WISPC 2026 partners with Tainui Waka and the Kīngitanga, guided by the Māori Queen, to deliver a culturally grounded, tikanga-informed and spiritually meaningful conference experience. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/adrenalinapura
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.
Source: AMI Magazine