2025 Conference Details

All events, the AGM and meals will be held at the Novotel & IBIS Auckland Ellerslie Hotel, 72/112 Green Lane East, Ellerslie, Auckland.

The Conference Programme, Abstracts and AGM files will be available closer to the time.

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CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

• The deadline for early-bird registration is 28th February
• Abstracts must be submitted by 31st March 
• Conference attendees are invited to enter their photos into the 2025 Birds NZ Photo Competition

The primary method of registration is online. Registration details and further information about the programme, field trips and accommodation options are set out below. Note: A separate registration is required for each person attending the conference and/or dinner, to enable the organisers to have a record of all attendees and any special requirements.

Members sign in to get your discounted rate by clicking on the ‘Sign In’ link on the Registration page. Members not having internet access can obtain a registration form by contacting their local Regional Representative. The registration form can also be downloaded as Word file or PDF

If you are a Family member with an email address that is not yet recorded in the system, please ask your main member to login and add your email address. If you don’t have your own email address, then please download and complete the registration form and send it to conference@birdsnz.org.nz

SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS

Oral presentations will be spread across the first two days of the conference and can cover any aspects of ornithology. Details and instructions are available on https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/nz-bird-conference/call-for-abstracts/. Expressions of interest from members or non-members who wish to present a paper or a poster are welcomed. Abstracts of talks and posters should be submitted to conference@birdsnz.org.nz not later than 31 March 2025.

FIELD TRIPS

Five field trips are planned:

• Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary                                
• Hauraki Gulf Pelagic [Max 14]                            
• Behind the Scenes at Auckland Museum [Max 10]          
• Ambury Regional Park                         
• Tiritiri Matangi Island [own transport to city]

Details are available here

Note: All field trips are weather dependent and may be cancelled at short notice. Wear suitable clothing and footwear. There is no packed lunch available – you will need to make your own arrangements. There is a Woolworths a short distance from the Novotel (326 Great South Road).

WORKSHOPS

Possible workshop options are:

• eBird Workshop
  An eBird Workshop will be held on Sunday 1st June, 8.15 – 8.45am in the conference room before the main events of the day.
• Mist Netting and Banding Workshop, Monday 2nd June from 7am
  Run by well-known bird expert Adrian Riegen, the morning will be spent banding native and introduced passerines in an old West Auckland orchard. We expect to catch plenty of Silvereyes and a selection of other birds. An ideal opportunity for level 1 banders to gain some experience in setting mist nets, extracting and banding birds. Level 3 banders welcome to help with training. Restricted to 12 people, it will be weather dependent. Own transport or car-pool, koha to driver.
• Drawing workshop at Ambury Park, Monday 2^nd June
  Join Lesley Alexander, a nature artist from Auckland, for a fun workshop on sketching birds in the beautiful surroundings of Ambury Regional Park. No previous drawing experience is necessary, and all materials will be provided. However, you’re welcome to bring your own sketchbook or watercolours if you prefer. Cost $60 (including transport)

 

TRAVEL

Please book early for cheap flights to Auckland. There are taxis, ride share service and shuttles available from the airport. On most flights there will be others coming to the conference who could share costs, so look out for each other on arrival.

The venue and accommodation are located adjacent to Greenlane off ramp on the Southern Motorway. The travel time is 10 minutes from Auckland’s CBD, Newmarket and Remuera and is 30 minutes from the airport.

If you are travelling by car using GPS, the venue is accessed at the rear entrance at “85 Ascot Avenue, Remuera”.

The venue is a short walk from the Greenlane Train Station on Great South Road. Use the AT Journey Planner to plan your public transport. The AT Journey Planner is available on line at https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/journey-planner or may be downloaded as an app onto your phone. We anticipate that Auckland Transport will have implemented credit card payment by the time the conference is running. This avoids the need to purchase an ATHOP card to use public transport. Please note that Buses will replace trains on the holiday weekend as part of the planned track maintenance programme for 2025.

 

ACCOMMODATION

The conference will be held at the Novotel & IBIS Auckland Ellerslie hotel. We have arranged concessionary rate accommodation at the venue. The hotel offers 4 ½ star Novotel rooms or 3 ½ star IBIS rooms.

Novotel Auckland Ellerslie
72 – 112 Greenlane East, Ellerslie, Auckland
Phone +64 (09) 529 9090

Please book using this link https://accorevents.com/offers/birds2025

There is also a range of alternative accommodation within a few minutes walk from the conference venue.

Greenlane Suites (3.5 Star Hotel)	https://www.cpghotels.com/hotels/greenlane-suites/
Auckland Central Motel (across road)	https://www.aucklandcentralmotel.com/
The Devereux (Bed & Breakfast)	https://thedevereux.co.nz/home
La Quinta by Wyndham (4 Star Hotel)	https://laquintaellerslie.co.nz/
Best Western Ellerslie International Motel	https://www.eimi.co.nz/
Greenlane Manor Motel (Motel)	https://www.greenlanemanor.co.nz/
Auckland Phoenix Palm Motel (Budget)	https://aucklandphoenixpalmmotel.co.nz/
Touchwood Camp* (Motel Units, Cabins & Powered Motorhome Sites)	https://camp.motorlodge.nz/

*Touchwood Camp is one of the very few Holiday Park type places in Auckland City and is located 1.7km away (a 24-minute walk). It would be a great place for anyone with a motorhome.

FLEDGLING FUND FOR STUDENTS

The Society administers a ‘Fledgling Fund’ for students to be used specifically to support the participation of student members for presenting papers or posters at Birds NZ Conferences. The fund is accumulative and dispersed in subsequent years. Members and non-members are invited to make a contribution of $20, or more, to this fund when registering. Payment is optional and appreciated. The allocation of funds will be determined by Council each year.

Student members of Birds New Zealand are invited to apply for a grant from the Fledgling Fund to cover their conference registration fee and attendance of the conference dinner. Applicants must have been a Student member of Birds New Zealand for two or more years and enrolled full-time at a NZ tertiary institution or secondary school. A grant from the Fledgling fund shall only be made once to each student member.

Download the criteria and application form here. Applications should be submitted to the Executive Officer eo@birdsnz.org.nz by 28 February.

PHOTO COMPETITION

Conference attendees are invited to enter their photos into the 2025 Birds NZ photo competition. Details are available here

CONTACTS

You can contact the conference organisers via conference@birdsnz.org.nz, by phone Gary Heaven 021 896698. Alternatively, contact your Regional Representative https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/contact/

NOTES

Refunds
Following registration, if you are unable to attend, a full refund will be made for cancellations advised up to 1 May 2024. From 1 May 2024 no refunds will be made. In the event of cancellation and consequent re-selection of field trips, refund of the price difference will be made after the conference.

Health & Safety
The Society is committed to hosting a safe conference where all registrants can enjoy each other’s company and actively support the Health and Safety Policy and health regulations in force at the time of conference. A Health & Safety Plan is available here

Disclaimer
In the event of other unforeseen circumstances (industrial or otherwise) that disrupt the conference, the organisers accept no responsibility. The information on the conference website and in the printed material is correct at the time of publication. However, the conference organisers reserve the right to change information if required and to adjust the conference programme accordingly.

Privacy Act
The information on this form will be used solely for the purposes of organising and planning the conference. If you do not wish to have your name published as part of this conference or made available to other delegates, please advise us of this here.

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