We invite you to be part of the 2026 New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society (NZFSS) Conference, to be held in Te Whanganui‑a‑Tara / Wellington from Tuesday 1 December to Friday 4 December 2026.
 

At the Confluence: Communities, Catchments, and our Freshwater Futures
Ngā Rerenga E Tūtaki Ana
 

Our 2026 conference explores the confluence: the place where flows meet, merge, and reshape one another. In freshwater science, confluences are dynamic hydrological junctions which create unique habitats and environments. For this conference it represents the meeting of people, knowledge systems, innovations, and aspirations that shape the future of wai in Aotearoa.
 

Hosting the conference in Te Whanganui‑a‑Tara/Wellington, where urban streams like Waimapihi and Kumutoto meet the great harbour Te Whanganui‑a‑Tara provides a powerful metaphor for integration across urban waters, catchments, and communities. As Aotearoa navigates changing climate pressures, evolving policy landscapes, disruptive technologies, and growing community involvement, this confluence becomes a space for meaningful collaboration and forward‑thinking action.

 
“At the Confluence” examines:

• how we meet

• how we weave our knowledge

• how we navigate change

• how we care for wai together

It is a call to gather and connect on our freshwater futures grounded in science, values, innovation, partnership, and hope.

“Freshwater Futures” is about the next era of water management, science, policy, technology, and community stewardship — together and intentionally — so that the wai we hand on is healthier than the wai we inherited.

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We look forward to welcoming you to Te Whanganui‑a‑Tara

On behalf of the NZFSS Conference Committee

Dr Evan Harrison
Conference Chair
 

Disclosure: the theme and description for this conference were created by the organising committee in collaboration with CoPilot software. The AI tool was used to collate and distill the output of our kōrero, and the final product was reviewed, edited, and approved by the committee.