AUT (Auckland University of Technology) is delighted to welcome you to the 31st annual SMAANZ Conference, to be held on AUT’s North Campus in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Aotearoa (New Zealand) from 3–5 December 2025.

The theme for SMAANZ 2025 is Whiria te tāngata, a Māori saying meaning ‘weave the people together’. This theme reflects our commitment to fostering meaningful connection, collaboration, and engagement across the sport management field. We look forward to welcoming new and returning delegates to share research, conversations, and experiences.

The Higher Degree Research (HDR) Day will be held on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, with the main conference running from Wednesday to Friday (3–5 December 2025). Conference sessions will take place on AUT’s North Campus, with social events hosted across central Tāmaki Makaurau, offering a vibrant mix of academic and cultural experiences.

Following feedback from SMAANZ 2024, we have made several enhancements for SMAANZ 2025:

• Facilitated networking sessions to help delegates connect across research interests and career stages
• Deep-dive workshops focusing on interactive topics proposed by our SMAANZ community 
• Informal connection spaces available throughout the week to support conversations beyond sessions
• Opportunities for newer attendees to connect with long-standing members of the SMAANZ whānau (family)
• A refreshed, more social dinner format, allowing more time for celebration and connection
• To encourage deeper discussion and engagement, academic presentations will now be 10 minutes long, followed by 10 minutes for audience questions and interaction.