The 2027 annual conference will be held in Kirikiriroa | Hamilton
29th June – 1st July 2027
Conference website and updates will be posted here.
Future conferences
2027 – Hamilton
2028 – Potential for a mixed-society meeting
If you are interested in hosting a conference, please contact us at [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Recent conferences
2026: Invercargill
“Wild South | Biodiversity, Blue Economies and Beyond”
Environment Southland hosted the 2026 annual New Zealand Marine Sciences Society conference at the in Waihōpai Invercargill which ran from the 1st – 3rd July. The theme of this conference was “Wild South: Biodiversity, Blue Economies and Beyond.” – Set against Southland’s unique and dynamic marine environment, the conference will explore how science, policy/society, and innovation intersect to sustain our coastal and ocean ecosystems.
The conference was opened with keynote presentations from Professor James Bell (Te Herenga Waka, Victoria Univeristy of Wellington), Dr. Jenni Stanley (University of Waikato) and previous NZMSS Award Winner Di Tracey (Earth Sciences New Zealand) who discussed the importance of mesophotic communities, the application of acoustics in marine science, and reflections of an impressive career in science throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Featuring a VR session run by the BLAKE programme and over 80 oral presentations and 20 posters were presented in sessions covering Restoration Ecology, Climate change impacts, Aquaculture, Policy and planning, Soft Sediment ecology and everything in between. Dr. Scott Nodder (Earth Sciences New Zealand) took home the Matai Moana Award, and student prizes were awarded to Liz Cornelissen, Emily Williams, Felix Borrowdale, Jemma Bezuidenhout, Kathryn Scafidi, Gabriela Wood, Ash Heaphy, Barbara Graham and Miriam Pierotti, and the coveted Battle of the Labs award going to University of Otago. Special thanks to the conference sponsor supporters ESNZ, Boxfish Robotics, PDP, Sequench, FNZ, Ocean Wolf, University of Auckland, Top of the North Marine Biosecurity Partnership, Bioeconomy Science Institute, Great South, Tohu Environmental and Potton & Burton.
- Conference Programme NZMSS 2026 (PDF, 450.59 kB)
2025: Blenheim
“He Tai Pari | The Rising Tide”
The Marlborough District Council hosted the 2025 annual New Zealand Marine Sciences Society conference in Te Waiharakeke Blenheim which ran from the 7th – 1th July. The theme of this conference was He Tai Pari, The Rising Tide – As the sea surges towards the shore, we too must join the rising tide, working together to bring about a better future for our marine environment. The conference was opened with an address from Mayor Nadine Taylor, and keynote presentations from Raymond Smith (Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne, Ngāti Apa, Rongomaiwahine) and Professor Kura Paul-Burke (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāti Pūkeko, Irish, University of Waikato), and concluded with presentations from Professor Abby Smith (University of Otago) and Dan Hikuroa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngaati Whanaunga, Ngāti Mahuta, Pākehā), who all presented on the importance of understanding and connecting with our marine environment to manage ongoing and future impacts. 95 oral presentations and 20 posters were presented in sessions covering Climate Change, Blue Carbon Ecosystems, Anthropogenic Impacts, Restoration, Aquaculture, Soft Sediment ecology and everything in between, as well as a panel discussion addressing Marine Education across the Motu.
- Conference Programme NZMSS 2025 v20 (PDF, 362.01 kB)
2024: Hobart, Tasmania
“Navigating uncertainty for a future sustainable ocean”
The annual conference in 2024 was held jointly with the Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) in Hobart, Tasmania from 15-20th September.
- Bob Hickman’s conference recollections (PDF, 127.49 kB)
2023: Wellington
“Reconnecting… people and science”
The University of Wellington hosted the 2023 New Zealand Marine Sciences Society Conference in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington which ran from the 26th – 28th of June. The conference was opened with presentations from Lee Rauhina-August and Mark Fenwick (Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika), Hon Rachel Brooking (Minister for Oceans and Fisheries) and Prof Louise Dixson (Dean of Science, Te Herenga Waka) along with plenary talks from Linda Faulkner and Saskia Foreman, who all contributed inspirational and thought-provoking perspectives. The engaging oral presentations and posters covered a broad range of topics, including Anthropogenic Impacts, Blue Carbon, Algae, Aquaculture, Fisheries, Marine Heatwaves, Oceanography, Risk and Uncertainty, Marine Management, Tropical, Deep Sea and Soft Sediment Ecosystems, Marine Mammals and Birds, Genetics and Taxonomy. These, in addition to the stimulating discussions and networking opportunities aplenty, rendered the conference an all-round success leaving participants energized and empowered.
- Conference Handbook 2023 (PDF, 556.40 kB)
Past conferences
2021 –
- 2022 – Auckland, a joint meeting with NZFSS
- 2021 – Tauranga
2001 – 2020
- 2020 – Sydney, a joint meeting with AMSA (cancelled due to COVID-19)
- 2019 – Dunedin
- 2018 – Napier
- 2017 – Christchurch
- 2016 – Wellington, a joint meeting with AMSA
- 2015 – Auckland, a joint meeting with OCS
- 2014 – Nelson
- 2013 – Hamilton, a joint meeting with NZFSS
- 2012 – Hobart, Tasmania, a joint meeting with AMSA
- 2011 – Stewart Island/Rakiura
- 2010 – Wellington, 50th Anniversary Jubilee!
- 2009 – Auckland, a joint meeting with METSOC
- 2008 – Christchurch, a joint meeting with AMSA
- 2007 – Hamilton
- 2006 – Nelson
- 2005 – Wellington, a joint meeting with ICMB and MARGINS
- 2004 – Dunedin
- 2003 – Auckland, a joint meeting with ASPAB
- 2002 – Nelson
- 2001 – Townsville, a joint meeting with AMSA
1981 – 2000
- 2000 – Hamilton
- 1999 – Wellington
- 1998 – Dunedin, a joint meeting with ASPAB
- 1997 – Auckland, a joint meeting with AMSA
- 1996 – Christchurch
- 1995 – Wellington
- 1994 – Hamilton, a joint meeting with LIMSOC
- 1993 – Nelson, a joint meeting with MESA NZ and Aquaculture NZ Seminar
- 1992 – Dunedin
- 1991 – Wellington
- 1990 – Hamilton, a joint meeting with NZOWS
- 1989 – Wellington
- 1988 – Auckland, a joint meeting with NZOWS
- 1987 – Dunedin, a joint meeting with OUMSS
- 1986 – Wellington
- 1985 – Christchurch
- 1984 – Nelson, a joint meeting with NZES
- 1983 – Auckland
- 1982 – Wellington
- 1981 – Mount Maunganui
1960 – 1980
- 1980 – Wellington
- 1979 – Tutukaka (January), a joint meeting with AMSA, and Wellington (August)
- 1978 – Dunedin, a joint meeting with LIMSOC
- 1977 – Christchurch
- 1976 – Wellington
- 1975 – Nelson, a joint meeting with NZES
- 1974 – Portobello (February) and Wellington (August)
- 1973 – Wellington
- 1972 – Christchurch
- 1971 – Leigh (February) and Wellington (August)
- 1970 – Portobello (February) and Wellington (August)
- 1969 – Wellington
- 1968 – Kaikoura (January) and Wellington (August)
- 1967 – Leigh (February) and Wellington (August)
- 1966 – Kaikoura (February) and Wellington (August)
- 1965 – Auckland, a joint meeting with NZSC
- 1963 – Wellington
- 1962 – Christchurch, a joint meeting with NZSC
- 1961 – Wellington
- 1960 – Wellington, a joint meeting with NZSC
Abbreviations
- AMSA – Australian Marine Sciences Association
- ASPAB – Australasian Society for Phycology and Aquatic Botany
- Aquaculture NZ – Aquaculture New Zealand
- ICMB – International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions
- MARGINS – a research initiative supported by the US National Science Foundation (now GeoPRISMS – Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subducting Margins)
- METSOC – Meteorological Society of New Zeland
- MESA NZ – Marine Education Society of Australasia, New Zealand Branch
- LIMSOC – New Zealand Limnological Society (now NZFSS – New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society)
- NZES – New Zealand Ecological Society
- NZOWS – New Zealand Ocean Waves Society (now merged with NZCS – New Zealand Coastal Society)
- NZSC – New Zealand Science Congress
- OUMSS – University of Otago Marine Science Symposium