Term 1 2026 Speaker Programme
The Term 1 2026 speaker programme has been finalised and is available below:
The details of timing & venue are on this page.
Please arrive by 9:20am so that we have time to check the roll and then be seated by 9:25am so the first speaker can start on time.
MONDAY, 23 FEBRUARY
9.30 am HILARY CUNNINGHAM-ORR
Women in Aviation
10.45 am CHRIS PAULIN, Marine Biologist
Bugs -Terrestrial Invertebrate Diversity
MONDAY, 2 MARCH
9.30 am MALCOLM MCKINNON, Political Historian
NZ and Asia in 2026 and beyond: quests for stability in a turbulent world.
10.45 am ELIZABETH SNEYD, Founder & Program Director Virtuoso Strings
Behind the scenes at Virtuoso Strings: Joy, Heartbreak and the ongoing Journey to create fairer opportunities for young people’
MONDAY, 9 MARCH
9.30 am CATHERINE KNIGHT, Award-winning Author
An Uncommon Land: From an ancestral past of enclosure towards a Regenerative future.
NB. Her book of this title will be on sale for $50
10.45 am Dr. KEN GEENTY
From Draft Horse to drone-tracking – some key changes in farming technologies from the 1970’s to present day’
MONDAY, 16 MARCH
9.30am FRANK BOFFA, Landscape Architect
A personal perspective on the Development and Profession of Landscape Architecture in New Zealand’
10.45am ROBIN GUNSTON
The looming crisis in Seniors accommodation around central Kapiti
MONDAY, 23 MARCH
9.30am MARY O’KEEFFE, Archaeologist
Life as a consultant archaeologist (Small things tell big stories).
10.45am KIM MURRAY, CEO WELLfed Organisation
Nourishing communities through food and connections
MONDAY, 30 MARCH
9.30am MANDY HAGER, Award-winning writer of fiction & non-fiction
Protest! Shaping Aotearoa’ A reflection on how 51 pivotal citizen-led actions have shaped Aotearoa’s social and environmental values.’
10.45am HAMISH CAMPBELL, Geologist and Paleontologist
Caught in stone: A Loch Ness Monster look-alike.
A pdf file of this speaker list which you can print out can be downloaded from this link .