Respond to the call for panels

At AAPS 2027, we make space to consider how the future is being claimed and shaped in the Pacific, to consider what it means to resist narratives of inevitability be they economic, political, social, or environmental. Participants are asked to consider how Oceanic time, however we invoke this in our work, offers alternative frameworks for navigating uncertainty and change particularly for Pacific Studies itself: a field not only defined by resistance, but also by its capacity for renewal and innovation within academic structures that too often overlook it.

Mei ‘Avaiki Mai calls Pacific Studies and the AAPS conference (back) into deep Pacific waters. It calls together scholars, activists, artists, and communities to engage with questions of sovereignty, oceanic futurity, and the role of Pacific knowledge systems in a changing world. It also invites participants to ponder how Pacific Studies might evolve to meet this moment, not just to endure - but to transform.

Dates, location and venue

The AAPS 2027 Conference will be held on 30 March-2 April 2027. The main venue will be the Cook Islands’ National Auditorium in Avarua, Rarotonga. Concurrent sessions will be held in the meeting halls of surrounding hostels and at the USP-Cook Islands campus.

This conference will be the first held outside of Australia for the Australian Association for Pacific Studies and we are excited and humbled that the executive and its members have agreed to our hosting of the gathering here in the Cook Islands. We look forward to welcoming you to Rarotonga.

To learn about where key venues for the conference are located, check out our conference map. We’ll keep updating this as we get closer to the event.

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Registration

All attendees are encouraged to register as a member with the Australian Association for Pacific Studies or to check that your membership is current. You can do this online at the Association website.

Early-bird registration for the conference will open in November 2026.

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Call for panels

We warmly invite proposals for panels that gather around the conference theme Mei ‘Avaiki mai: Oceanic Time, Deep Sea Change and Pacific Studies. We welcome sessions that create space for relationship, thoughtful exchange, and the sharing of knowledge across our different communities and practices. Panels may take the form of conventional paper sessions, roundtables/uriuri manako, or curated conversations that bring together scholarly, artistic, activist, and community-based approaches.

We are especially interested in panels that:

  • work with Oceanic time as method, theory, genealogy, or everyday practice

  • consider deep sea change in its many forms—political, ecological, cultural, and epistemic

  • bring forward conversations on sovereignty, oceanic futurity, resurgence, and refusal

  • reflect on Pacific Studies—its renewal, responsibilities, and institutional futures

Panel formats

We invite you to choose the format that best supports your collective and the kind of conversation you want to host:

  • 90-minute panel: 3–4 speakers, plus a chair/facilitator/respondent

  • 60-minute panel: 2–3 speakers, plus a chair/facilitator

  • Roundtable/Uriuri manako: 5–7 participants, plus a facilitator (with time for shared discussion.

The call for panels closes 14 August 2026.

Call for papers

The call for individual papers will be released in late-August 2026 and attendees will be able to submit to open panels or have their papers considered for programming by the conference committee. Open panels will be listed along with the call for papers.

Keep following our socials to find out when the call for papers opens.

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Accommodation & getting around

Delegates have a variety of lodging options to suit different budgets. For high-end requirements, Pacific Resort Rarotonga and Nautilus Resort provide premium facilities and private villas. Those seeking mid-range accommodations might like to consider Edgewater Resort & Spa or The Rarotongan Beach Resort, both of which are well-equipped to handle business travelers. Budget-conscious attendees may prefer Club Raro Resort or The Islander Hotel, which offer practical, essential comforts with easy access to the island's main transport links.

For those traveling in groups or seeking more economical alternatives, online platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com offer a wide range of self-catering villas and holiday homes. Booking these properties as a group can significantly reduce individual costs while providing more space and utility than traditional hotel rooms. Given the limited accommodation capacity on the island, we advise confirming your reservations through these platforms or direct hotel sites early to ensure availability for the duration of the conference.

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Epeli Hau'ofa Annual Memorial Lecture & Postgraduate/ECR Workshop

We are currently finalizing the details for the Epeli Hau‘ofa Annual Memorial Lecture. Speaker profile(s) with the title and abstract of the lecture will be revealed shortly.

Please continue to monitor this page for updates, as this session will anchor our program.

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