2026 Seafood New Zealand Conference
Realising the Vision
Seafood industry bodies Seafood New Zealand and the New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen (Federation) will be co-hosting their annual conferences in 2026, at Tākina in Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington, with the Seafood New Zealand conference on May 26 and 27 and the Federation conference on May 28 and 29.
Seafood New Zealand Chief Executive Lisa Futschek says she’s excited about the opportunities that come from joining up the two long-standing conferences, with Seafood New Zealand bringing its event forward to match with the Federation’s usual King's Birthday weekend timing.
“With 2026 being an election year, we’re looking forward to co-hosting our respective conferences side by side in the Capital. This supercharges the access of our members to each other as well as to government Ministers and opposition spokespeople.”
“We’re pulling together an action-packed programme covering everything from policy and science to innovation and beyond. We’ll also be celebrating 40 years of the Quota Management System, which has helped New Zealand achieve the second-highest levels of sustainable fish stocks worldwide. And of course, there will be time to connect with colleagues and savour the best of our kaimoana.” Federation President Doug Saunders-Loder says Wellington is the perfect central location for hosting fishers, maritime company representatives and conference speakers from around the country.
“By gathering in the Capital, Ministers and MPs of all parties can meet a cross-section of the sector, from passionate independent fishers to directors of larger companies and all the other maritime businesses that make our $2.2-billion export industry possible.
“It's a good opportunity for fishers to attend the Seafood New Zealand day and get that national and international perspective, and also meet with the heads of seafood companies and the regulator. I also want Seafood New Zealand's delegates to stay and attend our conference day to really engage with how policy decisions impact those who put in the hard yards every day on the water.”
Despite teaming up for 2026, both Futschek and Saunders-Loder stress each organisation's unique character is not changing. Seafood New Zealand’s presentation of the Seafood Stars Awards and much-anticipated Seafood Showcase will wind up the programme on 27 May, while the Federation’s hallmark fish n’ chip dinner and charity auction, and awarding of the prestigious Electronic Navigation Shield and Sunderland Marine Young Fisher of the Year Award, will follow its sessions on 28 May.
Further details and registration for the Seafood New Zealand and New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen 2026 conferences will be available in early 2026.
Reflecting back on the 2025 Seafood New Zealand Conference
On 6 and 7 August, Seafood New Zealand welcomed hundreds of delegates from across the country – and across the industry – in Nelson for our annual conference, themed Seafood for Thought.
It was great to see many conference stalwarts at the Rutherford Hotel venue, but also many new faces and guests from local and national media and several environmental NGOs, as well as Nelson Mayor Nick Smith and MP for Nelson and Labour Spokesperson for Oceans and Fisheries Rachel Boyack.
If you weren’t able to join us this year (or did join us and wouldn't mind a refresher) we’re highlighting some of the key moments below – with a more in-depth look coming in the Spring issue of Seafood Magazine.
Day 1: Listening, learning, launching new ideas
Coming on the back of Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Hon Shane Jones’ early-morning announcement on the progression of the proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act there was quite a bit of buzz first thing on Wednesday (more on what this means in a future Update, though in the meantime you can hear Seafood NZ CE Lisa Futschek’s interview with RNZ on Checkpoint). His address to delegates built on the announcement, reiterating his support to help industry thrive and make fisheries decision-making more responsive to what the data says about how a stock is doing.
Harold Hillman (pictured up top), an experienced public speaker and executive coach, then set the tone for the rest of the day. Through stories of his youth and family, and his time as a closeted gay serviceman in the US Navy, Hillman illustrated how leaders play a crucial role in the culture of their team and the consequences if people cannot bring their authentic selves to the workplace every day. His challenge to everyone in the industry? To listen to understand, not to refute.
Conference goers who are keen to rewatch Hillman’s presentation can do so via the Cvent app. We strongly recommend it – it is powerful stuff.
Industry-led panels rounded off the rest of the day, with a Fisheries New Zealand panel about how government and industry can collaborate to co-fund projects and realise export potential through trade relations. Matt Watson from the Marine Stewardship Council validated how well New Zealand’s fisheries are performing – 45% of New Zealand’s catch is MSC-certified – while Mike Kraft introduced Certified Seafood International, a new certification providing industry and customers more choice and confidence for ensuring seafood harvesting is held to high sustainability standard.
Six PechaKucha-style, rapid-fire presentations provided the room with a snapshot of smart solutions to industry challenges, from how a seafood sausage can help fishers nab rig on a longline to the Aotearoa Moana Ocean Sensor programme, where Kiwi fishers have helped set thousands of sensors and inspired similar projects around the globe.
And we closed the day with an informative presentation by scientists Dr Wendy Hunt and Professor Alexandra McManus on their recent scientific literature review into seafood’s impact on human health and nutrition.
Day 2: Understanding our people, potential and power of our story
Our second day kicked-off with an economic flavour, including a comprehensive economic overview by ANZ’s Sharon Zollner. In short? The economy is under stress, but a strong agricultural sector is a bright spot.
Richard O’Driscoll looked back on 33 years of NIWA Fisheries science – 13,623 client reports, 35,733 science publications and presentations, and thousands of days at sea – and how marine research will look under the newly amalgamated Earth Sciences New Zealand.
Then Josh Mower, Roger Rawlinson and Zane Salve took to the stage for a panel on skippers “doing science” – ensuring that fishers are informing and informed by emerging science. Between the three of them, they’d helped develop and trial new gear, like the Procella hook, and partnered with independent science providers to conduct biomass surveys to support fisheries stock data. The goal, as Roger eloquently put it, is to ensure that decisions “can’t be made about us without us.”
NZ Story CEO David Downs reminded us of the power of “brand New Zealand” and Vegard Hjelvik came all the way from Skipsteknisk in Norway to share the latest in tailored ship design.
The two-day event concluded with media powerhouse Marie Lambie sharing her advice for handling the media with confidence – top tip: pick up the phone (yes, really) and then ask “What would you like to talk to me about?” but don’t answer straight away – make sure you get advice, take time and prepare, then call the reporter back – and then we followed it up with a panel of seafood star storytellers, Maegen Blom, Tim Barnett, Chase Saunders-Loder and Seafood NZ’s own Fiona Macmillan, who offered their perspective on the ins and outs of telling their seafood story.
To conclude, we took our own storytelling advice and celebrated our own people through the 10th annual Seafood Stars Awards to nine amazing individuals and organisations – you can read all about them here and below.