Wellington to Host Indigenous Wellbeing Conference in 2027

The 10–12 October gathering will bring up to 400 delegates to Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, with a programme centred on Indigenous knowledge, cultural connection and community-led approaches to wellbeing.

Wellington has secured the 2027 Indigenous Wellbeing Conference (IWC), bringing an international gathering focused on Indigenous-led approaches to health and wellbeing to New Zealand’s capital from 10 to 12 October.

The conference is expected to attract up to 400 delegates from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre. Hosted by the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association (ANZMHA), the event will bring together Indigenous voices, knowledge systems and lived experience across health, mental health, education, justice, community services, culture and policy.

For Trent Bruinsma, General Manager of AST Management, which provides conference management services to ANZMHA, New Zealand has long played an important role in the event’s development and purpose.

“New Zealand has always been an extremely important part to this conference,” he says. “The focus of the conference is to highlight some of the incredible work that is being done in indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand, and the broader Pacific region.”

The programme will showcase work spanning academia, research, public and private practice, case studies and grassroots community health initiatives, placing practical experience alongside research and policy perspectives.

Cultural connection at the heart of the bid

Business Events Wellington and Tourism New Zealand Business Events supported Wellington’s successful bid. According to Bruinsma, the destination’s integrated approach was a decisive feature, extending beyond venue provision to the wider conference experience.

“Wellington had an exceptionally strong, integrated Bid process which incorporated a well-connected destination famil program,” he says. He highlights the opportunity to connect with local subject-matter experts, experience Indigenous culture and explore options for social and wellbeing activities, pre- and post-conference touring and partner programmes.

The bid also demonstrated the availability of the essential services required to deliver the event, from professional venues and catering to audiovisual provision and exhibition suppliers.

For Business Events Wellington Manager Loryn Blaikie, the win reflects the value of combining the city’s business events infrastructure with its cultural and intellectual resources.

“This is a great win for Wellington, highlighting the easy access to innovative content and inspiring experiences in the city that will add value to the conference experience,” she says.

The destination’s support included engagement with iwi, local associations and academia, alongside opportunities for cultural immersion. These range from marae visits and waka experiences to local tours exploring Pōneke, the Māori name for Wellington, and its Indigenous landscape.

A platform for lasting impact

The conference’s arrival also carries significance beyond the event itself, particularly given Wellington’s proximity to national political institutions and decision-makers.

Dr Grant Davidson, Chief Executive of Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, welcomes the announcement as an opportunity to strengthen the conference’s contribution to Indigenous communities.

“We are delighted to see the Indigenous Wellbeing Conference coming to Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington,” he says. “Wellington is home to Aotearoa New Zealand's Parliament making access to decision-makers easy.”

He adds: “I look forward to the legacy that holding the conference will bring to indigenous peoples from around the world.”

With its emphasis on Indigenous knowledge, community experience and cross-sector collaboration, the 2027 gathering will connect practitioners, researchers and policymakers across the region. Wellington’s successful bid positions the city not simply as the host destination, but as a setting in which cultural connection and access to decision-makers can contribute to the conference’s wider ambitions.
 

For more information about Business Events Wellington, visit the website 
 

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