A decade after the landmark Tūramarama Declaration was adopted, Indigenous leaders from around the world will return to Aotearoa this November for the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference (WISPC) 2026, marking ten years of international collaboration to strengthen Indigenous wellbeing and suicide prevention.
Hosted by Te Rau Ora, the conference will take place at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia from 4–6 November 2026, bringing together Indigenous leaders, practitioners, researchers, rangatahi and whānau champions under the theme “Wai Ora – Healing Waters.” The theme reflects the enduring strength, resilience and life-giving nature of waterways as symbols of healing and renewal.
The event commemorates ten years since the Tūramarama Declaration was endorsed at the inaugural World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference in Rotorua in 2016. Authored by Sir Mason Durie, the declaration established a shared commitment to uplifting the mauri of Indigenous peoples so they can flourish and live well into old age.
Since its adoption, the declaration has influenced Indigenous wellbeing initiatives in Australia, Canada and the United States, while also helping shape policy, research and suicide prevention strategies internationally. It received endorsement from the World Federation of Public Health Associations in 2017, with that commitment reaffirmed during the 2024 conference hosted by the Seneca Nation in the United States.
Te Rau Ora says this year’s gathering will continue building on that legacy by promoting Indigenous-led approaches to suicide prevention, strengthening cultural identity and ensuring Indigenous knowledge remains central to improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
The conference will provide a forum for sharing mātauranga Māori, Indigenous innovation and community-led solutions, while creating opportunities for collaboration between whānau, practitioners, researchers and organisations committed to suicide prevention.
Organisers say returning the conference to Aotearoa carries deep significance, with the next chapter focused not on reflecting on the past, but on advancing the kaupapa for the decade ahead. The conference aims to reinforce that suicide prevention remains a shared responsibility requiring collective action across Indigenous communities worldwide.
Early bird registrations are now open until 24 August, with the full conference programme expected to be released in the coming months. Partnership and sponsorship opportunities are also available.
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