NZ Psychological Society brings its 2026 Annual Conference to Rydges Auckland under the theme Moemoea

The New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) will hold its 2026 Annual Conference and AGM at Rydges Hotel Auckland from 26 to 29 August 2026, under the theme “Moemoea: Remember the past and dream for the future”. According to the Society's official conference site, Wednesday 26 August is a dedicated full-day workshop day, with the main conference running across Thursday 27, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August.

Who runs it

The conference is organised by the New Zealand Psychological Society, which describes itself as the country's largest professional body for psychologists. The Society began as a branch of the British Psychological Society in 1947, became independent in 1967 and held its first annual conference in 1968; it is a constituent organisation of Royal Society Te Aparangi. The 2026 Academic Programme Convenors are Professor Tania Cargo, Professor Julia Ioane, Glynnis Carolissen and Dr Rebekah Graham. Registration is handled through the Society's Gecco platform.

Who it's for and the programme

The organisers position the conference for researchers, practitioners, students and policymakers, inviting delegates to share research, insights and practices that contribute to individual, community and societal wellbeing. The programme emphasises meaningful kōrero and collaborative work aligned with the Society's commitment to honour He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Six keynote speakers are confirmed: Professor Wickliffe Abraham, Dr Huhana Hickey MNZM, Professor Troy McEwan, Lady Tureiti Moxon, Dr Lara Sheehi and Professor Waikaremoana Waitoki. Social and networking elements include a Whakawhanaungatanga welcome gathering on the evening of Wednesday 26 August and the Conference & Awards Dinner on Thursday 27 August, both held at the venue.

Venue and delegate movement

The confirmed venue is Rydges Hotel Auckland, in the central city. The conference programme uses the hotel's Hobson Room, Kingston Rooms 1-4 and Executive Rooms 1-4, keeping sessions, catering and the evening functions within a single property. For delegate movement, the Society notes that Rydges offers on-site valet parking only, with several nearby self-parking options and a map provided on the conference Accommodation tab; that same tab carries the Society's accommodation guidance for out-of-town delegates. The hotel's CBD location places delegates within central Auckland, with the international airport lying to the south of the city.

Why it matters in NZ MICE

As the flagship annual gathering of New Zealand's largest psychology body and a decades-long fixture on the professional calendar, the NZPsS Annual Conference is a recurring medical and scientific congress that draws a national academic and practitioner audience. Anchoring the 2026 edition at a single Auckland CBD hotel across four days, combining workshops, keynotes, an AGM and awards dinner, makes it a solid example of the association-conference segment that underpins New Zealand's business-events sector.