New Zealand Psychological Society

31/08/2025

What a fantastic few days at the NZPsS conference! Truly embodying the spirit of kotahitanga - with psychologists coming together from across sectors, the motu and the world to share their knowledge, connect and have fun!

14/08/2025

📢 The NZ Psychological Society is speaking out.
Proposed changes to the Pae Ora Act will roll back Te Tiriti commitments, remove Māori leadership from health governance, and weaken protections for vulnerable communities.
This legislation threatens the delivery of culturally safe, psychologically informed care, and even more so for Māori, disabled people, and people with complex needs.
We are calling on the Government and Health Select Committee to reject these harmful changes.
Read our statement here:
👉https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE2508/S00023/new-zealand-psychological-society-raises-major-concerns-over-proposed-pae-ora-changes.htm

For more information, follow these links:
• Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2022/0030/latest/whole.html
• Putting Patients First consultation document: https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/putting-patients-first-modernising-health-workforce-regulation-consultation-document
• Te Mauri o Rongo (NZ Health Charter): https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/about-us/who-we-are/health-charter-te-mauri-o-rongo/
• Providing Equitable Access to Planned Care Treatment:
https://oag.parliament.nz/2025/planned-care/docs/planned-care.pdf

We encourage all members to make your own submission on the Pae Ora changes. See more on how to do this here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCHEA_SCF_4F909A7B-8E87-4FEF-8401-08DDB9140FC1/healthy-futures-pae-ora-amendment-bill

“These changes represent a significant regression in the delivery of equitable, culturally responsive healthcare,” said Dr Rebecca Wirihana (President, NZPsS) “They undermine Te Tiriti o Waitangi and are utterly lacking the robust consultative ...

13/08/2025

Undertaking new research, and being able to share that research with our communities is an important part of the disicpline of psychology. We were very pleased to support a science communication competition at Victoria University last year.
Here is a published piece from the winner of that competition - Jazz Fuller!

From Victoria University of Wellington – Comment: Prisoners who complete a rehabilitation programme are less likely to commit more offences, but one in three men do not complete it

29/07/2025

Less than a month until we will be gathering for a fantastic 3 days of conferencing with psychologists from around Aotearoa and the world! If you are keen to join us, early bird pricing finishes in just 2 days! Don't miss out!!! Book your tickets to hear about the latest research and best practice in psychology.

https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/2025-annual-conference/

27/07/2025

We are honoured to have Professor Keith Petrie as keynote speaker for our upcoming conference in Hamilton! Keith and his research group do work on patients’ perceptions of illness, treatment adherence, as well as the placebo and nocebo response.

Keith's presentation will explore the impact of placebo and nocebo effects in healthcare, discuss their underlying mechanisms, and examine strategies to optimize placebo responses and minimize nocebo effects.

Head to our website to find out more about Professor Petrie's talk, as well as our other keynotes: https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/2025-annual-conference/conference-programme/

27/07/2025

Joining us from Victoria University, Australia - Professor Christopher Sonn's s work focuses on the lived experiences of migrant and racialized communities in Australia and South Africa, with particular attention to decoloniality, placemaking, and solidarity through community-engaged research.

We can't wait to hear his presentation on Possibilities for psychology: reimagining collective responses and wellbeing. Christopher will draw on work with the African and other diasporas and Indigenous people in our efforts of place and community making inside and outside university within the longer history of settler colonial relations in Australia.

For those keen to explore the ideas in more depth we are very pleased that Christopher is also offering a half-day workshop prior to the Conference: Decolonial Community Psychology Discourses: Unearthing its Roots and Co/Recreating Routes.

Find out more and register at: https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/2025-annual-conference/conference-programme/

26/07/2025

As a passionate advocate for health equity, Indigenous rights and climate justice, Assoc Prof Rhys Jones is a fantastic addition to our keynote lineup for the NZPsS Conference this year! We are looking forward to hearing from Rhys as he outlines a vision of planetary health that is grounded in Indigenous worldviews, relationships and knowledges, and identifies important tensions when working in this space. Navigating these tensions requires a commitment to decolonisation, re-establishing relational ways of being, and honouring our mutual responsibilities.

Find out more about all our engaging keynotes, and register for Conference at: https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/2025-annual-conference/conference-programme/

25/07/2025

Researcher and advocate for Pacific rainbow+ communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond - we are very honoured to have Dr Penni Wolfgramm as a keynote speaker at the NZPsS Annual Conference this year!
Through lived expertise, community voice and research, this talanoa will explore the life experiences of Pacific trans, non-binary, and MVPFAFF+ communities in Aotearoa to begin/continue the journey to realising the goal of ensuring our psychological practice and research with and for Pacific trans and MVPFAFF+ peoples is safe, responsive, appropriate, and effective.

Join us in Hamilton from August 28th-31st to hear from Penni and our other fantastic keynotes!
Find out more and register: https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/2025-annual-conference/conference-programme/

24/07/2025

We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Andre McLachlan to present a keynote at this years NZPsS Conference. Andre has specialist interests in Indigenous approaches to Mental Health, Trauma, Addictions and Neuro-diversity. His keynote will discuss the nature of intergenerational trauma, and present two practice frameworks designed by Māori psychologists to support trauma responsive practice: The Mauri ora Tai Pari and the TOHU framework.

For those interested in ways of discussing neurodevelopment, needs and healing responses from a Māori perspective; along with some of the innovative resources to support practice - we are excited to share that Dr McLachlan is offering a one-day workshop on the Thursday prior to Conference as well!

FInd out more and register here: https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/2025-annual-conference/conference-programme/

23/07/2025

We are excited to announce our Keynote Speakers for this years NZPsS Conference! First up is Dr Oliver Guidetti from the University of Wollongong. Dr Guidetti's keynote is a very topical look into the Ethical use of AI in psychological practice.

This keynote explores the ethical, practical, and professional implications of integrating AI into psychological practice—offering clarity for clinicians, confidence for regulators, and foresight for the future of the profession.

Dr Guidetti is also offering a one day workshop prior to the Conference on AI in Clinical Practice: Safety, Utility, and Accountability Across the Therapeutic Ecosystem.

FInd out more and register here: https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/2025-annual-conference/conference-programme/

21/07/2025

Join us for this two-day workshop where we will explore what Te Tiriti o Waitangi means for psychology in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will focus on examining historical and contemporary contexts relevant for developing understanding about the importance of Te Tiriti to psychology practice and research.

Day 1 will focus on whakawhanaungatanga, historical context leading up to the signing of Te Tiriti, the ‘spirit’ of Te Tiriti, and what we now know about the provisions of the two Tiriti/Treaty texts.

Day 2 will build on the first day, but with increased focus on Te Tiriti’s influence on the history and practice of psychology within Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes positive developments in the field and developing personalised Te Tiriti analyses and implementation plans.
The workshop will be interactive, and we acknowledge that attendees will be at varying stages of their journey towards understanding Te Tiriti.

Limited spaces!
Auckland: 30th and 31st July: https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/event-manager/ViewEvent/160

Dunedin: Aug 18th - 19th: https://www.nzccp.co.nz/events-and-training/Te-Tiriti-o-Waitangi-education-3A-Dunedin

Hamilton: Sept 1st and 2nd: https://nzps.gecco.co.nz/event-manager/ViewEvent/163

In collaboration with He Paiaka Totara and NZCCP.

18/06/2025

Check out this opportunity for Pasifika psychology students!

Pasifikology is a village of Pasifika psychologists, graduates, academics, and students. Our purpose is to promote, inform, educate, and nurture the practice of psychology for Pasifika people. This includes growing the Pasifika psychologist and academic workforce, sharing knowledge and information,....