An international conference will aim to tackle some of the
underlying causes of suicide amongst Indigenous communities when it takes place in
New Zealand next year.
The 5th World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference
(WISPC) will take place in Hamilton, September 17-19, 2026, and is expected to attract
more than 700 delegates.
The event will convene Indigenous leaders, mental health
professionals, researchers, and community organisations to share culturally
informed strategies for suicide prevention.
WISPC 2026 will be held in partnership with Tainui Waka and
the Kīngitanga, under the patronage of the Māori Queen, Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te
Pō.
Australian-based conference agency Arinex has been appointed as the Professional
Conference Organiser. According to Arinex Indigenous engagement manager Jessica
Ferguson, the aim is to “deliver an experience that is both globally connected
and grounded in tikanga Māori.”
The event takes place amid persistent disparities in suicide
rates affecting Indigenous communities around the world. In Canada, suicide
among First Nations people is approximately three times the national average,
while the rate among Inuit communities is more than nine
times higher. Australia reports
similar challenges. Suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
occurs at a rate of 28.4
per 100,000 - more than double the 10.8 per 100,000 recorded among
non-Indigenous Australians.
First held in Rotorua in 2016, WISPC has since been hosted
in locations including the Seneca Nation in New York and in Perth, Australia.
While each conference is locally tailored, all have focused on restoring
cultural identity as a protective factor in mental health.
The
conference’s return to New Zealand acknowledges the leadership role
Māori continue to demonstrate in Indigenous wellbeing. Hamilton has been chosen as the host city due to its deep cultural resonance — it is the
home of the Kīngitanga (Māori King Movement), a powerful symbol of unity and
self-determination.
An
important aspect of the event will be the partnership with Tanui Waka, and the
Kiingitanga with the Māori Queen, Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō. This sacred
location will offer delegates an unparalleled opportunity to engage with Māori
tikanga (customs), Reo
(language), and manaakitanga (hospitality) — creating an experience that is not
only culturally authentic but spiritually profound.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
