Case Study - A Partnership Built for Success

Over the past few years, Auckland Conventions, Venues and Events (ACVE) and event agency Brown Bread have worked together to deliver the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most prestigious celebrations of leadership, achievement and service. 

Since moving to Viaduct Events Centre, Wynyard Quarter in 2024, the event has continued to grow in both scale and impact. For Brown Bread, choosing ACVE was about more than securing a venue. It was about finding a partner that could support the event's long-term vision and help deliver an exceptional experience for guests year after year.

"Viaduct Events Centre was the right fit in the heart of the city," says Brown Bread Programme and Events Manager Libby Vincent. "It's a blank canvas with so many creative possibilities, and importantly, it gave us the capacity to welcome more people to witness such a special event."

Today, that partnership is delivering benefits far beyond the venue itself.

"The first year involved a lot of change as we settled into a new space," says Vincent. "Now everything is incredibly streamlined. That's the benefit of returning year after year. We know the venue, we know the team, and they know exactly what's required to bring the event to life."

An extension of the team

With a lean event delivery team, Brown Bread relies on ACVE's expertise across venue operations, technology and catering to help deliver a seamless event experience.

"The biggest operational benefit is that extension of our team," says Vincent. "The venue knowledge, the experience, and the expertise that the wider ACVE team brings makes a real difference."

As attendance has grown from 860 guests to more than 920, that collaborative approach has enabled continual refinement of the guest experience. From optimising room layouts and service flows to enhancing catering operations, small improvements have delivered significant results.

"We can have conversations about what's worked well in the space, learn from other events and continue fine-tuning the experience each year," Vincent says.

Creating Better Event Experiences 

One of the strengths of the partnership is the shared focus on continuous improvement.

For the 2025 awards, ACVE's technical team recommended introducing a large, curved screen to elevate the event's visual storytelling. "It was incredible," says Vincent. "We have eight awards, 21 finalists and more than 20 videos throughout the evening. Storytelling is such an important part of the event, and ACVE immediately understood that."

The collaboration extends beyond the event itself. ACVE has supported Brown Bread with content creation opportunities, including drone footage and event-day videography, helping extend audience engagement across digital channels and maximise the impact of the awards beyond a single evening.

This support allows the Brown Bread team to focus on future enhancements rather than operational delivery. "ACVE's support frees us up to think about what else we can improve and how we can continue evolving the experience," says Vincent.

Shared Values, Shared Success

For Brown Bread, the success of the partnership comes down to more than logistics and event delivery.

"The whole ACVE team, right from the top, take the time to understand your event, your goals and what you're trying to achieve," says Vincent. "We've got such a meaningful event, and they genuinely believe in the kaupapa behind it. They want to help make it successful."

That shared commitment has helped the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards continue to grow while maintaining the prestige, storytelling and sense of occasion that make it so special.

It's a powerful example of what can happen when the right venue, the right expertise and the right partnership come together, creating an event experience that leaves a lasting impression on every guest and celebrates the remarkable people shaping the future of Aotearoa.

You can read last year's case study on the KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year Awards here.

Photography from KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year Awards 2026 by David St George and Black on Black