38th Annual ILANZ Conference | Ignite, Taku ahi tūtata!
Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, 6 - 8 May 2026
From small beginnings nearly forty years ago, the conference has grown to be a major event in the inhouse community’s calendar.
Designed by inhouse lawyers, for inhouse lawyers, we aim to bring our members together and inspire professional and personal development exploring a wide range of relevant issues - from big picture thinking to practical takeaways.
Our conference name Ignite, Taku ahi tūtata! translates to “the fires that are close, sharpen my blade”.
Taku ahi tūtata, taku mata kikoha. Taku ahi mamao, taku mata kiporo.
The blade that is close to the fire is sharp, the blade that is further away is blunt.
This whakataukī (proverb) speaks of fire as a metaphor for one’s passions. It refers to keeping close to that which ignites one's passion in order to be skilled or adept – sharp blades are forged in the fire. The further away from the fire the more disinterested one becomes. The proverb conveys the idea of the conference igniting attendees' passions, thoughts, connections and skills - reinvigorating them in the process.
Throughout the two conference days, you'll hear from industry experts on a range of topics from legal to practice management and soft skills to wellbeing. As well as discussing legal trends, conference provides opportunities to share insights and network with peers at our three social functions - and you can meet a substantial proportion of your CPD requirements across these 2 days alone!
| Wednesday 6 May |
AJ Park Welcome Function, 5.00pm - 7.00pm |
| Thursday 7 May | Day 1 and Social Function, 8.30am - 9.30pm |
| Friday 8 May | Day 2 and Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, 8.30am - 11.30pm |
Why you need to attend:
- Enhance your professional skills and knowledge
- Fulfil a large portion of your CPD hours for the year
- Network with peers, industry experts, suppliers and potential clients
- Explore exhibitor offerings to discover innovative tools, technology, and services to streamline your legal operations
- Expose yourself to new ideas, connect with like-minded professionals and return to work feeling energised
Social Functions
The conference has three networking functions – a welcome function to open the conference, a social event on the middle evening and it concludes with celebrating outstanding practitioners in the in-house community at our Awards Dinner.
| Wednesday - AJ Park Welcome Function |
| 6 May, 5.00pm - 7.00pm - Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, Exhibition Area If you are arriving in Wellington on Wednesday, join us for drinks and canapes. It's the perfect opportunity to get settled in and meet your fellow conference goers. For those attending the ILANZ Conference solo, we invite you to meet at the ILANZ exhibitor stand at 4:30pm before the Welcome Function. Whether you’re looking to chat with new people or just want to get comfortable, this is great opportunity to meet and connect with other solo attendees before the conference. |
| Thursday - Social Function |
|
7 May, 6.30pm - 9.30pm - The Banquet Hall, Parliament
Dress code: Smart/casual. |
| Friday - Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony |
| 9 May, 6.45pm - 11.30pm - Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre Friday night is a time to celebrate our in-house community with the annual Awards Dinner. Join us for an evening of celebration, entertainment and excellent food and wine. We encourage all to dress to the theme - 'WOW us'. Dress code: Costume or formal / cocktail attire. Dress to the theme and be in to win a prize for the best dressed! |