There will be ample opportunities to network with your peers and partners/sponsors throughout the course of the event:
cafe crawl
Wednesday 02 July
6:00pm – 10:00pm (approx)
Meeting point: tbc
Gather from 5:45pm for a departure at 6:00pm sharp
The Café Crawl - our annual progressive dinner - is an opportunity to get to know and network with conference delegates and for our Association business partners to show their manaakitanga while dining out in Rotorua. After meeting at Rotorua Social Club at 6pm, you will be placed in one of 6 groups and each group will rotate to a different venue for entrée, main and dessert.
Please note: as you will be required to walk between venues, comfortable shoes and a coat are recommended.
6:00pm – 10:00pm (approx)
Meeting point: tbc
Gather from 5:45pm for a departure at 6:00pm sharp
The Café Crawl - our annual progressive dinner - is an opportunity to get to know and network with conference delegates and for our Association business partners to show their manaakitanga while dining out in Rotorua. After meeting at Rotorua Social Club at 6pm, you will be placed in one of 6 groups and each group will rotate to a different venue for entrée, main and dessert.
Please note: as you will be required to walk between venues, comfortable shoes and a coat are recommended.
area WALKs / hikoi

While there are no official early morning gatherings to get some gentle exercise before heading to the conference venue, you are welcome to explore Rotorua at your own pace and in your own time.
There's no shortage of walks in the area and they range from anything between 10 minutes to 3 hours, depending on fitness levels and time constraints!
Check out some popular tracks here
There's no shortage of walks in the area and they range from anything between 10 minutes to 3 hours, depending on fitness levels and time constraints!
Check out some popular tracks here
sbm cocktail hour
Thursday 03 July
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Bay Trust Forum, Energy Events Centre
Join us back at the expo area for some pre-dinner drinks, standing entrée and entertainment at the SBM hosted cocktail hour - a chance to mix and mingle with delegates and sponsors alike before taking your seats upstairs for a plated dinner (mains and dessert).
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Bay Trust Forum, Energy Events Centre
Join us back at the expo area for some pre-dinner drinks, standing entrée and entertainment at the SBM hosted cocktail hour - a chance to mix and mingle with delegates and sponsors alike before taking your seats upstairs for a plated dinner (mains and dessert).
Conference dinner

Thursday 03 July
7:00pm - 11:30pm
Unison Arena 1, Energy Events Centre
The theme for this year's conference dinner is 'Let's Glow Crazy'. Dressing up is encouraged and there will be prizes for best dressed on the night so get your glam on and your (neon) dancing shoes out!
Entry by ticket only.
7:00pm - 11:30pm
Unison Arena 1, Energy Events Centre
The theme for this year's conference dinner is 'Let's Glow Crazy'. Dressing up is encouraged and there will be prizes for best dressed on the night so get your glam on and your (neon) dancing shoes out!
Entry by ticket only.
out and about

Thanks to our friends at Te Puia, home of geothermal wonderlands and Māori cultural experiences, delegates can book slots online and use the promo code Conference2025, which will provide you with a 10% discount on their experiences (Te Rā Guided Tour).

Take advantage of a 20% discount on the 2 hour Restorative Journey, Sanctuary Massage treatments and 1 hour Restorative Bathing at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa. Delegates can book online with the promo code SBM25 to get the discount.
Conference transport
Bus transfers between a selection of central hotels will be available during the course of the event (includes the conference dinner but excludes the café crawl - timetables and more information will be announced here and on the conference App in due course.
Should they be required for day 3, timings for airport shuttles will be available on the conference App - this will depend on numbers and availability of transport.
Should they be required for day 3, timings for airport shuttles will be available on the conference App - this will depend on numbers and availability of transport.