The International Electricity Infrastructure Assurance Forum announces its Fifth Annual Meeting. The IEIA Forum is a collaboration of industry and government from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States. The conference will bring together government and electric energy participants for in-depth exchange on current infrastructure assurance/critical infrastructure protection topics. The agenda will include keynote speaker addressing topical issues with sessions on cyber security and protection, reliability and resiliency of the electric energy system, critical infrastructure interdependencies, copper thefts, extreme weather events, smart grid and an exchange on effective collaboration.
The conference is scheduled for 8 - 9 February 2012 at the Sky City Conference Centre in Auckland, New Zealand. To register for the conference please send your request to meeting@ieiaforum.org and send with AUCKLAND NZ as the subject line. Please see Registration below for more details. Participants may make overnight hotel reservations at the Sky City Grand Hotel which is located directly above the Sky City Conference Centre.
Hotel InformationThe Sky City Grand Hotel is a 45-minute taxi ride from the Auckland airport. Centrally located in the heart of Auckland City, the SKYCITY Grand Hotel is part of the Sky City complex that includes a large range of restaurants, cafes, a theatre, and the iconic Sky Tower. The Sky Tower at 328 metres, is the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand and offers breathtaking views for up to 80 kilometres in every direction.
Hotel amenities include: 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi (maximum 30MB download) in the lobby, two restaurants, a gymnasium with lap pool and spa, daily laundry and dry cleaning service, currency exchange, broadband access and the East Day Spa.
The IEIA Forum group rate is available up to and through the conference dates. The room rate is $205 including GST NZD. Check-in time is 3:00 PM and checkout time is 11:00 AM. A concierge service can hold bags for those arriving early or needing to stay late. An early check-in request can be accommodated based on availability, however, to confirm an early check-in you should book your room a day ahead.
Participants should make hotel room reservations as soon as possible and no later than 19 December 2011 to secure the IEIA Forum group rate. The discounted rooms are available prior to and through the conference dates. After that, rooms are subject to regular rates.
To book a room at the Sky City Grand Hotel click on the link . Reservations can also be made by calling the Sky City Grand Hotel at 0800 SKYCITY (0800 759 2489) toll free within New Zealand and +64 9 363 6000 (International). To receive the reduced group rate please advise your participation in the IEIA Forum Fifth Annual Conference.
Self parking in the garage is $20 NZD overnight and $30 NZD for valet parking overnight.
For more hotel information, visit hotel information
TransportationAuckland Airport is a 45 minute drive away by bus, car or taxi. The Airbus Express departs every 15 minutes to the city, and costs about $15 NZD each way. Airport shuttles are approximately $22 NZD per person and depart regularly.
If you are traveling by taxi, they are located outside the domestic and international terminals and cost approximately $60 NZD into the city. If you are traveling by car, take the Southern Motorway north, exit at Nelson Street and follow the signs directly to SKYCITY.
The hotel is a quick 10 minute walk from Britomart - Auckland's central bus and train station, and the Intercity Bus terminal is right on its' doorstep.
For free bus, train and ferry information, please contact the MAXX Contact centre on +64 9 366 6400 or visit the MAXX website to use the online journey planner.
The SKYCITY Grand Hotel Guest Relations team can assist with private transfer options in our luxury car service.
Meeting LocationNew Zealand is an island with a population of 4, 035,000 (2005). It is 104,454 square miles in the Pacific Ocean, and is over 1,000 miles southeast of Australia. The capital is Wellington and the largest city and leading port is Auckland.
New Zealand consists of two main islands and a number of smaller outlying islands so scattered that they range from the tropical to the antarctic. The North Island is known for its active volcanic mountains and its hot springs. The country's longest river (the Waikato) and largest lake (Taupo) are both on the North Island. On the South Island, the massive Southern Alps extend almost the length of the island, and in the southwest are beautiful fjords. The largest areas of virgin forest are in the southern and northern extremities of the South Island. Among the unusual animals native to New Zealand are the kiwi, certain species of parrot, the tuatara (survivor of a prehistoric order of reptiles), and various frogs and reptiles. New Zealand has no native land mammals other than bats. Large oyster beds are found in the Foveaux Strait between Stewart Island and the South Island. Extensive areas of New Zealand have been set aside as national parks, including the Fiordland, Mt. Aorangi-Cook, and Tongariro parks.
Maoris were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, arriving on the islands in about 1000. Maori oral history maintains that the Maoris came to the island in seven canoes from other parts of Polynesia. In 1642, New Zealand was explored by Abel Tasman, a Dutch navigator. British captain James Cook made three voyages to the islands, beginning in 1769. Britain formally annexed the islands in 1840.
From SKYCITY, just half an hour's travel can land you on a sub-tropical island or high in the rain forested ranges of the west. Some ways to spend your time include:
In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20 - 30 degrees Celsius (68 - 86 degrees Fahrenheit).
RegistrationTo register for the 2012 IEIA Forum conference, send an email to meeting@ieiaforum.org or fax to 1 623.561.5695.
Please put AUCKLAND NZ in the subject line and include the following information:
The International Electricity Infrastructure Assurance Forum announces its Fifth Annual Meeting, scheduled in February 2012. The IEIA Forum is a collaboration of industry and government from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States. The conference will bring together government and electric energy participants for in-depth exchange on current infrastructure assurance/critical infrastructure protection topics. To view the agenda summary click here. Attire for the meeting will be business casual.
The two-day forum is free to attend. The meetings will be held at the Sky City Convention Centre and the overnight rooms at the Sky City Grand Hotel in the heart of Auckland City, New Zealand. Conference hours are: