As many as 800 brokers and other industry professionals attended the Insurance Brokers of NZ (IBANZ) annual Propel convention in Auckland last week, setting a new attendance record.

CEO Gary Young says the convention’s emphasis on education, a more flexible registration system and a range of concurrent sessions over two days were the factors that made the convention such a success.

“We had five concurrent streams running on Thursday and Friday, and the result was a terrific turnout,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “The flexi-passes allowed companies to send three or four staff to sessions using the one registration fee.”

With a new regulatory regime for NZ brokers looming, Mr Young says it was vital for the convention to switch from “inspiration to education”.

He says the large broker turnout and exhibition area at the Sky City Convention Centre vindicated the association’s decision to hold the event in Auckland for the first time in 18 years.

“Auckland is the biggest centre for the industry, and our sponsors and exhibitors are happy with the large numbers of brokers they’ve met over the two days.”

Next year’s convention is scheduled to be in Christchurch, although Mr Young says IBANZ will now “look carefully” at returning to Auckland more regularly in the future.