant and picturesque evening cruise on the Lyttleton Harbour is more your style, join the Black Cat catamaran team as they sail for calmer waters in 
one of the may natural harbours of Banks Peninsula.This popular cruise makes the most of the summer evenings and wonderful scenery. Once anchored in a bay an extensive buffet with be served in the main cabin, then the Black Cat catamaran will sail you back to Lyttleton where the bus will meet you to return you Christchurch. Black Cat Group is a financial contributor to the Marine Mammal Research and Education Fund, New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust, Quail Island Restoration Trust and others.
Port Hills Gondola dinner
Journey high above Christchurch city into the Port Hills by Gondola to what seems to be the restaurant at the top of the world. The Port Hills are where the wild, volcanic Banks Peninsula begins. These hills and harbours were formed eight million years ago as two, now extinct volcanoes erupted joining what was two mountainous islands to the mainland Canterbury Plains. The aptly named Pinnacle Restaurant provides vistas of the Southern Alps, the Christchurch city lights, Banks Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean as you dine in fine style.
Please book your dinner option on your registration form.
Some of these dinner options have limited numbers so please be in early.
If you forgot to book your dinner option, please email
All transport to and from the dinners is included and pick up is from the Congress venue, the Christchurch Convention Centre or from the official Congress hotels.
Partner Programme
For those not so interested in the ins and outs of the Potato Industry but don’t want to miss out on the Congress festivities, join our Congress Partner Programme. All programme activities are designed to fit in with the social activities of the Congress and transportation is included in the tours.
You won’t miss out on any of the Congress highlights as the programme includes the Congress Welcome, Dinner, Closing Ceremony and Field Days.
On Monday when the Congress opening concludes join Canterbury Leisure Tours for their half-day Christchurch City Highlights tour. The tour commences by covering the central city highlights, including Cathedral Square, Victoria Square, the Avon River, Town Hall, Christ's College, Museum, Botanical Gardens, Arts Centre, Worcester Boulevard, and the Bridge of Remembrance. On leaving the inner city, the tour includes several parks and gardens including Mona Vale Gardens and Hagley Park.
On Wednesday one of Canterbury’s doyens of potato farming Dorothy Oakley hosts a High Country Garden Tour and morning tea. Head towards the Southern Alps along the Old West Coast road and you will barely notice the ascent into Canterbury’s high country before you know you will be enjoying a hearty country morning tea in beautiful surrounds. Then back to the Congress for the Congress closing ceremony.
To join the Congress Partner Programme, please book on your partner’s registration form.
Feature speakers
The 7th WPC NZ offers a range of feature speakers from around the world and from across the potato industry. Special attention has been paid to gathering not just experienced and knowledgeable speakers but also interesting and entertaining presenters.
Accommodation & travel
For information on how to get to Christchurch, and to New Zealand, what to expect and what you will need, take a look here.
To get your Air New Zealand flight discounts click on the Air New Zealand logo.
