Social and Networking Events at iPRES 2025

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Photo credit: WellingtonNZ.

Ask anyone who's been to iPRES before what the best part of the conference is and you'll hear the same answer over and over. The people. There is truly something special about the iPRES community, whether this is your first or 21st iPRES.

We chose this year's conference themes - Haerenga | Journey; Tūtaki | Encounter; Tūhono | Connect - to reinforce the importance of gathering together as a community, and opening up to new ways of thinking. And because sometimes the best conference conversations happen over a coffee or a beer, we've planned a variety of social and networking events during the week.

Sunday 2 November

Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) Meet and Greet, St John's Bar and Eatery

This relaxed and friendly gathering is the perfect way to connect with fellow DPC Members before the busy conference schedule begins, build new relationships and strengthen existing ones in a friendly, welcoming setting. If you would like to come along, meet at 5:30 at St John’s Bar & Eatery— to unwind, enjoy a drink and begin the conference week!

Monday 3 November

Opening Reception at the National Library

Join us at the National Library of New Zealand for the conference opening reception, with a mihi whakatau (welcome) and cultural performance by the Whitireia Performing Arts Group. Light canapes and drinks will be served. You may choose to attend an optional Social Dinner following the reception.

Social Dinners

Make new friends and reconnect with old ones at our social dinners - the perfect way to spend your first evening in Wellington! We have selected a variety of restaurants within 2 km of National Library, many along the picturesque Wellington waterfront. Social dinner venue information is available here, with menus and descriptions of each location. Spaces are limited, so sign up early!

Tuesday 4 November

Mentors/Mentees morning tea

If you've signed up to be part of the iPRES 2025 mentoring programme, gather over at the iPRES 2025 Community Hub in the Rongomātāne foyer to say hello to others, and begin to get to know your buddy!

Regional Impact/Australasia Preserves Lunchtime meetup For those of you who are attending iPRES, we will have an informal Regional Impact Committee at the Community Hub – come and join us for kai and chats!

First-Time Attendees afternoon tea

Is this your first iPRES? Welcome! Feel free to meet and connect with other first-time attendees at the iPRES 2025 Community Hub and share a cuppa and some conversation!

Wednesday 5 November

National Libraries and Archives meetup

Conference delegates working at National Libraries or Archives are invited to join a face-to-face informal gathering of the National Libraries and Archives Special Interest Group which will be held in the Mākaro Room at 2:30-3:00pm. Get yourself a drink or snack in the foyer before heading to the room for a friendly chat. The National Libraries and Archives Special Interest Group (NatLA) is convened by the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) and meets online every two months to discuss digital preservation topics relevant to those working in national libraries and archives. The iPRES conference provides a regular opportunity to get together and connect in person.

Conference Dinner, Banquet Hall, Parliament, sponsored by AWS

Our official conference dinner is being held in the Banquet Hall of Pāremata Aotearoa New Zealand Parliament, inside the famed “Beehive”. Please be prepared to go through security (metal detectors) upon arrival. Sponsored by AWS, the Dinner will include a brief talk on national digital resilience strategies by Liam Maxwell, Director of International Central Government at Amazon Web Services and former CTO of the UK Government. Drawing from his extensive public sector experience, Liam will share insights on how nations are protecting their critical digital infrastructure, cultural assets, and national knowledge repositories against evolving threats.

Continue your conversations over dinner while listening to local acoustic musician Carl Webley.

Thursday 6 November

World Digital Preservation Day Late Night at the Museum

With a jam-packed conference schedule, we wanted to make sure iPRES delegates had a chance to experience the wonder that is Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa! The museum closes to the public at 6pm, but iPRES attendees and whānau (family) will have exclusive afterhours access to explore the museum’s galleries and collections, and maybe pick up a last-minute souvenir from the gift shop! Friends and family members are welcome to attend the Te Papa Late Night as well but will need to arrive with an iPRES attendee. Admission to Te Papa during the WDPD late night is free. 

Please note food and drink is not allowed in the museum - we encourage you to have dinner before or after your visit.

Friday 7 November

iPRES Professional Visits

Go behind the scenes at a variety of local cultural heritage institutions in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington at iPRES 2025 Professional Visits. Spaces are limited - pre-registration required.

DPC Members Forum and Networking Event

Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) Members are invited to attend a DPC Members Forum and Networking Event in Wellington, New Zealand! In addition to meeting and networking with other members of the Coalition, we will have an exciting program of fast-paced member-led talks and discussions, giving you the opportunity to take the floor and exchange ideas, showcase work and discuss key themes. This DPC Members’ Forum is exclusively for DPC Members and is designed to privilege operational staff working directly on digital preservation. Pre-registration is required - visit the DPC website for more information.