30 Years: Past, Present and Future
Dates: 3 - 4 September 2026
Venue: Novotel Tainui Hamilton, 7 Alma Street, Hamilton Central
Thursday 3rd: Pre-Symposium – Afternoon Presentations & Welcome Evening
Friday 4th: Full-day Symposium
Our 30 year celebration brings us together to reflect on our past and look toward the future of patient transport.
For thirty years COASTN nurses have helped to shape the development of patient transport, a field defined by skill, resilience and innovation. The Flight Nurses Association NZ was founded in 1996 and later became COASTN, but has always carried forward the same passion, purpose and commitment to excellence in aeromedical and road transport nursing.
With its central location in the North Island, Hamilton is an ideal place for us to gather. We look forward to welcoming you to the Waikato to mark this milestone with us, and take time to connect, learn and acknowledge the evolution of our field.
Speakers
Keynote Speaker Ruth Taylor is an experienced coach, facilitator and author of Self-Care Isn't Selfish. She draws on decades of experience helping people build resilience, navigate challenges and protect their wellbeing. In this session, Ruth will share practical self-care strategies to help you regain a sense of control in demanding environments.
Ruth writes: "I'm excited and honoured to be ask to join you as a speaker at the COASTN conference and am looking forward to sharing my take on self-care. With awareness comes choice, with choice comes control, with control comes energy. Once you have energy you get to choose how you spend it, be it at work or home, or coming to a conference!"
Here are some of the other speakers:
- Jon Gaupset: Team Leader Air Ambulance, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, in commissioning air ambulance services.
- Jon Kerr: Founder, Flight Structures Ltd, in technical direction and innovation strategy.
- Nixie Moore: RN and Clinical Team Lead, in prison and vulnerable population healthcare.
- Dave Barber: Major, NZ Army Reserve, in aviation medicine, operational planning,
- and clinical leadership.
- Lisa Maxwell: RN, MN, Nurse Manager, in community and rural health.
- And many more!
For full details see the conference programme.
Register now
More information:
Important dates
- 20 April: Registration opens
- 1 May: Call for Abstracts opens
- 19 July: Call for Abstracts closes
- 31 July: Early bird registration discount closes
- 28 August: Standard registration closes
- 3-4 September: Conference
Ways to stay updated
We'll keep you updated here, on Insta and on Facebook.
Pricing
| Ticket |
Early-bird
Closes 31 July |
Standard registration
Closes 28 Aug |
| Full registration |
|
|
| COASTN member |
$350 |
$380 |
| Non-COASTN member, all health professionals welcome |
$380 |
$420 |
| Friday registration only |
|
|
| COASTN member |
$250 |
$280 |
| Non-COASTN member, all health professionals welcome |
$280 |
$310 |
Register now
Conference Partner
Sponsors
COASTN thanks all of our Sponsors for supporting our 2026 Conference.
To sponsor this event or join our exhibition please email COASTNcommittee@gmail.com.
Conference venue
We are pleased to host this year’s conference at the Novotel Tainui Hamilton. You'll be conveniently located 20 minutes from Hamilton Airport on the banks of the Waikato River, close to many local attractions and activities.
Want discounted room rates? COASTN members can use the button below and get ten percent off the best available public room rates on 2, 3 and 4 September.
Book 10% discounted rooms now
The Mighty Waikato is waiting for you
With its metropolitan hub of Hamilton, the Mighty Waikato is situated in the central North Island. The area is renowned for its natural beauty, powerful history and out-of-this-world experiences. Visitors to the Waikato region will enjoy a wealth of world-class attractions, outdoor adventures, arts and culture and gourmet delights.
Experience movie magic with a slice of the ‘real Middle-earth’ at Hobbiton Movie Set; relax in the bohemian west coast town of Raglan - famous for its left-hand surf breaks; or while away a few hours in the magical Hamilton Gardens. The Mighty Waikato is the perfect place to play, relax, connect and explore in.