The annual conference will be in Marlborough
7-10 July 2025
All information can be found on the conference website.
The Annual NZMSS Conference
Future Conferences
2026 – Inviting expressions of interest (North Island)
2027 – Inviting expressions of interest (South Island)
If you are interested in hosting a conference, please contact us at secretary@nzmss.org
Recent Conferences
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.
Read a review from Bob Hickman here: Bob Hickman’s conference recollections
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.
2022
Auckland
“Waitī Waitā”
The Auckland University of Technology (AUT) hosted the joint 2022 New Zealand Marine and Freshwater Sciences Society Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau which ran from the 21st – 24th of November. The theme of this conference was Waitī and Waitā which are two stars in the Matariki cluster. Waitī is connected to fresh water and Waitā is connected to the ocean. The joint meeting of the NZMSS and the NZFSS celebrated the connectivity between Waitī and Waitā by bringing together knowledge to support vibrant marine and freshwater ecosystems. Keynote speakers included Kingi Maroake (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), Moana Tamaariki-Pohe (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), Jon Harding (University of Canterbury), Tara McAllister (Te Aitanga a Māhaki) and Andrew Jeffs (University of Auckland), who all contributed inspiring and stimulating insights to this topic. The 332 oral presentations and 64 posters covered a broad range of topics, including the UN Decade of Ocean Science, Mātauranga Māori, Environmental Monitoring and Reporting, Integrated Freshwater-Marine Water Quality Modelling, Molecular Tools as well as a panel discussion addressing Cumulative Effects.
Past Conferences
2015-2021
2021 – Tauranga
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
2010-2014
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!
2005-2009
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
1990-2004
2004 – Dunedin
2003 – Auckland, a joint meeting with ASPAB
2002 – Nelson
2001 – Townsville, a joint meeting with AMSA
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
1975-1989
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
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
1960-1974
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