ACE Conference 2026
Schedule, venue and programme
Key details
So you can plan ahead, or start booking your travel, these are the key details for the event.
Important times and dates
Day 0: May 26, Tuesday
Pre-conference networking event from 6:00pm
Day 1: May 27, Wednesday
Conference: 9:00am to 5:00pm
ACE Aotearoa Awards Dinner: 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Day 2: May 28, Thursday
Conference: 9:00am to 3:30pm
Venue
The Hui Fono and ACE Conference venue for 2026 is the Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre, 58 Waipuna Road, Mount Wellington, Auckland.
Participants are offered a delegate discount applicable by booking directly with the hotel.
You can go on their website here to book and use the promo code is ACE2026. This discount is available only for travel dates Monday 25 May to Thursday 28 May 2026.
Programme
Two days of learning that cuts through the noise. ACE Conference 2026 brings you sessions designed for immediate application: workshops that build your confidence with AI tools, case studies that show ancestral intelligence in action, and demonstrations that bridge both to transform your practice. This is where theory meets the ground, and you leave with approaches you can use straight away.
Day 0: May 26 Tuesday
| Time | Programme |
| 6:00-8:00PM | Pre-conference Networking Event |
Day 1: May 27 Wednesday
| Time | Programme |
| 8:00-9:00am | Registration |
| 9:00-9:20am | Mihi whakatau |
| 9:20-9:50am | Welcome and introduction |
| 9:50-10:00am | Whakawhanaungatanga |
| 10:00-10:30am | Morning tea |
| 10:30-11:10am | Keynote Speaker: Madeline Newman, AI Forum |
| 11-10am-12:30pm | Political Panel and more: More details soon |
| 12:30-1:30pm | Lunch |
| 1:30-2:50pm | Ako Sessions |
| 2:50-3:00pm | Afternoon tea |
| 3:00-4:20pm | Ako Sessions |
| 4:30pm | Wānanga Talanoa |
| 5:00pm | Karakia Whakamutunga |
ACE Aotearoa Awards: May 27 Wednesday
| Time | Programme |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | ACE Aotearoa Awards 2026 |
| 9:00pm | Entertainment |
| 11:00pm | Close |
Day 2: May 28 Thursday
| Time | Programme |
| 9:00-9:15am | Karakia Timatanga |
| 9:15-10:00am | Keynote Speaker: Dr Mahsa McCauley, UNESCO NZ |
| 10:00-10:30am | Morning tea |
| 10:30-11:50am | Ako sessions |
| 12:00-1:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00-1:50pm | Wānanga Talanoa |
| 2:00-2:30pm | Evaluation |
| 2:30-3:00pm | Whakakapi Closing |
| 3:00pm | Karakia Whakamutunga, afternoon tea, departures |
Like any great gathering, this programme continues to evolve right up until the day. Sessions and timings are subject to change as we finalise the details.
We recommend checking this page regularly for the most up to date information.
Whatever the final programme looks like, you can expect two days of kōrero, connection, and learning that is well worth showing up for.