2024 Conference Details

All events, the AGM and meals will be held at the Trafalgar Centre, Paru Paru Road, Nelson. The Birds NZ Council and Regional Representatives meetings will be held at the Tides Hotel, 66 Trafalgar Street, Nelson (200m from Trafalgar Centre).

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Registrations and dinner bookings close 10 May!

• Field trip options are limited and filling up on a first-come-first-served basis!
• Conference attendees are invited to enter their photos into the 2024 Birds NZ Photo Competition.
• The Conference Programme, Abstracts and AGM files will be available online closer to the time.

REGISTER NOW

The primary method of registration is online. Registration details and further information about the programme, field trips and accommodation options are set out below. Note: A separate registration is required for each person attending the conference and/or dinner, to enable the organisers to have a record of all attendees and any special requirements.

Members sign in to get your discounted rate by clicking on the ‘Sign In’ link on the Registration page. Members not having internet access can obtain a registration form by contacting their local Regional Representative. The registration form can also be downloaded as Word file or PDF

If you are a Family member with an email address that is not yet recorded in the system, please ask your main member to login and add your email address. If you don’t have your own email address, then please download and complete the registration form and send it to conference@birdsnz.org.nz.

SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS

Oral presentations will be spread across the first two days of the conference and can cover any aspects of ornithology. Full details are available at birdsnz.org.nz/nz-bird-conference/call-for-abstracts-and-instructions-2024/. Expressions of interest from members or non-members who wish to present a paper or a poster are welcomed. Abstracts of talks and posters should be submitted to conference@birdsnz.org.nz by 31 March 2024.

FIELD TRIPS

Five field trips are planned:

• Abel Tasman National Park
• Kahurangi National Park, Mt Arthur/Flora or Wangapeka
• The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, Nelson
• Nelson Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Taipare Bay, Marlborough Sounds

Details are available here.

Note: All field trips are weather dependent and may be cancelled at short notice. Wear suitable clothing and footwear. Participants need to bring their own lunch – there is no packed lunch available. There is a Countdown supermarket a few minutes walk from the Trafalgar Centre. 

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The following trips can be done independently and in your own time:

• The Suter Art Gallery, 208 Bridge Street, Nelson 7010. Open: 0930-1630
• The Nelson Provincial Museum, Cnr Trafalgar St and Hardy Street, Nelson 7040. Open: 1000-1630
• Founders Annual Book Fair, Founders Park, 87 Atawhai Drive, The Wood, Nelson 7010. Open: 1000-1630

ACCOMMODATION

The conference will be held at the Trafalgar Centre, which is close to the centre of the city. The Tides Hotel is offering a conference special room rate – use the booking code “Birds2024“ when booking.

There is a wide range of other accommodation options available nearby the Trafalgar Centre:

• Waimarie on Riverside (15 min walk)
• Palms Motel Nelson (2 min walk)
• Harbourside Motor Lodge (15 min walk, next to Harbour)
• Kings Gate Motel (2 min walk)
• Tasman Bay backpackers (5 min walk)
• Cedar Grove motel (5 min walk)
• Prince Albert Hotel Pub and Accommodation (15 min walk)

TRAVEL

Nelson Airport is served by Air New Zealand, Originair, Sounds Air and Golden Bay Air. Shuttle and taxi service are available to and from the airport. The No 4 eBus service runs from the Airport to the CBD (close to The Tides) every 30 mins and costs only $3 (or less) Fares and zones – eBus. The bus depot is in the city centre, 27 Bridge Street, and the city has an InterCity bus service to/from Christchurch (and further south) via Picton.

FLEDGLING FUND FOR STUDENTS

The Society administers a ‘Fledgling Fund’ for students to be used specifically to support the participation of student members for presenting papers or posters at Birds NZ Conferences. The fund is accumulative and dispersed in subsequent years. Members and non-members are invited to make a contribution of $20, or more, to this fund when registering. Payment is optional and appreciated. The allocation of funds will be determined by Council each year.

Student members of Birds New Zealand are invited to apply for a grant from the Fledgling Fund to cover their conference registration fee and attendance of the conference dinner. Applicants must have been a Student member of Birds New Zealand for two or more years and enrolled full-time at a NZ tertiary institution or secondary school. A grant from the Fledgling fund shall only be made once to each student member.

The criteria and application form are available here. Applications should be submitted to the Executive Officer eo@birdsnz.org.nz by 28 February 2024.

PHOTO COMPETITION

Conference attendees are invited to enter their photos into the 2024 Birds NZ photo competition. Details are available here.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFER

Delegates receive 10% off a selection of popular bird books published by Potton & Burton, including the latest publication Takahe – Bird of Dreams by Alison Ballance. Order details

CONTACTS

You can contact the conference organiser conference@birdsnz.org.nz or call Mark Ayre 0272404045. Alternatively, contact your Regional Representative.

NOTES

Refunds
Following registration, if you are unable to attend, a full refund will be made for cancellations advised up to 1 May 2024. From 1 May 2024 no refunds will be made. In the event of cancellation and consequent re-selection of field trips, refund of the price difference will be made after the conference.

Health & Safety
The Society is committed to hosting a safe conference where all registrants can enjoy each other’s company and actively support the Health and Safety Policy and health regulations in force at the time of conference. A Health & Safety Plan is available here

Disclaimer
In the event of other unforeseen circumstances (industrial or otherwise) that disrupt the conference, the organisers accept no responsibility. The information on the conference website and in the printed material is correct at the time of publication. However, the conference organisers reserve the right to change information if required and to adjust the conference programme accordingly.

Privacy Act
The information on this form will be used solely for the purposes of organising and planning the conference. If you do not wish to have your name published as part of this conference or made available to other delegates, please advise us of this here.

REGISTER NOW