World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference returns to Tūrangawaewae Marae in 2026

NGĀRUAWĀHIA — The World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference will return to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2026, a milestone that celebrates ten years since the initiative was first established. The upcoming gathering, hosted at Tūrangawaewae Marae, marks a significant full-circle moment for the global event, which began with the signing of the Turamarama Declaration in Rotorua a decade ago. According to reporting by Waatea News on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, the movement has grown into a worldwide kaupapa over the last ten years. Since its inception in Rotorua, the conference has travelled across the globe, hosted by various Indigenous communities in Australia, Canada, and the United States, who have carried the mission of suicide prevention back to their own ancestral lands. Deputy Chair Michael Naera highlighted the deep importance of the conference returning to its source. Speaking to the significance of the event, Naera expressed that seeing the kaupapa come back to its birthplace in Aotearoa is a moment of great magnitude for the organisers and the communities involved. The 2026 conference at Tūrangawaewae Marae will serve as a platform for Indigenous voices to continue their collaborative efforts in mental health and community wellbeing. By bringing together practitioners, researchers, and community leaders, the event aims to build upon the foundations laid ten years ago, ensuring that Indigenous-led solutions for suicide prevention remain at the forefront of global health discussions.