The 20th New Zealand Management Accounting (NZMA) Conference 2026

Thank you to our sponsors:

Join us for the 20th New Zealand Management Accounting (NZMA) Conference, to be held at The University of Waikato in the beautiful river city of Hamilton from 23–25 November 2026.

Hosted by Waikato Management School, the theme of this year's conference is Panonitia Te Ao Kaute Kia Eke - Transforming Management Accounting.

The 20th NZMA Conference is combined in 2026 with 'Advances in Management Accounting', the World Conference on Management Accounting Research.

This annual conference will bring together leading academics, industry professionals, policymakers and research students from around New Zealand and beyond to engage in meaningful dialogue, and explore research issues aligned with this year’s theme.

For the second time, the conference will also include a Doctoral Colloquium on Monday, 23 November, providing an excellent opportunity for PhD and masters students to present their research and receive valuable feedback from experienced academics.

The keynote speakers will be announced later this year.

For enquiries and to register your interest, please email Associate Professor Umesh Sharma at umesh.sharma@waikato.ac.nz.

Registration fees

To help with your planning, the registration fees are as follows:

PhD students: NZ$150 + GST ($172.50 incl. GST)
Early Bird conference registration by 5 October 2026: NZ$300 + GST ($345.00 incl. GST)
General conference registration after 6 October 2026: NZ$450 + GST ($517.50 incl. GST)
Please note: Surcharge fees will be added at registration.

Academic plenary speaker

Professor Sumit Lodhia is an international recognised accounting scholar at Adelaide University, Australia, where he leads research on sustainability accounting, integrated reporting, governance, carbon accounting, corporate social responsibility, and corporate communication.

Since 2019, Prof. Lodhia has consistently ranked in the world's top 2% of cited researchers for Accounting (Stanford University Top 2% World Scientist Ranking), reflecting the global impact of his work. His work has advanced understanding of how organisations measure, report, and communicate their environmental, social, and sustainability performance.

Professor Lodhia is widely recognsied as the creator of 'The Qualitative Pitch', a research template used by academics around the world to develop and pitch qualitative research ideas. In 2017, he received the prestigious Hall of Fame Award from the Australasian Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting (A-CSEAR) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sustainability accounting research.

With strong links to industry, Professor Lodhia's work informs the sustainability accounting practices of major organisations in both the public and private sectors, while also shaping the next generation of emerging researchers through his teaching and PhD supervision.

He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, authored a book, and produced numerous industry-focused research reports. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Emerald journal Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, and Associate Editor of Meditari Accountancy Research.

Call for papers

Deadline for paper submissions: 24 August 2026

To secure your spot at the conference, please submit your full paper or extended abstract of 500 words.
To secure your spot at the doctoral colloquium, please submit an extended abstract or a mini research proposal.

The deadline for all submissions is 24 August 2026. Please email your submission to Associate Professor Umesh Sharma, email umesh.sharma@waikato.ac.nz

Authors will be informed of the decision on 18 September 2026.

After the conference, you are welcome to submit your paper for publication to Advances in Management Accounting (AIMA), currently a Q1 journal. The editor of AIMA will be attending the conference, so please discuss the submission requirements with him.

We welcome a broad range of papers on topics such as:

Digitalisation, analytics, and AI in management accounting
Sustainability, ESG, and its implications for management accountants
New planning models - beyond budgeting and adaptive control
Accounting for strategy, value creation, and business model Transformation
Platforms, ecosystems, and interorganisational control
Behavioural and cultural transformation
The changing role of management accounts
Governance, ethics, and the politics of measurement
Accounting change in the public Sector, health, education, and social purpose organisations
Risk, resilience, and crisis-driven transformation
Emerging economies, indigenous contexts, and local forms of accounting and control
Methods for studying transformation

Key contacts

Conference co-convenors: Umesh Sharma, Chris Akroyd, Mary Low

Conference committee members: Christo Ackerman, Pei-Chi Kelly, Siu Chan, Abhishek Mukherjee, Jhon Blesia, Vida Botes, Murugesh Arunachalam, and Hannah Li.

Early bird registrations now open

Register now

Accommodation special offers

University of Waikato College Hall

Conference delegates can stay on campus at University of Waikato College Hall, located off Gate 4, Hillcrest Road, for a discounted rate of $95 per night, with Continental breakfast included.

This accommodation option can be selected and booked during the conference registration process.

Accor Hotels

Accor Hotels is pleased to offer guests attending the NZMA conference a special 10% discount off the public rate for room reservations at both the Novotel Hamilton Tainui Hotel and the Ibis Tainui Hamilton Hotel.

This special offer is valid for stays 23rd - 25th November only*, and the booking needs to be made by Friday, 23^rd October 2026. Rooms are subject to availability.

Novotel Hamilton Tainui Hotel - 7 Alma Street, Hamilton CBD
Ibis Hamilton Tainui Hotel - 18 Alma Street, Hamilton CBD

*If you wish to stay outside these dates, please use the link to place your booking for dates within the discounted period, then email the reservations team directly on h2159-re2@accor.com to request a quote for any additional nights required.

Aspen Manor Motel

Guests attending the NZMA conference can take advantage of a special 10% discount off the public rate for room reservations at the Aspen Manor Motel.

You must book directly through the hotel's own website - www.aspenmanor.co.nz - or phone them on 07 856 9029 or 0800 277 369, and state that you are attending the New Zealand Management Accounting Conference.

If you book through another website, such as booking.com, the discount will not apply. Rooms are subject to availability at the time of booking.

Aspen Manor Motel - 209 Grey Street, Hamilton East

Other accommodation options:

There are numerous accommodation options (hotels, motor lodges, B&Bs) available within 15-30 minutes' travel from the University of Waikato's campus - in either central Hamilton, Tamahere, or Cambridge. See the following websites for details.