The NZSG and NZ Gastroenterology Nurses College hold their joint 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, 'Gastro 2026', at Te Pae Christchurch, 18–20 November, themed 'Global Frontiers in Gastroenterology'.
The New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology and the NZ Gastroenterology Nurses College bring their joint Annual Scientific Meeting — branded Gastro 2026 — to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre from 18 to 20 November 2026, with a pre-conference endoscopy masterclass on Tuesday 17 November. The organisers have set the 2026 theme as "Global Frontiers in Gastroenterology," with a programme spanning the latest research, expert panels and an international faculty drawn from the United States, Canada, Singapore and Australia.
The meeting is run jointly by the New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology (NZSG) and the NZ Gastroenterology Nurses College (NZgNC). NZSG describes itself as a member-led professional body made up of professionals across the gastroenterology health sector of Aotearoa New Zealand, governed by an elected Executive Committee. The Annual Scientific Meeting is the society's flagship event and rotates between New Zealand host cities each year; the 2026 edition is delivered by the ASM Conference Committee with professional conference management by Conference Innovators.
According to the organisers, the programme is aimed at clinicians, nurses, dieticians, researchers and industry partners working in gastroenterology and hepatology. The standalone pre-conference endoscopy masterclass is pitched at both emerging and experienced endoscopists, moving from foundational principles through to advanced techniques. The combined NZSG and NZgNC format means the meeting draws both medical specialists and the specialist nursing workforce into one scientific congress.
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre sits at 188 Oxford Terrace in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch, with its banquet space overlooking the Ōtākaro Avon River. Per the venue, Te Pae caters for events from 50 to 2,000 people and includes a 1,364-seat tiered auditorium (divisible into two), an 860-seat banquet room and 2,800 square metres of exhibition space across three halls. The purpose-built centre opened in 2021 and is one of New Zealand's newest convention facilities. It is in the central city, so delegates are within walking distance of a large pool of hotel accommodation, and Christchurch International Airport — the South Island's main gateway, with direct trans-Tasman and domestic links — is a short drive from the city centre.
A three-day national medical and scientific congress with an international faculty, a pre-conference masterclass and a full social programme — including an Avon River boat race and a gala dinner at One NZ Stadium — is exactly the kind of multi-day, high-value business event that anchors a convention centre's calendar. For the Christchurch business-events sector it demonstrates Te Pae's pull for specialist health congresses, and the combination of visiting clinicians, nurses, researchers and industry exhibitors generates sustained accommodation, dining and transport demand across the central city during the November shoulder period.
Cited links supporting this report.
The New Zealand Association for Research in Education holds its 2026 conference at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 16–18 November, under the theme 'Whanaungatanga, Tiakitanga, Manaakitanga'.
Christchurch's unique event venues — Te Pae, the Arts Centre, museums, gardens and heritage homes — for conferences, galas and functions.
The TERMIS Asia Pacific Chapter Conference 2026, the regional congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, runs 27-30 October 2026 at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.
The 2026 Canterbury A&P Show (Ravensdown-branded), New Zealand's largest agricultural and pastoral show, is confirmed for Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 November 2026 at Canterbury Agricultural Park, Christchurch, run by the Canterbury A&P Association and drawing 70,000+ visitors.
SOLIDWORKS Innovation Day 2027 is a free half-day Central Innovation product briefing (co-presented with Dassault Systèmes) confirmed for the Commodore Airport Hotel, Christchurch, on 10 November 2026; the "2027" is the software version, and the directory's date and venue are both correct.
A two-day familial cancer genetics congress (6-7 Nov 2026) run by the NZ Familial Breast & Ovarian Cancer Trust at the Cancer Society in Papanui, Christchurch, with a full clinical programme, named speakers and a parallel public Community Day.