Bay of Islands hosts RANZCP conference from 12 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 16:03 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The RANZCP 2026 New Zealand Conference comes to the Bay of Islands (Te P?whairangi) in Paihia from 12 to 14 October 2026. The hybrid conference is organised by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and places scientific sessions beside a major Northland cultural landscape.
RANZCP conference brings delegates to Paihia from 12 October
The conference will be held at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands, 1 Tau Henare Drive, Paihia. The organiser says the venue is within the Waitangi National Trust Reserve and overlooks the harbour and ocean.
Scientific sessions run from Monday to Wednesday and include local and international experts in psychiatry, paper and poster presentations, symposia, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions. The programme is presented as a hybrid event, with the in-person conference and online participation forming part of the same 12 to 14 October programme. The conference details from RANZCP name both the dates and the Paihia venue.
Bay of Islands setting connects psychiatry with Northland history
The location gives the conference a setting shaped by maritime geography and New Zealand history. Paihia is one of the key access points to the wider marine area, while the Waitangi National Trust Reserve contains the Treaty Grounds named in the programme for the conference dinner.
The organiser also identifies the Hole in the Rock, Urupukapuka Island and the ferry route from Paihia to Russell as nearby places of interest. These references connect the event with the wider island and harbour landscape rather than leaving the conference as an isolated hotel meeting. The bay contains 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula, according to New Zealand tourism information.
The marine sanctuary adds practical context for a Paihia stay
The bay is also a marine mammal sanctuary. The Department of Conservation states that restrictions apply within the sanctuary, and its Paihia guidance asks visitors to stay on tracks and clean soil from shoes and equipment to help prevent kauri disease. The conference dates therefore sit within a place where both marine and land-based conservation rules shape visits.
Visiting Bay of Islands: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The RANZCP 2026 New Zealand Conference runs from 12 to 14 October 2026 at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands, 1 Tau Henare Drive, Paihia.
- The event is hybrid, with scientific sessions scheduled from Monday to Wednesday and the organiser naming an in-person venue in Paihia.
- Paihia is a key access point to the wider marine area, and the conference information names the Hole in the Rock, Urupukapuka Island and the ferry to Russell as nearby places.
- The marine area is a marine mammal sanctuary, so restrictions apply within it. Conservation guidance also requires visitors to stay on tracks and clean soil from shoes and gear.
- New Zealand is outside the European Union. Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Bay of Islands
When does the RANZCP 2026 New Zealand Conference take place?
The conference runs from 12 to 14 October 2026 at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands in Paihia.
Where is Bay of Islands and how do you get there?
The area is in Northland on New Zealand's North Island, with Paihia serving as a key access point to the marine area. The conference information names a ferry from Paihia to Russell as a local connection.
What is Bay of Islands?
It is a maritime region containing 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula. Its waters include a marine mammal sanctuary with visitor restrictions.
