We are calling for abstracts for the 2026, Honouring the Journey of Ageing Conference.  From anyone passionate about ageing well in Aotearoa New Zealand; from researchers and practitioners to policy makers, students, service providers, advocates, and those with lived experience.

We welcome abstracts on any topic related to ageing — if it matters to older people, their whānau, or the people and systems that support them, it matters to us. To spark your thinking, here are some of the things that excite us this year:

• How mātauranga Māori, Pacific knowledge, and diverse cultural perspectives are shaping what it means to honour the journey of ageing
• The power of creativity, arts, and design to enrich later life
• How our environments, communities, and transport choices help people live well in place — and what needs to change
• New insights into health, wellbeing, and flourishing across the full journey of ageing
• The relationships, voices, and connections that make life meaningful in older age

Of course, we are equally excited by everything we haven't listed — bring us your research, your practice wisdom, your provocations, and your stories.

Prizes will be awarded during the conference closing ceremony:

• Best poster presentations
• Best emerging / early career researcher/clinician presentation (see definition)
• Best Māori researcher presentation

Posters will automatically be considered for the award. These are judged on 1 minute Poster Blitz pitches and interaction, as well as the clarity of poster content, relevance, and visual presentation.

Please indicate if you are eligible and wish to be considered for the emerging researcher/clinician or Māori researcher award.

An Emerging / Early Career Researcher or Clinician is someone who is within five years (full‑time equivalent) of completing their highest research qualification (e.g. Masters or PhD), excluding recognised career interruptions (such as parental leave, caregiving responsibilities, illness, or part‑time employment). This includes postgraduate research students, early‑career academics, postdoctoral researchers, clinicians, allied health professionals, and other practitioner‑researchers.

At the review stage, the top-most ranked oral presentation abstracts from emerging researchers will be allocated for a bespoke emerging researcher session within the conference where presentations will be judged for this prize (i.e. on the candidate's research design, execution, analysis and appraisal of their work; ability to communicate key concepts clearly to the NZAG audience; and competence in answering questions and discussing points raised by the judges and audience). Therefore, presentations within symposia or posters, will not be eligible for this award.

Best Māori researcher presentation

Māori authors delivering an oral abstract are eligible for this prize. Please select the option in the portal if you would like to be considered. At the review stage, the top-most ranked abstracts will be allocated into a bespoke session within the conference where presentations will be judged for this prize (for example considering contribution to Māori knowledge and wellbeing, Kaupapa Māori methodology, relational engagement, findings, and presentation skills). Therefore, presentations within symposia or posters, will not be eligible for this award.