The NZAA and AAA annual conference was held at the University of Auckland from 28 to 30 November 2018.
The conference theme was Trans-Tasman Dialogues. Despite some striking differences between the archaeological record of New Zealand and Australia, we share the same historical roots as well as some key goals and priorities: the desire to make archaeology an inclusive and collaborative practice between archaeologists, indigenous communities and other stakeholders, to raise public awareness about the richness of the human past in the region, to promote and foster cutting-edge research throughout Oceania and to lobby relevant authorities for the recognition and protection of cultural heritage. This joint conference was a unique opportunity for both organizations to create dialogue around some of these similarities, but also to highlight and contextualize differences, and to learn from what each organization does exceptionally well.
