Double national honour puts spotlight on Hamilton's events industry

Hamilton's growing reputation as a destination for major events has been recognised nationally, with H3 Group taking home two of the industry's highest honours at the 2026 New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) Awards.

Claudelands Events Centre was named Venue of the Year for its role in delivering Jim Beam Homegrown's successful move to Hamilton, while H3's Elly Moody was awarded Established Industry Professional of the Year for her outstanding leadership and contribution to the events industry.

The NZEA awards recognise excellence across New Zealand’s events sector and are regarded as the industry's most prestigious annual accolades.

H3 is part of Hamilton City Council’s Destination Group.

Mayor Tim Macindoe said the awards speak to the strength of the H3 team, the quality of Hamilton’s venues, and the growing reputation of Hamilton and the Waikato as a leading destination for events.

“It is fantastic to see Hamilton recognised and celebrated on the national stage. This recognition reflects the hard work, creativity and collaboration that go into delivering memorable experiences for our community and visitors alike, and I congratulate everyone involved,” he said.

“Events play a vital role in Hamilton’s social, cultural and economic success, bringing people together and putting our city firmly on the map. With world-class venues like Claudelands and great hosting facilities and staff, we continue to attract an impressive range of cultural, sporting and business events, cementing Hamilton’s reputation as one of New Zealand’s premier events destinations.”

Sean Murray, deputy chief executive of Hamilton City Council, said the double win reflected years of investment in people, venues and capability, while also highlighting Hamilton's emergence as one of New Zealand's most exciting destinations for major events.

"These awards are incredibly significant because they recognise both the people and the places behind outstanding events," said Murray.

"To have Claudelands recognised as New Zealand's best venue and Elly as one of the country's leading event professionals in the same year is a remarkable achievement.”

The Venue of the Year award recognised Claudelands' role in hosting Jim Beam Homegrown, which drew more than 25,000 festival-goers and marked the festival's return to the Waikato after an 18-year

absence. The event transformed the Claudelands precinct into a multi-stage festival environment and demonstrated the venue's ability to deliver a complex, large-scale event in a central city setting.

Murray said the award was validation of H3's belief that successful events are determined not simply by a city's size, but by the venue's capability, the team's experience in delivering it, and the quality of the experience provided to organisers and attendees.

"These awards help reinforce what we've known for some time: big events don't need big cities.

“Hamilton offers world-class facilities, experienced event professionals and the flexibility needed to deliver major events successfully. Increasingly, organisers are recognising that it’s not about the size of the city; it’s about the quality of the experience and the confidence that an event will be delivered well.”

The second award recognised H3's head of impact events, Elly Moody, whose leadership has helped strengthen H3's operational capability while supporting the delivery of a diverse portfolio of major sporting, entertainment, cultural and community events. Her work spans stadium fixtures, international sport, major festivals, concerts and large-scale public events across the region.

Murray said Moody's influence extended far beyond individual events.

"Elly is one of those leaders who makes everyone around her better. She combines technical expertise, calm leadership and a genuine commitment to supporting both her team and the wider industry.

"She has played a crucial role in strengthening our capability, lifting standards and building confidence among promoters, partners and stakeholders."

NZEA judges described Moody as a leader who combines operational excellence with genuine cultural awareness.

"It's one thing to lead day to day, it's another to do it with genuine cultural awareness, lifting everyone around you along the way," the judges said.

Murray agreed with that assessment, saying it perfectly captured the impact Moody has had both within H3 and across the wider industry.

Moody said the recognition reflected the collective effort of the many people involved in delivering successful events.

"Events are always a team effort. Behind every event is an enormous number of people who contribute their expertise, energy and commitment. I'm so proud to be part of an organisation that genuinely invests in its people, supports innovation and works hard to deliver memorable experiences for our community and our clients.

Together, the awards recognise both the venue capability and industry expertise that sit behind successful events, reinforcing Hamilton's position as a destination capable of attracting and delivering events of national significance.

Photo Credit: Below Studios