Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 September 2026
The Dunedin Centre
Ōtepoti | Dunedin
Kia hiwa rā! Kāore e roa ka tūwhera anō ngā tatau o tēnei mea te hui a-rua-tau Midwifery Research Forum 2026. He pōwhiri tēnei ki ngā Kahu Pōkai o Aotearoa e hiahia ana ki te whai mātauranga, whai māramatanga ki tēnei mahi hirahira ā tātou. Nau mai, haere mai, rēhita mai!
The New Zealand College of Midwives | Te Kāreti o ngā Kaiwhakawhānau ki Aotearoa and the Otago Region warmly welcome you to this year’s midwifery research forum.
The College’s biennial research forum provides an opportunity for midwives and others to share their research relating to midwifery and maternity care in Aotearoa.
Now in its 12th biennial gathering, the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Forum is a key event for sharing innovation and shaping midwifery practice.
To register please follow the links to the right of this page
Programme
This year’s programme has been expanded due to the high number of abstracts received. Formats include 10-minute and 3-minute presentations, posters and an optional breakfast session with additional presentations on the second day. The Otago region will be hosting a social event at a local venue after the forum on day 1 (separate tickets to be purchased).
The forum will run for one full day on Wednesday 9 September and a half day on Thursday 10 September. The full programme is currently being finalised. To support your planning, indicative times are as follows:
Day 1. Wednesday 9 September
8.00am Venue opens
9.00am Forum begins
5.00pm Close of Day 1
5.30pm-8.00pm Social event hosted by Otago region (drinks and nibbles)
Day 2. Thursday 10 September
7.30am – 8.30am Breakfast session (optional). Breakfast and barista coffee is kindly sponsored by AUT
8.45am Forum continues
12.30pm Forum closes
1.30pm-3.30pm Research Strategy meeting – research and policy leaders are invited to discuss and workshop midwifery research career pathways.
Please note that Dunedin airport is 29km from the venue and travel time is 30-45 minutes depending on transport.
Registration fees:
| New Zealand College of Midwives member | $345 |
| Non-member | $415 |
| Social event 5.30pm-8.00pm, Wed 9 September | $40 |
| Breakfast session. 7.30am-8.30am, Thurs 10 September | Sponsored by AUT Business School and NZ Policy Research Institute.
Registration required for catering |
Social event: Wednesday 9 September, 5.30pm-8.00pm
Pequeño Mixology – 50 Princes Street
The Otago Region of the College welcomes you to step back to 1916, the year Joan Donley was born, for a stylish Speakeasy social. Network with colleagues, mix and mingle with old friends and new, and don your glad rags for an evening of old-school cool and lively conversation.
Hosted at Pequeño Mixology, your ticket includes a bespoke mocktail or cocktail, the Class Action Elixir, plus delicious nibbles from Precinct Dunedin. Prizes await the sharpest Speakeasy looks. Stay on for dinner (not included in ticket price) or head out to enjoy Dunedin’s great local restaurants afterwards.
Breakfast session: Thursday 10 September, 7.30am-8.30am
The Dunedin Centre, Glenroy Auditorium
Start Day 2 with breakfast at the venue at a focused breakfast session featuring three research presentations exploring professional sustainability for midwives and students.
Breakfast and barista coffee are kindly sponsored by Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the New Zealand Policy Research Institute.
Research awards
This year, we are thrilled to announce the introduction of research awards at the Forum. Award sponsorship has been confirmed from the College; Pasifika Midwives Aotearoa; Liggins Institute; Otago Polytechnic; and the Perinatal Society of New Zealand.
Contact details
Email: research@nzcom.org.nz
Phone: 03 377 2732