NOHANZ Oral History Conference 2026: Tūranga - Places we belong

NOHANZ's biennial national conference is returning to Te Waipounamu in 2026. Join us in in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch for three days of workshops, tours, panels and presentations on oral history at Tūranga, the Central City Library.

Workshops and Tours: Friday 18 Sept (book these on the Secondary Tickets page).

• Panel discussion & workshop with experienced oral historians on doing community oral history projects: Fri 10am-12pm

• How to take interviewee portraits on your smart phone with professional photographer Helen McLeod: Fri 9.15am-12.15pm

• Private guided tour and afternoon tea at Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House: Fri 1.00pm-3.15pm

• Drop-in Session with Alexander Turnbull Library Oral History Advisor, Lynette Shum: Fri 1.00pm-2.30pm - FREE

• Walking tour of post-quake central Christchurch rebuilds and restorations: Fri 3.30-4.30pm - FREE

• NOHANZ welcome with drinks and nibbles, Fri 6.00-7.30pm - FREE

Conference: Saturday and Sunday 19-20 Sept

The conference paper streams on Saturday and Sunday are centred around how personal and collective oral histories can explore and illuminate the spaces we belong to, but also more conflicted or liminal senses of not belonging. Physical, cultural, religious and family places all hold memories and stories – from experiences of belonging to experiences of tension or exclusion. Saturday morning features an essential in-depth panel discussion on how the new privacy law impacts oral history practice. The conference coincides with Suffrage Day, so join us at the Kate Sheppard National Suffrage Memorial ceremony on Saturday from 12-1pm (free).

We encourage you to join us for the conference dinner at the Novotel Christchurch on Saturday 19 September at 6.30pm. Book this under 'Secondary tickets'.

If you're not a NOHANZ member, why not sign up before the conference. Membership + conference member ticket is the same as a standard conference ticket. Visit www.oralhistory.org.nz to find out more.

Our theme Tūranga | Places we belong acknowledges the library building itself. Christchurch’s central library was designed in partnership with Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngai Tahu through the Matapopore Trust to ensure a diversity of cultural values, aspirations and narratives. The name Tūranga speaks of whakapapa across generations and connections to the north and out to Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and the wider Pacific.