New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists

This past year seems to have flown by, which makes it all the more important to matariki ahunga nui, to gather together and give thanks for what we have. The NZSA has plenty to celebrate in the wonderful community we get to represent and support.

Alongside many achievements, including:
✨Advocacy: A surge in advocacy-related mahi, each time raising the voice of anaesthesia. Including in advocating for clinical input in the ongoing governance of outsourcing with HNZ and Southern Cross Health Society’s recent eligibility criteria changes.
✨✨Community: The success of the committees and networks, working together to improve care for patients and the environmental footprint of anaesthesia, and supporting our colleagues in the Pacific region. Gathering with some of the Society’s past presidents at the 2025 AGM (November) and awarding the 2025 NZSA President’s Award. Joining our international community at the WFSA’s World Congress and the Common Issues Group meeting earlier this year.
✨Education: Outstanding educational events organised by our generous community of volunteers. Including the Aotearoa NZ Anaesthesia ASM, PANNZ educational meeting, and Inpatient Pain Network meeting. Introducing our new member webinar series with Te reo Māori in a clinical setting.

✨More resources: Both te reo Māori resources, and translated patient education resources at myanaesthesia.nz and pain medicine discharge forms have been added to the website.

Our community has mourned the passing of well-respected and valued members of the Aotearoa anaesthesia whānau over the past year. Their loss has been felt deeply. The NZSA expresses its condolences and aroha as we take a moment to matariki hunga nui – remember those who we have lost since the last Matariki.
Nā koutou i tangi, nā tatau katoa – when you cry, your tears are shed by us all.

Meet the Convenors for CSC26!

In our recent article 'Meet the Convenors for CSC26' on Te Puna Kairehu, you can get the inside scoop from Combined Scientific Congress 2026 Convenor, Dr Frances Page, and Scientific Convenor, Dr Allysan Armstrong-Brown, as they share what they're looking forward to in Hunter Valley for CSC2026!

Read the article today: https://kairehu.anaesthesia.nz/csc26convenors/
You won’t want to miss this fantastic event!

Combined Scientific Congress 2026 (CSC26)
Proudly hosted by the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA).

📍 Hunter Valley, NSW
📅 8–11 October 2026

Register for the CSC 2026 Hunter Valley now: https://csc2026.com.au/

Your Te Aka Tauwhiro social events offer relaxed activities to complement the meeting's programme and an opportunity to catch up with other anaesthesia trainees while in Tāhuna Queenstown.

Included in your registration:
- Friday 27 November 4.30pm: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Welcome Reception at our venue, the Millenium Hotel Queenstown.
- Saturday 28 November 7pm: MAS Kai & Kēmu at Canyon Brewing. Transport will be provided to and from the Millenium Hotel.

Plus some optional fun runs or walks on Saturday morning!

Register now at https://www.tauwhiro.anaesthesia.nz/

Mānawatia a Matariki ✨
Join us as we reflect, celebrate and prepare over this Matariki weekend. We hope you can take a moment to do this with your whānau, colleagues and community as we celebrate the rising of Matariki and a new year.

WebAIRS Morbidity & Mortality Series - a complimentary event for NZSA and Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) Members.

📆 Wednesday 19 August
⏰9.30-11.30pm
📍Online via Zoom

The ASA have partnered with webAIRS for a focused Practice Evaluation session designed to support your continuing professional development. This session will feature Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) highlights from recent webAIRS submissions, offering valuable insights into incidents & the lessons learned from them. Through the discussion of real cases, attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on clinical decision-making, patient safety considerations & strategies for improving practice.

Register on the ASA's website:

M&M (Morbidity and Mortality) Discussion Evening (NZ) - Australian Society of Anaesthetists Join us for a focused Practice Evaluation session designed to support your continuing professional development. This session will feature Morbidity and Mortality (M+M) highlights from recent webAIRS submissions, offering valuable […]

Dr Elizabeth Turner shares a snapshot of life in Edmonton, Alberta, during her regional anaesthesia fellowship at one of the largest hospitals in Western Canada. Read more on Te Puna Kairehu [https://kairehu.anaesthesia.nz/bwt2025/]

Dr Turner is the 2025 recipient of the BWT Ritchie Scholarship. A scholarship intended to assist a New Zealand based anaesthesia trainee in undertaking an international fellowship or projects that will also benefit anaesthesia in Aotearoa. Applications for the 2027 scholarship are open, apply now at [https://www.anaesthesiaeducation.org.nz/bwt-ritchie-scholarship]

📷credit Alex Pugliese Unsplash

Block by Block: Mastering the essentials webinar series from the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.
Three blocks: 28 & 30 November & 2 December.

A high-impact online series uniting Asia-Oceania and Australasian experts to deliver practical, evidence-based insights in regional anaesthesia. From fascial place blocks and trauma pathways to catheter techniques and perioperative optimisation, each session is designed to elevate real-world practice – block by block.

NZSA members qualify for a special discounted rate.
Block 1 [https://asa.org.au/event/block-by-block-mastering-the-essentials-webinar-1]
Block 2 [https://asa.org.au/event/block-by-block-mastering-the-essentials-webinar-2]
Block 3 [https://asa.org.au/event/block-by-block-mastering-the-essentials-webinar-3]

What to do in the Hunter Valley with the kids?
This year, the Combined Scientific Congress 2026 (CSC26), proudly hosted by the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA), will take place at the Hunter Valley during the school holidays!

So if a weekend of thought-provoking lectures and plenaries, outstanding masterclasses, workshops, and practice evaluations wasn't enough - there's plenty of fun to be had outside of the lecture hall!

Visit https://csc2026.com.au/ to learn more or book your place today!

Register now for CSC26 Early Bird prices!
Early Bird registration ends TOMORROW - don't miss out! Book now: https://csc2026.com.au/

Combined Scientific Congress 2026 (CSC26)
Proudly hosted by the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA).

📍 Hunter Valley, NSW
📅 8–11 October 2026

Register for the CSC 2026 Hunter Valley before June 30th, 2026 and go in the draw to win 1 of 2 ASA NSC 2027 Japan Congress Registrations!

You won’t want to miss this landmark event in anaesthesia and perioperative medicine.