The New Zealand Molecular Ecology conference is held every year. It covers all aspects of molecular ecology with a strong participation from students. The format is usually a two day symposium in a remote location to foster discussion amongst the group. The conference is traditionally held in November or December and usually alternates between North and South Island.

In 2016, the conference was held at the Shakespear Regional Park YMCA, Auckland from December 2-4. As usual, it ran from the Friday evening (5pm arrival) until Sunday afternoon (2pm departure).

For the first time we also initiated a Pre-Conference Bioinformatics Workshop, MolEcolBio, that was run all-day Friday (10am – 4.30pm), featuring BEAST2. Topics covered included: Overview of the program, Bayesian theory, Estimating divergence times, Bayesian Skyline plots, Star Beast (Species Trees from Multilocus Data) etc.
Programme of the 2016
conference​

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Student prize
Congratulations to Felix Vault (@FelixVaux) and Victoria Twort (@Vtwort), respectively winner and runner up for the student award (sponsored by Biomatters).
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Organising committee 2016​:
Shane Lavery, University of Auckland
Libby Liggins, Massey University, Auckland
Stéphane Boyer, Unitec Institute of Technology
Richard Newcomb, Plant & Food Research
Christine Lamont, Plant & Food Research
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Fees 2016​
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Registration non-waged: $100; waged: $170 
BEAST2 workshop: non-waged: $15; waged: $30
Outdoor activities: $25
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Conference registration includes meals and accommodation. Workshop registration includes lunch.
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A number of student travel grants, were offered to assist students with financial hardship to attend. These covered up to $300 towards travel costs, plus registration fees, and were particularly targeted at South Island students. 
Location 2016
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Shakespear Regional Park, and the YMCA within the Park, are approx. 50 mins travel north of Auckland City.
 
The Park is a pest-free sanctuary, and offers great opportunities for exploring the environment, encountering wildlife, and participating in outdoor activities.
 
Activities available include canoeing, sailing, climbing and archery.
The conference has been running for 19 years! If you have information about previous conferences, programs, abstracts, where the conference was held, who organised it, any group photo, who won the student award, or if you kept tables on the annual North VS South Football match, please get in touch.
 
-2016 Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by Auckland University in collaboration with Massey University, Unitec and Plant & Food. Follow the link to see the programme.
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-2015 Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by University of Canterbury. Follow the link to see the abstract book.
 
- 2014 NZ  Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by Waikato University. Follow the link to see a selection of the programme.
 
- 2013 NZ Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by Victoria University in Wellington. Follow the link to download the program and the abstract book
 
- 2012 NZ Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by Lincoln University. Follow the link to see the program and the abstract book.

​- 2011 NZ  Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by Waikato University. The program and abstract book are not available anymore.
 
- 2010 NZ  Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by Massey University. The program and abstract book are not available anymore.
 
- 2009 NZ  Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by Otago University. Follow the link to download the program and the abstract book.
 
- 2008 NZ  Molecular Ecology Conference was hosted by Waikato University. Follow the link to download the program and the abstract book.