Armageddon (convention)


Armageddon Expo is a New Zealand owned and operated pop culture convention that holds multiple events around New Zealand in cities including Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga and Christchurch. The event, run by Beyond Reality Media Premier Event Management, has been running continuously since 1995. It has evolved from its roots of comics and trading cards to showcase computer and video gaming, animation, film and television, cosplay, comics, live wrestling, and retailers selling pop-culture merchandise.
The convention hosts celebrity guests from the worlds of movies, TV shows, animation, cosplay, YouTube, comics and gaming. Event attendees can meet guests, purchase autographs and photo opportunities as well as watch panels featuring the guests. Armageddon Expo is one of the largest public conventions held in New Zealand.

History

Armageddon began in Auckland, New Zealand on the weekend of 2 December 1995, at the Avondale Raceway. In 1997, the expo added a Wellington event; In 1999, Armageddon did their first Melbourne event, Armageddon held events, in Australia sporadically, over several years but stopped hosting events in Australia in 2016. In 2007, the first Christchurch Armageddon event was held; Armageddon has also hosted events in other cities in New Zealand including Hamilton, Manukau, and Dunedin.
2020, will be Armageddon's 25th year of operation with shows in Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga and Auckland planned.

Highlights

Current show events include:
Armageddon hosts a variety of stalls run by companies from around NZ and internationally, with merchandise including comics, gaming, trading cards, anime, steampunk and memorabilia sales. At each event, there are numerous NZ and overseas comic creators and artists also selling their products.

Venues and guest appearances

1995–1997

21–22 March – Alexander Raceway, Auckland
28–29 March – Wellington Raceway, Wellington
3–4 October – Aotea Centre, Auckland
29–30 May – Aotea Centre, Auckland
5–6 June – Melbourne Expo Centre, Melbourne, Australia
18–19 March – Aotea Centre, Auckland
10–11 February – Aotea Centre, Auckland
Invitational event: Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Aotea Centre, Auckland
15–16 September – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
12–14 April – Aotea Centre, Auckland
23–24 November – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
12–14 April – Aotea Centre, Auckland
20–22 September – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
16–18 April – Aotea Centre, Auckland
25–26 September – Queens Wharf Events Centre, Wellington
16–17 April – Queens Wharf Events Centre, Wellington
22–24 October – Aotea Centre, Auckland
29–30 April – Queens Wharf Events Centre, Wellington
21–23 October – Aotea Centre, Auckland
14–15 April – Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch
21–22 April – TSB Arena – Wellington
19 August – A Day with the Doctor – Auckland
13–14 October – Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
20–22 October – Aotea Centre, Auckland
19–20 April – TSB Arena – Wellington
26–27 April – Christchurch Convention Centre – Christchurch
25–27 October – Auckland Armageddon, Aotea Centre
Jim Lee, JJ Kirby, Sandra Hope, Livio Ramondelli, Joel Gomez, Eddie Nunez and Beth Sotelo
28–29 March – Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch
4–5 April – TSB Arena, Wellington
17–18 October – Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Melbourne
24–26 October – ASB Showgrounds, Auckland
27/28 March 2010, Christchurch Convention Centre
2–4 April 2010, TSB Bank Arena, queens wharf, Wellington
June 2010, Castle Complex Otago University, Dunedin. NZ Anime convention,
16/17 October – Melbourne, Melbourne exhibition centre,
23–25 October – Auckland, ASB Showground's
26/27 February – Sydney showgrounds, the dome, Sydney, Australia
5/6 March – Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, Australia
2/3 April – Christchurch Convention Center, Christchurch, New Zealand
POSTPONED- Due to 2011 Christchurch earthquake – Venue was inside the CBD Red Zone for most of 2011
and was demolished in 2012 due to extensive damage.
9/10 April – TSB Arena, Wellington, New Zealand
4/5 June – NZ Anime convention – Dunedin, New Zealand
Guests Included animation Guests Kristi Reed and Kari Wahlgren
2/3 July – Christchurch, Addington Raceway
Local celebrity guests were the Almighty Johnsons Ben Barrington, Emmett Skilton, Tim Balme and Jared Turner.
22/23 October – Melbourne, Australia
28–31 October – Auckland, New Zealand
14–15 April Hamilton, New Zealand
21–22 April Wellington, New Zealand
Guests included...Comic creators Dave Johnson, Carlo Pagulayan and Ron Marz.
30 June–1 July – Christchurch, The Stables, Addington Raceway
12–14 October – Melbourne exhibition centre
19–22 October – Auckland, ASB Showgrounds
Guests included,
2–3 March Dunedin, The Edgar Centre
Guests included
9–10 March – Christchurch, The Stables, Addington Raceway
Guests included guest – Dante Basco.
25–26 May – Hamilton, Claudelands
Guests included
1–3 June – Wellington, westpac stadium
Guests include
HOBBIT Cast included – Sylvester McCoy, Luke Evans, Adam Brown, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, Jed Brophy, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter and William Kircher.
19–20 October – Melbourne Showgrounds
Guests included,
25–28 October – Auckland, ASB Showgrounds
Guests included,
1–2 March – Dunedin, Edgar Centre
Guests included
8–9 March – Christchurch, The Stables, Addington Raceway
Guests included, Animation Guest: Steve Blum. Acting Guests: Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Mark Strickson, Mark Hadlow, John Callen.
24–25 May – Hamilton, Claudelands arena
Guests included
31 May-2 June – Wellington, Westpac Stadium
Guests included,
18–19 October – Melbourne, Melbourne Showgrounds
Guests included,
24–27 October – Auckland, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane
Guests included,
28 February/1 March – Dunedin, More FM Arena
Guests included,
7–8 March – Christchurch, Horncastle Arena
Guests included,
14–15 March – Hamilton, Claudelands Arena.
Guests included,
17–19 July – Wellington, Westpac Stadium
Robert Maschio, Karen Gillan, Rick Mora, Saginaw Grant
23–26 October – Auckland, ASB Showgrounds
Sean Maher, Michael Rowe and Manu Bennett, John Wesley Shipp, Rachel Miner and Nicki Aycox,
Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer, Rainbow Sun Francks, Richard Franklin,
Bernie Kophel and Robert Maschio
5–6 March, Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau Armageddon.
TV and Movie Stars: Richard Dean Anderson, and,
Christopher Judge, and ; Ray Santiago, TV series; Marina Sirtis, ; David Nykl, ; Ruth Connell, TV series. Wrestling Guest Haku.
12–13 March, Horncastle Arena, Christchurch Armageddon
Comic guests: Christian Gossett,, Charles Soule. Animation voice actors William Salyers, Mike McFarland, Paul Eiding.
Cosplay guests: Riki Lecotey and Monika Lee.
TV and Movie Stars: Richard Dean Anderson, and,
Christopher Judge, and ; Marina Sirtis ; David Nykl, ; Ruth Connell, TV series. Wrestling Guest Haku.
19–20 March, MoreFM Arena, Dunedin Armageddon
Comic guests: Christian Gossett,, Charles Soule.
Animation voice actors: William Salyers, Mike McFarland, Paul Eiding.
Cosplay guests: Riki Lecotey and Monika Lee.
TV and Movie Stars: Christopher Judge, and ; Marina Sirtis, ; David Nykl, ; Wrestling Guest Haku.
4–6 June, Westpac stadium, Wellington Armageddon
TV and Movie guests:Rose McIver-, David Giuntoli, Bitsie Tulloch –, Natalia Tena,
Robert Picardo, Samuel Anderson Doctor Who, Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorenzo Ash Vs Evil Dead, Ted Raimi, Tahmoh Penikett Supernatural, Dollhouse, Battlestar Galactica; Cliff Simon Stargate sg1; Graham McTavish Outlander, Creed, Hobbit films;
Wrestling guest The Honky Tonk Man. Cosplay guests Tine Marie Riis, Eve Beauregard. Animation guests Stephanie Sheh Sailor Moon, Naruto, Bleach, Eureka seven; Michael Sinterniklaas – Venture Brothers, Teenage mutant ninja turtles;
Christy Carlson Romano Kim possible. Comic guests Carl Potts Alien Legion, Punisher war journal; Rachael Stott Doctor Who comics, Star Trek/Planet of the Apes; Christian Gossett The Red Star.

2017

11–12 March, Horncastle Arena, Christchurch
Comic Guests: Tom Taylor, Colin Wilson. With Animation Guests:
Veronica Taylor, Christopher Corey Smith, Cindy Robinson. Also TV/Movie Guests:
Billy Boyd, Ray Fisher, Chad Coleman, Miltos Yerolemou, Ivana Baquero.
18–19 March, More FM Arena, Dunedin,
Comic Guests: Tom Taylor, Colin Wilson and animation Guests
Veronica Taylor, Christopher Corey Smith, Cindy Robinson, Hynden Walch along with TV/Movie Guests
Billy Boyd, Ray Fisher, Chad Coleman, Miltos Yerolemou.
28–29 May, Baypark Arena, Tauranga,
Comic guest was Todd Nauck along with Animation Guests
Max Mittelman, Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Kyle Hebert and Cosplay Guests
Elffi and Calssara. With TV/Movie Guests
Jewel Staite, Matt Letscher, Franz Drameh, Richard Harmon, Sachin Sahel, Max Carver & Charlie Carver, Paul Amos, Adrian Paul, Patricia Tallman.
3 to 5 June, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Comic guest was Todd Nauck with Animation Guests
Max Mittelman, Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Kyle Hebert. Cosplay Guests
Elffi, Calssara along with TV/Movie Guests
Mark Sheppard, Alaina Huffman, Jewel Staite, Jeremy Jordan, Matt Letscher, Franz Drameh, Richard Harmon, Sachin Sahel, Max Carver & Charlie Carver, Paul Amos, Adrian Paul, Patricia Tallman, Ivana Baquero, Andrew Lees, John Levene, Nathalie Boltt.
21–24 October, ASB Showgrounds, Auckland,
Comic Guests were David Lloyd, Jill Thompson, Troy Little, Brenda Hickey along with
Animation Guests Amber Nash, Steve Downes, Jen Taylor, Bryce Papenbrook, Eric Stuart, John Stocker. Cosplay Guests were Monika Lee, Jessica Nigri, Ashlynne Dae, Reagan Kathryn. The TV/Movie Guests were
John Barrowman, Tom Felton, Nathan Fillion, Osric Chau, Ricky Whittle, Erica Cerra, Holland Roden, Pom Klementieff, Enver Gjokaj, Walter Koenig, David Blue, Jacqueline Toboni.

2018

30 March to 1 April – Westpac Stadium Wellington
Rahul Kohli, Aly Michalka, Cherami Leigh,
Ben Fransham, Jonathan Brugh, Al Barrionuevo, Ben Stenbeck,
26 to 27 May – Tauranga Armageddon, ASB Baypark Stadium
Guests included Comic Guest Sloane Leong, Animation Guests Brad Swaile, David Sobolov. Cosplay Guest Ashlynne Dae, *TV/Movie Guests,
Katie McGrath, Lauren German & Lesley-Ann Brandt, Paul Blackthorne, Katrina Law, Echo Kellum & David Nykl, Daniel Portman, John Shea, Garrett Wang,
2/4 June – Christchurch Armageddon, Horncastle Arena
Guests included Sloane Leong,
19 to 22 October – Auckland Armageddon, ASB Showgrounds
Armageddon expo changes cosplay prop rules after mosque attacks in Christchurch New Zealand, 15 March 2019
13 to 15 April – Wellington Armageddon, Westpac Stadium
Comic Guests Babs Tarr, Andrew Griffith, Ryan K Lindsey. Animation Guests Veronica Taylor, Trina Nishimura.
And TV/Movie Guests Nicholas Hoult, Tom Welling, Amy Acker, James Carpinello, Julian Richings, Amber Midthunder, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Abigail Cowen, Aimee Garcia, Ray Wise, Officers Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary.TV/Movie Guests
Katherine McNamara, Luke Baines, Tricia Helfer, Graham McTavish, Lotte Verbeek, Amber Nash, Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Andrew Matarazzo, Officers Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary.
8 to 9 June – Tauranga Armageddon, ASB Baypark Stadium
Comic Guests Nick Dragotta, Jeff Johnson, Stephen B Jones. Animation Guests Yuri Lowenthal, William Salyers, Tara Platt.TV/Movie Guests
Katherine McNamara, Luke Baines, Tricia Helfer, Graham McTavish, Lotte Verbeek, Amber Nash, Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Andrew Matarazzo, Officers Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary.
25 to 28 October – Auckland Armageddon, ASB Showgrounds
Comic Guests Dean Rankine. Animation Guests Steve Blum, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Patricia Summersett, Leah Clark, Rikki Simons. Cosplay Guests Yaya Han. YouTube Guests Mega64, Viva La Dirt League. TV/Movie Guests
Jason Isaacs, Jon Heder, Sean Gunn, Ruth Connell, Sam Witwer, Inbar Lavi, Adam Croasdell, Jodelle Ferland, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Gregg Sulkin, Patricia Tallman, Paul Amos, Antonia Prebble, Wellington Paranormal. Wrestling Guests
Lita, The Honky Tonk Man. E-Sports and Cosplay presence at the Auckland event continues to grow.

Future dates

2020

10 to 12 April – Wellington Armageddon, Sky Stadium
postponed this event to August 1/2 2020 still at the same venue Sky Stadium.
30 May to 1 June – Christchurch Armageddon, Horncastle Arena
6 to 7 June – Tauranga Armageddon, Baypark Arena
1 to 2 August – Wellington Armageddon, Sky Stadium
23 to 26 October – Auckland Armageddon, ASB Showgrounds

New Zealand Comic Con

2015– 17–19 July Wellington, New Zealand Armageddon Expo expanded the traditional event by creating a citywide festival called NZ Comic Con. Armageddon Expo is running for three full days but incorporated these additional elements throughout the weekend and evenings. A 3-day Scavenger Hunt, Pub Crawls, quiz nights, art exhibitions, a house of horrors, cosplay photoshoots, opening party and a closing party. The event was very successful and provided for a full 96 hours of almost non-stop entertainment.
2016 – 4 to 6 June – Wellington, New Zealand citywide events include a 3-day Scavenger hunt; Pub quiz night art exhibitions. House of horrors. Cosplay photo shoots. Opening party and shindig party. Art master class
Studio Ghibli screenings.
Wellycon. Au Contraire. Wellington Zinefest.
2017 – 3 to 5 June NZCC returned to wellington for another fun fill four days for geeks to enjoy being themselves

NZ Anime Convention (Dunedin Anime Experience)

NZ Anime Convention was a commercial anime and manga convention held in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was first held in 2009 in a growing response to include Dunedin into the Armageddon Expo family. The first event was held in the Dunedin Town Hall and from 2010 onwards at Castle Lecture Complex in the University of Otago. This event ceased after two years and was replaced by the Armageddon Expo Dunedin Show in 2012.