NZCS 2026 - Ōtepoti – Dunedin

The New Zealand Coastal Society Conference is your annual opportunity to share knowledge across a range of coastal management topics and meet with peers from around New Zealand.

The 34th annual conference will attract delegates from the 400-strong New Zealand Coastal Society national membership including engineers, scientists, local and central government experts, consultants, planners, educators and researchers. The conference is also open to non-members with an interest in coastal and marine activities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and from overseas.

This year’s conference is built around the whakataukī He moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka — a choppy sea can be navigated by the canoe. The whakataukī speaks to navigating uncertainty and change through collective effort, supporting each other and common purpose. In this spirit, the 2026 NZCS Conference will focus on strengthening resilience through interdisciplinary collaboration: for our coastal environments and communities, and among ourselves as coastal and environmental specialists.

As an island nation, Aotearoa New Zealand has always been shaped by the sea. From the first Māori navigators to contemporary coastal communities, generations have learned to live with, adapt to, and draw knowledge from dynamic coastal environments. This enduring relationship places Aotearoa New Zealand in a unique position to lead discussions on working with nature, partnering with communities, and advancing coastal resilience in a changing climate.

The conference also holds space to acknowledge connections that extend across the wider Pacific — from the Pacific Islands and Australia to the eastern Pacific margins of the Americas — broadening perspectives and fostering international collaboration.

Date: 9 - 12 November 2026
Location: Ōtepoti Dunedin
Venue: Tūhura Otago Museum