Managing Long Term Conditions & Chronic Diseases in Aotearoa 2026

Managing Long Term Conditions & Chronic Diseases in Aotearoa returns to Auckland on 24-25 November 2026, a two-day medical congress focused on how New Zealand's health system cares for the growing number of people living with long-term and chronic conditions. According to the event page, the programme is organised around five themes: strengthening governance, advancing quality, safety and equity, empowering and protecting the workforce, technology for better care, and continuous learning and partnership.

The conference is set down for the Crowne Plaza Auckland, with Day 1 registration opening at 8:30am and the first day closing with a networking reception at 5:00pm, and Day 2 running from a 9:00am welcome through to closing remarks at 5:00pm.

Who runs it

The event is produced by Conferenz Ltd, trading as Brightstar, as stated in the site's copyright line. The two names are the same business: conferenz.co.nz now redirects to brightstar.co.nz, so the aggregator listing, the official event page and the controlling party all resolve to one organiser. Brightstar describes itself as one of "New Zealand's leading and original conference, event and people training providers," and states 28 years of operation, more than 3,000 events run, over 70 events a year and in excess of 10,000 past attendees. "Leading" is the company's own characterisation.

Who it is for and what is on

The organiser pitches the congress at a broad clinical and health-management audience: Health New Zealand leaders across integrated care, primary and community services, equity, Maori and Pacific health, nursing and allied health; general practice and primary care including GPs, nurse practitioners, practice nurses, PHOs and Maori health providers; pharmacists and community pharmacy leaders; and specialist teams in diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, dementia, obesity, mental health and addictions, and older people's health.

The published agenda is substantial, though the organiser notes it is still working on the programme, so sessions should be treated as provisional. Billed topics include implementing the National Diabetes Roadmap, the economic cost of long-term conditions (Sarah Hogan, NZIER), workforce planning, consumer and whanau voice in service design, holistic whanau-centred care for Maori (Papakura Marae), the use of AI in long-term condition management, and care models and clinical pathways including obesity medications (Professor Rinki Murphy, Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau). An international case study on population health is scheduled from Dr Andy Knox MBE of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB.

Venue and delegate movement

The Crowne Plaza Auckland sits at 128 Albert Street in the central CBD, within walking distance of the Viaduct, Britomart and Queen Street, which puts delegates close to a dense cluster of CBD hotels and dining for an out-of-town clinical audience. Auckland Airport lies roughly 21km south of the city centre; ground connections into the CBD are by taxi, rideshare and the airport bus, typically 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. As a full-service conference hotel the Crowne Plaza offers on-site accommodation and meeting space, which simplifies logistics for a two-day residential-style programme.

Why it matters for NZ business events

Long-term and chronic conditions are among the largest cost and capacity pressures on New Zealand's reconfigured health system, and a dedicated two-day congress drawing Health NZ leaders, primary care, pharmacy and specialist clinicians is the kind of recurring professional gathering that anchors mid-week CBD hotel demand in the shoulder season. It is a representative example of Conferenz/Brightstar's healthcare conference portfolio and of Auckland's standing as the default host city for national clinical congresses.