International Conference on Urban Health leaves its mark on the city

The 21^st Annual International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH 2025) brought 310 delegates from 35 countries to Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre from November 17 to 21. With the goal of transforming urban environments to improve health, equity, and environmental sustainability in cities worldwide, the agenda was jam-packed. 

The conference was co-hosted by the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) and the University of Otago, Wellington. With support from Business Events Wellington, local organisers developed a legacy programme to continue benefits for the city beyond the conference, through the coordination of three pre-conference workshops. 

Kate Murphy, programme manager, New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities (University of Otago, Wellington) says: “It was about leveraging the people that were coming for the conference and addressing local needs.”

The first initiative was a free symposium on age-friendly cities and communities at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, which explored how cities can be better designed to support an ageing population. 

Organised by the Office for Seniors in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, it was attended by more than 80 delegates, including NZ’s Minister for Seniors, Casey Costello. Fifteen presenters took to the stage, followed by a panel session. 

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with the Office identifying a need to engage more closely with local councils and increase awareness of the national age-friendly programme with a larger audience. The second initiative saw Wellington City Council hold a pre-conference ‘kai and kōrero workshop’ on its action plan to develop a sustainable, equitable, healthy, and resilient food system in Wellington. 

International experts combined with local growers, developers, and community groups to discuss how to better enable urban food production at scale. This included establishing a network of local interested parties, exploring funding opportunities, identifying areas to grow food in an urban setting, and improving policy and infrastructure to advance collaboration. 

ICUH also hosted a Government Roundtable, bringing together national and local government leaders from across Aotearoa New Zealand and their international counterparts. Together, they explored how urban policy and governance can drive health, equity, and climate resilience in our cities. As an outcome, connections were formed and issues identified for future progress.

Alongside the conference programme, attendees could join site visits showcasing Wellington’s success stories in urban health. This included trips to urban eco-sanctuary Zealandia, Victoria University’s living building Ngā Mokopuna, and a walking tour uncovering the lost rivers and buried waterways of central Wellington. 

These were very popular, Murphy notes. “People learn something beyond just the conference; they get some orientation, some history, there are such great stories.” 

Given it was the first time the conference was held in Oceania, organisers were also delighted at the positive response to integrating indigenous knowledge throughout the conference content. Murphy says, “That focus on regional indigenous innovation is unique to this part of the world. Internationally, that was probably a big driver for why people came here.” 

Local expertise was also recognised, with the ISUH presenting the first Lifetime Achievement Award in its 23-year history. The award went to distinguished Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman, co-director of He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme and Director of the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities. She was honoured for her advances in the field of healthy housing, guiding and informing policy far beyond Aotearoa New Zealand.