Auckland Zoo hosts successful Zoo and Aquarium Association Conference

That’s a wrap on a successful ZAA conference 2026!

We were proud to welcome our friends and colleagues from zoos and aquaria throughout Australasia to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this week, for the Zoo and Aquarium Association annual conference – hosted by Auckland Zoo and held at the Aotea Centre.

This year’s theme was ‘Foundations First: Strengthening What Matters Most’ and we welcomed more than 250 attendees (in person and online) from wildlife-focused organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and further afield.

The conference was beautifully opened with karakia, waiata and kōrero from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, followed by an introduction from our Zoo Director and ZAA President Kevin Buley, and inspiring keynote speeches from the Department of Conservation's Regional Director Alex Rogers and TRC Tourism Managing Director Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana.

A strong thread throughout the conference was how zoos and aquariums have a powerful kaupapa as a place of connection between people, wildlife and nature. This is essential to tackling the important biodiversity and conservation threats our planet faces today, and is key to improving the wellbeing of our communities.

As well as being treated to a tour of Auckland Zoo (including a live demonstration of how we use drones to deliver food to primates!) guests also enjoyed visits to SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium and Butterfly Creek.

Ngā mihi nui to all the ZAA conference speakers, sponsors and attendees for making this such an amazing week!