The Metabolic Health NZ Summit 2026

13-14 November 2026

Auckland University of Technology North Campus -
90 Akoranga Drive, Northcote, Auckland

The Metabolic Health NZ Summit

Join us for New Zealand’s first dedicated Metabolic Health NZ Summit. Metabolic health — how well your body converts food into energy and regulates blood sugar, insulin, lipids and inflammation — sits at the heart of preventing, reversing and managing chronic disease. It’s the physiological ground on which human potential is built and fulfilled.

This summit brings together clinicians, researchers and advocates to explore how metabolic approaches are reshaping care — across diabetes and weight management, cardiovascular health, mental health, cancer, women’s health and beyond. Expect practical tools, real science and honest conversation about what becomes possible when metabolic health moves to the centre of how we practise medicine — and how we live.

Whether you’re a health professional, researcher, policymaker, or simply someone who cares about living well, this is where the science meets the action.

Register today and be part of the conversation.

Brought to you by Metabolic Health NZ Charitable Trust and proudly sponsored by AUT’s Human Potential Research Institute.

Ticketing

Early bird registration is open and has been extended until 30 September 2026. All prices are in NZD and include GST.

  • Early bird, 2 day general admission (until 30 September): $225
  • 2 day general admission: $300
  • 1 day general admission, Friday 13 November: $175
  • 1 day general admission, Saturday 14 November: $175
  • AUT student, 2 day general admission: $150
  • 2 day live stream: $150
  • Live Stream 2 – Day Live Stream Viewing plus recording: $175
  • Recording only: $100

Recordings of both days are released after the Summit and sent to ticket holders by email.

Tea, coffee, water and lunch are provided on both days.

Can’t get to Auckland? The live stream ticket gives you both days from wherever you are, and you can add the recordings if you’d rather watch in your own time.

In-person registration closes 28 October. Live stream registration closes 11 November.

Speakers

Full speaker bios and photos coming soon.

Professor Grant Schofield

Professor of Public Health at AUT and Chief Science Officer at PREKURE

Metabolic health – where are we at, and what should we do about it?

Dr Glen Davies

GP at Reversal NZ in Taupō, founder of RT2D Taupō and 2021 GP of the Year at the Primary Health Care Awards

What would a metabolically healthy NZ health system actually look like?

Professor Caryn Zinn

Professor of Nutrition, School of Sport, Exercise and Health at AUT, Director of the Human Potential Research Institute (HPRI) and Registered Dietitian

When recruitment falls short, but impact doesn’t: lessons from a diabetes implementation project

Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith

Co-founder of the Low Carb Keto Health Clinic in Adelaide and a GP of over 40 years

The Cardiovascular Benefits of Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction: Evidence and Clinical Management

Professor Zoltán Sarnyai

Director, Margaret Roderick Centre for Mental Health Research, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD Australia

Metabolic Psychiatry: Unifying Brain-Body Interactions in the Development of Mental Illness

Dr Lara Briden

Naturopathic doctor and author 

Metabolic Health Through a Female Lens: Why female hormones belong in the metabolic health conversation

Dr Catherine Crofts

Senior Lecturer, School of Acute and Primary Health at AUT, and a NZ Registered Pharmacist

Insulin Resistance: Measuring a 3,500-Year Misconstruction

Dr Marcus Hawkins

GP at Highbrook Medical in East Tāmaki with a special interest in therapeutic carbohydrate reduction

The Food Fix: Why carbohydrates are making us sick and how to change that

Professor Julia Rucklidge

Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Canterbury and Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab

The Metabolic Foundations of Mental Health: What Micronutrients Reveal About Brain Function

Dr Louise Schofield

Co-founder and CEO of PREKURE, with a PhD in public health

Behaviour change & health coaching: Knowing vs. doing

Dr Cliff Harvey

Registered clinical nutritionist, researcher and founder of the Holistic Performance Institute

Micronutrients and metabolic health

Dr Paul Butler & John Appleton

Dr Paul Butler GP with Milford Family Medical Centre

Make New Zealand Healthy (MNZH)

Panel: Weight loss, GLP-1s and addiction

Facilitated by Professor Caryn Zinn.

Featuring:

  • Professor Grant Schofield – Professor of Public Health at AUT and Chief Science Officer at PREKURE
  • Dr Glen Davies – GP at Reversal NZ in Taupō, founder of RT2D Taupō and 2021 GP of the Year at the Primary Health Care Awards
  • Dr Mikki Williden – Registered Nutritionist, Micalla Williden Nutritionists Ltd
  • Jaala Dyer – Lead Health Coach at Reversal NZ in Taupō and HCANZA Health and Wellness Coach of the Year 2022
  • Dr Catherine Crofts – Senior Lecturer at AUT, Co-Director of the BioDesign Lab and a NZ Registered Pharmacist

A cross-disciplinary panel, scientist, doctor, nutritionist, health coach and pharmacist, unpacking weight loss, GLP-1 medications and addiction from every angle. 

Early bird pricing closes 30 September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Summit taking place?

The Summit is held at AUT North Campus, 90 Akoranga Drive, Northcote, Auckland. Sessions run in the AF building, room AF114, with registration and catering in the adjoining foyer. 

What time does each day start and finish?

Day one, Friday 13 November: registration from 8.30am, programme starts at 9.00am and finishes at 4.20pm. 

Day two, Saturday 14 November: arrival from 9.30am, programme starts at 10.00am and finishes at 4.30pm. 

The full programme is available on the event page above. 

Where can I park?

Carparks 2 and 7 are paybyplate and open to visitors. Carpark 2 is closest to the AF building. Mobility parks are available on campus. If you’d rather not drive, the Akoranga busway station is about 150 metres from campus, with a covered pedestrian overbridge across to the North Campus.

When does early bird pricing end?

Early bird pricing has been extended until 30 September 2026. After that, standard pricing applies. 

When do ticket sales close?

In-person tickets close on 28 October 2026. Livestream tickets close on 11 November 2026, which gives us time to get access links out to everyone before the Summit starts. 

Are tickets refundable?

Tickets are non-refundable. If you’re no longer able to attend, you’re welcome to transfer your ticket to someone else. Just email info@metabolichealthnz.org with the new attendee’s name and email before the event so we can update the register. 

Can I attend just one day?

Yes. Single day tickets are available for both Friday and Saturday, as well as twoday general admission. 

I can't get to Auckland. Can I attend online?

Yes. A twoday livestream ticket gives you access to sessions as they happen. Note this is live only, so you’ll need to be watching at the time. 

Will the Summit be recorded?

Yes, both days will be recorded. You can buy recording access on its own, or add it to a live stream ticket. Recordings are released after the Summit and we’ll email ticket holders with access details once we’ve confirmed the turnaround with AUT. Access doesn’t expire, so you can watch in your own time.

By purchasing a ticket you also consent to being photographed or filmed at the event, and to those images being used in Metabolic Health NZ material. If you’d prefer not to appear, let us know before the event and we’ll make sure the team is aware on the day.

Is the Summit eligible for CPD or CME points?

We haven’t registered the Summit with a specific professional body. Our audience spans a range of professions and applying to each of those bodies isn’t something we’re able to take on at this stage. Many bodies do recognise external events for CPD, so it’s worth checking directly with yours about how they’d like it logged. All attendees receive a certificate of attendance, which you can use as evidence.

There's an AUT student discount. I'm a student elsewhere, can I use that rate?

Unfortunately, the AUT student rate is only available to currently enrolled AUT students. The Summit is sponsored by AUT, and that rate sits within their sponsorship of the event rather than being a general student discount, so we’re not able to extend it to students from other institutions.

Is food provided?

Tea, coffee and water are available on arrival both days, and lunch is included with in-person tickets. Lunch is served grazing platter style, with options chosen with metabolic health in mind. 

We don’t serve morning or afternoon tea. Instead we’ve built hydration breaks into the programme, which aligns with our metabolic health philosophies. 

If you have dietary requirements, please include them when you purchase your ticket. We’ll pass these on to our caterers and take every care to make sure you’re looked after on the day. If your requirements are complex, you’re welcome to bring something along to supplement what’s on offer. 

What should I bring?

You don’t need to bring anything specifically. A refillable water bottle is worth having, since water is available on arrival and there are hydration breaks through both days. Otherwise just yourself, and something to take notes with if that’s your thing.

Who do I contact if I have a question?

Email info@metabolichealthnz.org and we’ll come back to you as soon as we can. We’re a small team and the inbox isn’t monitored daily, so please allow a few days for a reply. 

 

Is the venue accessible?

AUT North Campus is wheelchair accessible, with mobility parking and lift access to the venue. If you have specific access requirements, email info@metabolichealthnz.org and we’ll sort the details with you before the event.