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Day One Hui and ongoing talking spaces

Day One Special Interest Hui: starting the conference in relationship

Every conference has a vibe  –  this one is all about connections. The Monday morning hui is your space to connect with others who share the same interests and values, to swap stories, and to build a ‘community vibe’ for the conference and beyond.   

These hui are a social gathering; a chance to connect with others early, share what you’re hoping to get from the conference, and build relationships that carry through the sessions, social events and beyond. Whether you’re new to evaluation or long-established, starting the conference in these smaller, values-aligned spaces sets a different tone: grounded, relational and collective.

Our ANZEA 2026 conference starts in a relational way – giving people time to arrive, connect and ground themselves before the formalities and presentations begin. On Monday, 3rd August, from 9.00–10.30am, we will host dedicated hui for:

  • Hui Māori

Hui for Māori evaluators to make connections, share kaupapa and experiences. Convened by Hector Kawai - Mā te Rae.

  • Pasifika Fono

For anyone dedicated to growing the Pacific evaluation community in New Zealand and around the Pacific. Co-Convened by Violet, Ata, Valda and Allan - ANZEA Pasifika Fono .  

  • Ethnic Tauiwi

This Special Interest Group follows on from the Tauiwi forum held at the 2024 ANZEA Conference and a November online session hosted by Eemun Chen (Ethnic Research Aotearoa). It brings together ethnic tauiwi voices in the ANZEA evaluation space. Convened by Bev Tso Hong. 

  • Emerging Evaluators

For anyone new to, or growing their practice in, evaluation. The Emerging Evaluators group is a supportive learning community that creates space for peer sharing, practical learning, and connection through informal sessions to add to one’s kete of competencies. Convened by Laurie Crawford.

If you are interested to socialise in these Special Interest groups, please select a hui in the Conference App (at the bottom of the session selection page) to secure your space to mix and vibe. Spaces are limited.

 

Rooms and spaces

Each hui will have its own room, creating space for whakawhanaungatanga, talanoa, and group‑specific kōrero. These sessions are about relationship‑building and collective care, not formal presentations – a chance to meet people, share about their journeys, strengthen support networks, and ground the rest of your conference experience in authentic connections.

Hui Māori - Great Hall room

Pasifika Fono - Camelot room

Ethnic Tauiwi - Ballantyne room

Emerging Evaluators - Tower room 

Timing, hospitality and flow into the Mihi whakatau

Registration and arrival hospitality will be available in the foyer from 8.30am, with tea, coffee and biscuits on offer for those attending the hui up until 10.30am. Hui run from 9.00–10.30am and then wrap up with time for a short break before the official Mihi whakatau at 11.00am.

Morning tea will be served after the Mihi whakatau, so delegates can move smoothly from hui, to welcome, to shared kai, and then into the orientation and the first keynote. This structure is designed to keep Monday morning spacious yet grounded, and to honour the mana of the Mihi whakatau within the overall flow of the programme.

Ongoing kōrero, talanoa, talking booths

To support a continued collective vibe throughout the conference, each hui will have a kōrero/talanoa/talking drop-in booth fixed in the foyer area throughout the three days.  Each  booth is shaped and decorated to reflect their community vibe, identity, tikanga and priorities.

This is to create visible, welcoming spaces where people can drop in across the day to:

  • Continue conversations begun in the Monday morning hui.

  • Ask questions, seek support and share resources.

  • Meet new colleagues and deepen relationships within and across groups.

How this connects to our conference theme

Our 2026 theme, “Evaluation’s future pathways – innovation, integrity, and intelligence in practice,” invites us to strengthen what only humans can do in evaluation – judgement, ethics, relationships, creativity and storytelling – alongside new tools and technologies. The Day One hui and ongoing talking booths embody this by:

  • Centring mana‑enhancing, culturally grounded spaces at the heart of the programme.

  • Making it easier for Māori, Pacific, ethnic tauiwi and emerging evaluators to find each other, feel supported, and bring their perspectives forward across the conference.

  • Encouraging continuous, informal learning and sense‑making through talanoa and kōrero, not only through formal sessions.