A decade after Indigenous leaders united in Aotearoa to confront the devastating impact of suicide on their communities, the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference is returning home, bringing together international experts, Māori health leaders, researchers and whānau to strengthen Indigenous-led approaches to wellbeing and suicide prevention.
The World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference 2026, known as WISPC, will take place at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia from November 4 to 6, marking ten years since the landmark Tūramarama Declaration was established at the inaugural conference in Rotorua.
Hosted by Māori health organisation Te Rau Ora, this year’s gathering will focus on the theme Wai Ora Waikato – Healing Waters, reflecting the importance of cultural identity, connection, healing and collective responsibility for wellbeing.
Riki Nia Nia, Chief Executive of Te Rau Ora, joins Radio Waatea to discuss the significance of bringing the conference back to Aotearoa, the progress made over the past decade and what more must be done to prevent suicide and strengthen the wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. <Cite refs={[“turn559337search0″,”turn559337search6”]}/>
Ten Years Since the Tūramarama Declaration
The inaugural World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference was held in Rotorua in June 2016, bringing Indigenous representatives together to address the disproportionately high rates of suicide affecting many of their communities.
A major outcome was the Tūramarama Declaration, authored by renowned Māori health leader Sir Mason Durie.
The declaration established a shared commitment to protecting life, strengthening cultural identity, supporting whānau and creating communities where Indigenous peoples can flourish.
At its heart was the principle that Indigenous wellbeing cannot be separated from culture, whakapapa, identity, belonging and the ability of communities to determine their own futures.
The declaration also recognised the importance of healing intergenerational trauma, strengthening relationships and building safe, nurturing environments for future generations.
Ten years later, the conference’s return to Aotearoa provides an opportunity to examine how those commitments have influenced suicide prevention policy, research and community practice. <Cite refs={[“turn559337search7″,”turn559337search2”]}/>
Indigenous Solutions Must Be at the Centre
A defining feature of WISPC is its emphasis on Indigenous knowledge, leadership and community-driven approaches to suicide prevention.
Rather than relying exclusively on conventional clinical responses, the conference recognises the importance of cultural connection, collective wellbeing and the strengths already present within Indigenous communities.
For Māori, that includes the role of whānau, hapū, iwi, marae, te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori in strengthening identity and belonging.
The conference will bring together practitioners, researchers, community leaders and people with lived experience to share approaches that support healing, resilience and wellbeing.
The aim is to ensure Indigenous voices remain central to decisions about the services, policies and programmes intended to support their communities.
Māori Suicide Prevention Remains an Urgent Challenge
Despite advances in awareness, research and community-led initiatives, suicide continues to have a profound impact on Māori whānau.
The challenges extend beyond the health system and include access to culturally appropriate support, social isolation, economic hardship, discrimination and the long-term effects of trauma.
Effective suicide prevention therefore requires more than crisis intervention.
It also involves strengthening the conditions that support people to live well, including secure housing, meaningful employment, strong whānau relationships, cultural identity and accessible healthcare.
For rangatahi Māori, opportunities to connect with their culture, communities and positive support networks can be particularly important.
The challenge for policymakers is ensuring that suicide prevention strategies are sufficiently resourced, responsive to Māori needs and supported by evidence about what works.
Tūrangawaewae Marae Hosts International Gathering
Holding the conference at Tūrangawaewae Marae carries particular significance.
The Waikato venue provides a setting grounded in Māori history, identity and tikanga for discussions involving Indigenous peoples from across the world.
The 2026 gathering continues an international journey that began in Rotorua in 2016 before subsequent conferences in Perth, Winnipeg and Niagara Falls.
Its return to Aotearoa marks both a milestone and an opportunity to establish priorities for the next decade.
Among the announced speakers are Māori psychiatrist Dr Hinemoa Elder, Australian Indigenous psychologist Professor Pat Dudgeon, Indigenous physician Dr James Makokis and former Kiwi rugby league international Paul Whatuira.
Their contributions will bring together clinical expertise, Indigenous knowledge, lived experience and community leadership. <Cite ref=”turn559337search0″/>
From International Declarations to Action
One of the central questions facing WISPC 2026 is how the principles established a decade ago can be translated into sustained improvements in wellbeing.
Declarations and international conferences can provide important leadership and direction, but their value ultimately depends on the changes that follow.
For Indigenous communities, those changes may include greater investment in culturally grounded services, stronger community leadership, improved access to mental health support and more meaningful participation in policy development.
There is also a need to examine how governments measure the effectiveness of suicide prevention initiatives and whether funding reaches the organisations working directly with whānau.
The conference provides an opportunity to share evidence, identify successful approaches and strengthen international cooperation.
Te Rau Ora’s Role in Strengthening Māori Wellbeing
As host of WISPC 2026, Te Rau Ora brings a focus on Māori health workforce development, education, research, prevention and community-led wellbeing.
The organisation works to strengthen Māori health and social services through approaches that recognise the importance of local leadership and culturally informed practice.
Its involvement reflects the wider principle that Māori communities must play a leading role in developing responses to the challenges affecting their wellbeing.
For Riki Nia Nia, the conference is an opportunity to bring together the experiences and knowledge of Indigenous communities while considering what further investment and systemic changes are required.
The discussions will also highlight the importance of supporting the people and organisations working on the frontline of suicide prevention.
Riki Nia Nia Joins Radio Waatea
Riki Nia Nia joins Radio Waatea to reflect on ten years of the Tūramarama Declaration and the significance of returning the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference to Aotearoa.
The conversation will examine what has changed since 2016, where progress has been made and why Indigenous communities continue to experience significant challenges in suicide prevention and mental wellbeing.
It will also explore the role of cultural identity, whānau connection, Indigenous leadership and government investment in creating lasting improvements.
The central question is whether the next decade can deliver the sustained action, resources and community leadership needed to ensure more Indigenous people can live long, healthy and fulfilling lives.
As international delegates prepare to gather at Tūrangawaewae Marae, the conference offers an opportunity to reaffirm the shared responsibility to protect life, strengthen whānau and build a future grounded in hope, healing and wellbeing.
Ten years after the Tūramarama Declaration, the kaupapa returns to where it began — with a renewed focus on turning collective commitments into meaningful action.
Conference information and registration: https://wispc2026.com/
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