Your Symposium 2026 Attendee Guide
Kia ora and welcome to the Public Fundraising Symposium 2026!
We’re looking forward to bringing together fundraising leaders, practitioners, agencies and sector partners from across Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas for two days of learning, practical insights, connection and collaboration.
This attendee guide brings together everything you need to prepare for the event, including programme information, arrival details, catering, accommodation, travel, accessibility information and our Event Behaviour Guide.
Please bookmark this page and check back before the event for any final updates.
Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre
58 Waipuna Road, Mount Wellington, Auckland
Masterclass Day | Tuesday 28 July
For attendees registered for the Masterclass Day.
Registration opens: 8.00 am
Location: Conference Rooms 2 & 3
Programme begins: 9.00 am Programme concludes: 5.00 pm
The Masterclass Day is designed to be practical and interactive, giving you the opportunity to step away from day-to-day delivery, work through ideas and challenges, learn from the experience of others and identify practical next steps to take back to your organisation.
You will receive a Masterclass workbook and supporting resources to help capture your learning throughout the day.
View the Masterclass Day Programme
Symposium Day | Wednesday 29 July
Registration opens: 8.00 am
Location: Banquet Rooms 1 & 2
Symposium programme begins: 9.00 am
Symposium programme concludes: 5.00 pm
PFRA Awards & Networking Function: 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
The Symposium Day brings together fundraising leaders and practitioners from across the sector to explore leadership, benchmarking and fundraising trends, organisational decision-making, sustainable regular giving, governance, responsible AI and what good practice looks like inside organisations.
Meet our Speakers
Our speakers bring together sector insight, practical expertise, and on-the-ground perspectives from across Aotearoa and beyond. Each session is grounded in what’s happening in practice - sharing lessons, challenges, and approaches that support stronger fundraising, build trust, and deliver meaningful, long-term impact.
The Public Fundraising Symposium is designed to give you time away from the day-to-day to think, learn, connect and explore some of the opportunities and challenges shaping public fundraising.
To get the most from your time at the event, we encourage you to come ready to participate, ask questions, share experiences and connect with others.
Before you arrive, consider:
- A current challenge, opportunity or question you would value discussing with others across the sector.
- An area of your fundraising programme, systems, teams or organisational practice you would like to strengthen.
- Questions you would like to ask our speakers, facilitators and fellow attendees.
The Symposium brings together charity leaders, fundraising practitioners, agencies, suppliers and sector partners, creating valuable opportunities to learn from others working across public fundraising.
Registration opens from 8.00am on both days.
Please allow enough time to check in, collect your name badge and event materials, grab a coffee and connect with other attendees before the programme begins.
On Tuesday, Masterclass attendees should make their way to Conference Rooms 2 & 3.
On Wednesday, the main Symposium will be held in Banquet Rooms 1 & 2.
What to Bring
For those attending the Masterclass Day, we recommend bringing a laptop or tablet if you prefer to work digitally.
Masterclass workbooks and notebooks will be provided.
Otherwise, simply bring your questions, ideas and willingness to participate and share experiences with others.
Catering
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided during both event days.
Tea and coffee will be available on arrival and during scheduled breaks.
If your dietary requirements have changed since registration, please contact us as soon as possible at info@pfra.org.nz.
What to Wear
Smart casual is perfect for both days.
Auckland weather is never entirely predictable, so we recommend coming prepared for changing conditions and bringing an extra layer, as conference room temperatures can vary too.
We want the Public Fundraising Symposium to be a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment where everyone can participate, contribute and connect with others.
Our Event Behaviour Guide outlines the standards of behaviour expected of everyone attending, speaking, exhibiting, sponsoring or working at the event.
We ask all attendees to take a few minutes to read the guide before arriving.
View the PFRA Event Behaviour Guide
Following the Symposium programme on Wednesday, we invite all attendees to stay for the PFRA Awards and networking function.
Join us as we recognise and celebrate the people and organisations contributing to public fundraising, reconnect with colleagues and make new connections from across the sector.
Light nibbles and canapés, along with a selection of beverages, will be available during the function.
For those wishing to stay on after the Awards, continue conversations and connect with others over dinner, dining is available at Waipuna Hotel’s onsite restaurant.
We recommend making a reservation directly with the restaurant in advance to secure a table.
We know many attendees will be travelling to Auckland from across Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas for the Symposium.
If you’re staying onsite, Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre provides a convenient and relaxed place to stay, set alongside the peaceful Panmure Basin and within easy reach of Auckland Airport and the CBD.
Onsite facilities include complimentary parking, Wi-Fi, a restaurant and bar, along with access to leisure amenities including a pool, spa and gym.
Attendees can book accommodation directly with Waipuna Hotel using the promotional code PFRA2026.
Accommodation Discount
15% off the Best Available Rate when booked 14–60 days before arrival.
Bookings made within 0–14 days of arrival are available at the public rate, subject to availability.
All bookings are subject to availability and the hotel’s standard booking terms and conditions.
Book Accommodation at Waipuna
If you’re staying at Waipuna Hotel, you can dine onsite at the hotel restaurant and bar.
For those wanting to explore further, Sylvia Park is nearby and offers a wide range of restaurants, cafés and casual dining options.
Explore Dining Options at Sylvia Park
Airport Transfers
Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre is approximately 20 minutes from Auckland Airport and the CBD, depending on traffic.
There is no dedicated hotel shuttle service. Taxis and rideshare services, including Uber and Bolt, are readily available from Auckland Airport.
Parking
Waipuna offers complimentary onsite parking, with more than 400 free off-street car parks available for hotel guests and day attendees.
Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre offers a range of accessible facilities, including accessible onsite parking and entrances, lift access, accessible accommodation and bathrooms, accessible conference facilities and wheelchair availability on request.
If you have any accessibility requirements, adjustments or other needs that would help you participate fully in the event, please contact us at info@pfra.org.nz.
We will work with you and the venue to do our best to accommodate your requirements.
If you’re extending your stay, there’s plenty to explore while you’re here.
If you have any questions or need to update any of your registration details, dietary requirements or accessibility needs, please contact us at info@pfra.org.nz.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre for Symposium 2026.
Come ready to learn, contribute, connect and return to your organisation with practical ideas, new perspectives and stronger connections from across the sector.
Thank You!
A special thank you to Evergiving, our Primary Partner for the Public Fundraising Symposium 2026, for their generous support of the event and the wider fundraising sector.
