Respond to the call for papers

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 is now open.

  • NZD$450.00

    If you are a waged AAPS member, please ensure that your membership is paid up with the association by visiting the AAPS website here or emailing the association secretary: talei.mangioni@sydney.edu.au

  • NZD$390.00

    If you are a paid up member of the AAPS and you are enrolled as a student at a tertiary institution or are unwaged, then you are eligible for this registration tier.

    If you are a local Cook Islands student (secondary or tertiary) scroll down to read more about an offer for free registration.

  • NZD$490.00

    General Admission tickets are available for those who wish to attend the conference but do not wish to become members of the AAPS.

    Community members are eligible for a special local rate which is outlined below.

  • NZD$70.00

    Local community members living in the Cook Islands are welcome to join us for the conference at this discounted price. Those interested in purchasing a community ticket should pop in to see the Te Puna Vai Mārama team at USP-Cook Islands, Makea Tinirau Drive, Avarua. Community members should collect lanyards either before the conference in early March or from the registration desk. Community members will not be eligible for a conference pack.

  • FREE

    We have 20 free student registrations available for tertiary or secondary students in the Cook Islands. Interested students should register their attendance by emailing admin@tepunavaimarama.org, calling us, or popping in to see us in person at USP. On the day, you will need to ensure you pick up your lanyard from the TPVM office or at the registration desk with ID. We have 20 free registrations available so first in, first served!

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Call for papers

The Call for Papers is now open and will close on 7 November 2026.

Please note that all delegates who are intending to present a paper or chair/convene a panel must submit this form for programming purposes. This includes those who may have received confirmation of acceptance for their panel submissions.

In the form, you will have the option to submit an individual/contributed paper to one of the open panels listed below (make sure to filter the panels by selecting ‘open’ when viewing the panel descriptions). Or you will be able to submit an open submission and the conference organisers will decide where your paper/presentation best fits if it is accepted.

If you have any questions about open panels please contact the convenors or admin@tepunavaimarama.org

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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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Expo Stalls at AAPS 2027

We have had many inquiries for side events and items beyond the scope of the substantive conference program and unfortunately, we have limited space within the program. To encourage the sharing of intellectual and creative work related to the spirit of AAPS, the co-convening organisations, and the conference theme, expo stall spaces will be made available at NZD$300 each for the length of the conference.

Expo stall space will include tables, chairs, and display boards for visuals (where possible) and will be located adjacent to the space where lunches and morning tea are served (what locals call “the Domes”, just outside the National Auditorium). 

If you have a certain project you would like to promote, merch or programs you would like the opportunity to discuss with delegates, or you would like to display something related to a project you are working on, please email admin@tepunavaimarama.org to discuss the allocation of an expo space during the conference. Our team will be able to generate invoices where needed or we can easily provide payment links. 

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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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