12–13 August 2026
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Standing together in a political moment

As Aotearoa approaches the next General Election, uncertainty is unavoidable. What is not uncertain is the impact political decisions have on the lives of the people we work alongside, and on the practice of social work itself.
This conference is about taking a moment, together, to ask:

Who are we as a profession?
What do we stand for?
And how do we ensure our voices are heard where it matters?

Kōtahitanga: Stand Together

Is not about predicting outcomes or campaigning for answers. It is about coming together as social workers, grounded in our values, connected to one another, and prepared to speak with clarity, integrity, and collective strength.

Why we are gathering

Social workers across Aotearoa are working in increasingly complex conditions. We are navigating system pressure, workforce strain, public scrutiny, and longstanding inequities; while continuing to uphold the dignity, rights, and wellbeing of the people and communities we serve.
At the same time, silence is not neutral.

ANZASW Conference 2026

Is a space to gather as a profession; not to retreat, but to be clear:

About the values that guide our work
About the realities faced by social workers and whānau
About what social work needs from political and policy leadership

This conference is about strengthening our shared understanding and ensuring that when social work speaks, it does so together.

Conference kaupapa

The conference will be shaped around four interconnected themes that reflect the responsibilities of social work in this moment:

Activism, Te Tiriti & Social Justice
Advocacy, political literacy, and collective action grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and social justice.

Abuse in Care: Responsibility, Redress, and Practice
Engaging with survivorcentred, ethical, and accountable responses following the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

AI and the Future of Social Work
Examining technology, ethics, workforce implications, and Māori and Pacific data sovereignty.

Climate Action & Pacific Social Work
Responding to climate impacts through Indigenous and Pacific leadership and regional solidarity.

Programme details will be released progressively.

Our venue: grounded in constitutional history

ANZASW Conference 2026 will be held at Tiakiwai Conference Centre, located within Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, in Wellington.

This is a deliberate choice.

Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa is home to He Tohu, which holds three of Aotearoa’s most significant documents:

Te Tiriti o Waitangi
He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni
The 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition

These taonga speak to commitments to rangatiratanga, partnership, democracy, representation, and social justice; commitments that are not symbolic for social work, but foundational.

To gather as a profession in this place is to ground ourselves in what is unapologetically at the heart of social work in Aotearoa:

Accountability to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The pursuit of justice and dignity
Collective responsibility to challenge harm and exclusion
The belief that voices, when organised together, can change the course of history

This setting reinforces the purpose of the conference, not as an abstract conversation, but as a collective assertion of who we are and what we stand for.

Grounded in care, integrity, and tikanga

ANZASW is committed to hosting a conference that reflects the principles of the profession and the diversity of its members.

This includes:

Upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Centring cultural integrity and Māori and Pacific leadership
Prioritising accessibility and inclusion
Taking a traumainformed approach to content and participation
Providing clear hauora and support spaces on site

This will be a space for thoughtful engagement, honest dialogue, and respectful challenge.

Who this conference is for

ANZASW Conference 2026 is for social workers, including:

Members of ANZASW
Practising social workers across all settings
Students and earlycareer practitioners
Social work leaders, educators, and advocates
Those seeking connection, clarity, or renewed direction

If you are reflecting on what it means to be a social worker in this political and social landscape, this conference is for you.

Ticket Information - prices is for two days and catering is included.

Early Bird Tickets (First 75 tickets)

ANZASW Members $310.00
Non-members $360.00

Full price (remaining 75 tickets)

ANZASW Members $350.00
Non-members $400.00

Students Limited tickets at NZ$210 each

Groups If you wish to purchase more than 10 tickets at once for your workplace. Please email riccim@anzasw.nz

*Tickets are strictly non-refundable

*For ANZASW members who are self-employed, volunteers, or experiencing hardship. Please email members@anzasw.nz to discuss payment options.

Further Information:

Please check webpage for accommodation offers and any program updates

Contact the host of ANZASW Conference 2026 Kōtahitanga: Stand Together

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