2027 CONGRESS

Haere mai! Welcome! We'd love you to join us in Ōtautahi Christchurch for Congress in 2027.

Guided by our theme Resilience, Recovery and Growth: Kia Manawanui, Kia Manawaroa, Congress 2027 draws inspiration from a city that knows how to adapt, rebuild and thrive. We'll gather at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, right in the heart of the newly revitalised city, surrounded by gardens, rivers and the stunning natural landscapes of Waitaha Canterbury.

Expect an engaging program that showcases fresh thinking in mental wellbeing, highlights emerging research, and creates space for meaningful conversations across clinical practice, cultural perspectives, and lived experience. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and connection, Congress 2027 will celebrate stories of resilience, spark new ideas, and support the continued growth of psychiatric practice across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Come for the learning, stay for the conversations—between sessions, over coffee, and as you reconnect with colleagues and friends in one of Aotearoa’s most welcoming cities.

Haere mai ki Ōtautahi Christchurch — we can’t wait to welcome you.

Dr Kate Eggleston and Dr Matthew Tennant
Co-Convenors
RANZCP 2027 Congress

Key dates

Abstract submission opens (pre-Congress workshops and Congress)- July 2026
Abstract submission closes (pre-Congress workshops)- September 2026
Abstract submission closes (Congress abstracts) - October 2026
Registration opens - October 2026
Early bird registration closes - February 2027

Keynote speakers

Professor Kamaldeep Bhui, UK
Professor Julia Ioane, New Zealand
Professor Suzanne Pitama, New Zealand
Professor Dan Siskind, Australia
Professor Lori Zoellener, USA

Congress branding

The Congress branding features a brain, referencing the importance of knowledge, insight, and collective wisdom. The variation of colour within the branding symbolises a journey from darkness into light, representing enlightenment and discovery. Incorporated into the design is the image of a tree; the Tōtara tree which signifies growth, connection to the land, and the nurturing of ideas.

For Ngāi Tahu, the Tōtara is a particularly significant native tree. Its wood was historically prized for the construction of waka (canoes) due to its strength, durability, and resistance to rot. Tōtara was also essential for whakairo (carving), especially in the creation of meeting houses and cultural artefacts. Large tōtara trees were considered taonga (treasures), holding deep ancestral and spiritual meaning.

The symbolism of the Tōtara extends beyond its practical uses. In Ngāi Tahu culture, the saying "we are all on the same waka" emphasises unity and shared purpose, which aligns with the theme of the Congress. Just as the construction of a waka requires the strength and resilience of the tōtara, so too does our collective journey relying on us working together towards a common goal.