NZ Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting - Day Two

Saturday 21 March 2026

Please note, this is a draft programme and subject to change

8.00am-8.30am Registration, Exhibition Open & Arrival Tea & Coffee

8.30am-9.10am     Professor Chris Maher, Director, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, & Professor, School of Public Health, The University of                                             Sydney, Australia
                               Spinal Cord Stimulators: What Does the Evidence Say?

9.10am-9.50am     Professor Rachelle Buchbinder, Head, Musculoskeletal Health Unit and Wiser Health Care Group, Monash University, Australia
                               Platelet Rich Plasma Treatments For Chronic Pain Conditions - Does This Fit?​

9.50am-10.20am Morning Tea & Industry Exhibition

9.50am-10.20am Abdomino-Pelvic Pain SiG AGM 

10.20am-11.05am    The Right Fit for Her
We explore the unique challenges women face with a focus on considerations for maternal birth injury, gynaecological procedure pain, and the impact of menopause.
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• Dr Bronnie Lennox Thompson, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago, Christchurch, NZ ~ Should It Hurt? A Look to the Future of Managing Pain during Minor Gynaecological Procedures
• Amy Mepham, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Liberty Pelvic Health ~ Understanding ACC Maternal Birthing Injuries
• Dr Catherine Smart, GP, Juno Health, Christchurch, NZ ~ Menopause

11.05am-11.15am      Panel Discussion - The Right Fit for Her 
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11.15am-11.25am      Free Paper ~ Comparative Evaluation of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block and Dexmedetomidine Nebulization for Treatment of
                                Post-Dural Puncture Headache in Obstetric Patients: A Randomized Trial
                                Dr Amit Kumar, Assistant Professor, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

11.25am-11.35am      Free Paper ~ “But Your Latch Looks Fine!” Understanding Breast and Chestfeeding Pain: Collaborative Research for
                                 Transformative Impact
                                 Dr Hazel Godfrey, Senior Lecturer, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
                                 Carmen Timu-Parata, Research Fellow, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka—University of Otago, NZ

11.35am-11.45am     Free Paper ~ Persistent Pelvic Pain Management Strategies Utilised by Gynaecologists
                                Carmen Holdaway, Trainee Intern, University of Otago, Wellington, NZ

      11.45am-12.30pm New Zealand Pain Society AGM
                                 All members are requested to attend the AGM. Regular and Life members will be asked to vote to ratify the new constitution.
                                 Non-members please enjoy some time reviewing posters.

12.30pm-1.15pm Lunch & Industry Exhibition

1.15pm-1.55pm       IASP Global Year/Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
                               Professor Andrew Rice, IASP President; Professor of Pain Research, Imperial College London, UK

2.00pm-3.00pm The Right Fit for All Our Communities
Strong relationships are key to reducing disparity. This session provides insights into different communities and ways to ensure a good cultural fit for every patient.
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• James Mcallister-Iro, Physiotherapist, Etu Pasifika Canterbury ~ The Right Fit for Working with the Pasifika Community
• Matt Dua, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Anxiety Disorders Service (ADS), Health NZ ~ Becoming the Right Fit: Initiatives for Improving Our Connection with Migrant Clients
• Kereama Carmody ~ What is Cultural Supervision and Why Do You Need It?​

3.00pm-3.10pm     Panel Discussion - The Right Fit for All Our Communities

3.10pm-3.40pm Afternoon Tea & Industry Exhibition

3.40pm-3.50pm    Broadfoot Trust Winner 2025
                                Lívia Gaspar Fernandes, PhD Candidate, Assistant Research Fellow, University of Otago, Wellington, NZ

3.50pm-4.00pm    Free Paper Presentation ~ A Multimodal Analysis of Whānau Stories of Chronic Pain and Opioid Tapering
                                Huia Monro, Assistant Research Fellow, University of Otago Wellington, NZ

4.00pm-4.40pm   Professor Michael Nicholas, Director, Pain Education Unit, University of Sydney, Australia
                               Making It A Perfect Fit: Strategies For Adherence To Pain Self-Management

4.40pm                  Conference 2027, Abstract Prize Giving, Poroporoaki, Conference Close