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Contents
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From the Chair - Stephen Guerin
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From the President - Linda Webb
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Executive Officer - Meet Pam Watson
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New Zealand Journal of Music Therapy
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Judith Clark Award report - Alison Talmage
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Music Therapy NZ Conference 2026
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Certificate of Appreciation 2025
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Music Therapy Educators Gathering 2026
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Findings from the 2024 Survey of Registered Music Therapists
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Mauri Tui Tuia | Creative Therapies NZ
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The Sound of Us 2025 – Southern Music Therapy Annual Concert
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A Big Thank You - CeleBRation Choir
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How music therapy benefits men in prison
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2026 Conference of the International Association for Music and Medicine
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2026 Membership Subscriptions
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From the Chair
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As we close out the year, I want to acknowledge your support of Music Therapy New Zealand in what has been another busy year in our community.
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My thanks also goes to the Board (our renamed Council under our new rules) for their time and support of MThNZ
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I acknowledge the efforts of our previous Executive Officer Sarah Cole, and the ongoing work by Barbara Lewis and Lisa Stanley in keeping us functioning as a community.
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Welcome to Pam Watson as she begins her induction into MThNZ as our new EO .
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I hope you get the opportunity to recharge your batteries in coming weeks with family and friends.
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Meri Kirihimete ki a koe me te whānau.
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From the President
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Well deserved congratulations and accolades to Alison Talmage. I was privileged to attend the CeleBRation Choir Christmas function and CeleBRation of Alison's PhD completion. I was able to briefly connect with the retiring Centre for Brain Research (CBR) Director Distinguished Prof Sir Richard Faull and the new CBR Director Prof Hanneke Hulst from The Netherlands.
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What a joyous event that reflected looking back and moving forward with all that the Brain Research Centre has to offer.
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Recently I visited Barbara Mabbett who resides in a retirement village in Warkworth. What a wonderful conversation we had about her enormous contribution to Music Therapy as a Council member, Journal editor and significant writer of our documentation back when the Master of Music Therapy was being established 20 years ago. She truly appreciated a trip down memory lane with much fondness.
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Thank you to all who continue to advocate for Music Therapy and the very appreciated professional leadership of Stephen our Chair. Enjoy the festive season and hopefully a refreshing break before we resume in the New Year.
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Welcome to our new Executive Officer
Pam Watson
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Tēnā koutou katoa,
Ko Āwherika ki te Tonga te whenua tupu
He Tangata Teriti ahau
Ko Pam toku ingoa
Kia ora, hello everyone
I am delighted to be joining Music Therapy NZ in
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January as your new executive officer and am looking forward to meeting you all.
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As background, my most recent experience has been as General Manager of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine – an important part of the health system, which I was privileged to contribute to.
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Music Therapy will be a new area for me, so I have lots to learn – your insights, guidance and input would be very welcome!
I’ll be in contact in the new year.
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Reminders and Key Dates:
- 2026 Council Meetings: 15 February, 24 May, 16 August, 13 September (AGM), 1 November
- Registration Board Renewal APC Closing Date: 1 March 2026
- Membership Renewal Date: 1 April 2026 - 31 March 2027
- Music Therapy Week: 10 - 15 April 2026
- Music Therapy New Zealand Conference: 12 - 13 September 2026
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New Zealand Journal of Music Therapy
Co-Editors Dr Hyunah Cho and Dr Emily Langlois Hunt
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Co-Editors Dr Hyunah Cho and Dr Emily Langlois Hunt hosted a successful writing workshop in August, run by Dr Carolyn Shaw. We hope that this has inspired colleagues around the motu to write about their work and music therapy interests. Your valuable input is essential for developing music therapy practice in New Zealand, as well as providing evidence-based support for the efficacy of music therapy services, a critical element to access funding in the current economic climate. Thank you to the authors who have made submissions for the 2025 issue of the NZJMT. We currently have two articles, two book reviews and a comprehensive report on the MThNZ 2022 survey at various stages in preparation for publication in the 2025 Journal. We also have a further article in progress, and another two expressions of interest in submitting for the 2026 Journal.
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Call for submissions for 2026 Journal
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The Journal welcomes submissions in a wide variety of genres. Please refer to the Journal webpage for more information and to access the current Journal Guidelines. You are welcome to contact the editorial team for a preliminary discussion before submitting an article and submissions are accepted all year round.
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The Journal includes annual Theses and Publications alerts so that we can celebrate the work of NZ Registered Music Therapists and share their work beyond NZJMT. Please email us with details of any book chapters, scholarly articles or theses submitted to the library on completion of PhD/Masters which you would like to be included in our alert: journal@musictherapy.org.nz.
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Projects Grants Group (PGG)
Reminder: Timeline for 1st Funding Applications 2026
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The grant guidelines, application and reporting documents are undergoing some changes and we hope to have these ready in time for the April funding round. Please be aware of this if you are thinking of applying for a grant in the new year and watch out for updates via the website and Pulse.
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Judith Clark Award Report
Alison Talmage
13/12/2025
My thanks to Music Therapy New Zealand and the Project Grants Group for a Lindgren Award towards my attendance at the New Zealand Association of Gerontology (NZAG) conference in Dunedin, December 3-5, 2025.
This annual interdisciplinary conference is a valuable opportunity for networking, raising awareness about music therapy, and hearing about other research, services, and concerns of older people. Day 1 at Ōtākou Marae on the Otago Peninsula included a welcoming pōwhiri, presentations, and the conference dinner.
Days 2 and 3 at the University of Otago included three insightful keynote presentations:
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My presentation focused on the last action research cycle of my PhD action research: Singing Together in a Neurological Choir: The Benefits, Enablers and Barriers Experienced by Participants (with my PhD supervisors as valued co-authors: Associate Professor Te Oti Rakena, Professor Suzanne Purdy CNZM, and Adjunct Professor Daphne Rickson ONZM). This cycle asked neurological choir members and volunteers about their experience and perspectives through interviews and focus groups. Interview methods included
photo elicitation, using choir photos to prompt reminiscence and discussion, as well as choosing a song to sing together, and discussing choir documentation and correspondence. I also acknowledged CeleBRation Choir founder member Mary Brown, who passed away recently and is greatly missed.
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The final afternoon of the conference included panel discussions open to the wider Dunedin community. I enjoyed being part of a panel with dance-movement therapist Francine Hills and others. Yes, there was singing and dancing, as well as a Q and A, and informal chats over afternoon tea. The afternoon concluded with dance and music performances by local community groups for older people.
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The next NZAG conference will be in Ōtautahi Christchurch in early December 2026. If you work with older
people, do consider submitting a presentation abstract. The SoundsWell Singers’ performance, led by Penny
Warren and Megan Glass, was well received in 2024, and I have always felt welcome. Further info: https://gerontology.org.nz
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Image: Alison Talmage, presenting at the 2025 NZAG conference at the University of Otago.
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Sinead Hegarty here, I am a Hawkes Bay based music therapist and member of the Music Therapy New Zealand Board. I am also proud to be part of the Music Therapy Week working group for 2026.
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Since 2023 Music Therapy week has been held between the 10th to the 15th of April. Music therapy week is a chance to celebrate, advocate and share our profession with the wider community.
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As a newly graduated music therapist in 2024, music therapy week was a fun and low pressure way for me to connect with my local community and establish myself in the profession. I really urge everyone, especially new therapists to get involved.
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The theme for music therapy week will align with the conference theme “Te Poutama Hononga, Weaving Connections”. We hope this theme inspires you to share stories of the intersections of current practice with culture, identity, professional relationships, Disability and beyond.
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We hope to build on publicity received in recent years, so if you have a story you want to share, or are thinking about writing for MusT or presenting at a conference on a topic related to this theme, we would love to hear from you.
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If you would like to join the working group, in planning and organising music therapy week please be in touch. We aim to get a nice spread of representation from around the motu. If you are interested email me at sinead@musictherapy.org.nz, our next meeting will be held in the new year.
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For those of you wanting to be involved in other ways. Let us know what events you’d like to see/host, share your ideas and seeds of ideas here:
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Where: Tāmaki Makarau Auckland
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Theme: Te Poutama Hononga: Weaving Connections
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The countdown is on for Conference 2026, to be held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (venue to be confirmed) on Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 September, with an optional Friday workshop, Friday evening reception, and the conference dinner on Saturday. Keynote speakers and venue will be announced early in 2026.
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We hope to include an optional early evening pre-conference reception on Friday September 11th at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre. Additionally, preliminary plans are in place for Raukatauri to offer a pre-conference workshop for music therapists on Friday afternoon. Further details will be available early in 2026.
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Te Poutama Hononga: Weaving Connections
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The 2026 conference theme celebrates the art of weaving together people, stories, and music, creating patterns of understanding, and community. Each thread represents a unique experience or voice, and through the process of weaving diverse strands, new relationships and meanings emerge.
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The te reo name for our conference has been gifted by Matua Sonny Niha, kaumatua for the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research. Te Poutama Hononga means ”the connected journey of achievement and progress”.
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Our Logo, the Pikorua is a Māori symbol, often a single or double twist (figure-eight shape), representing the eternal journey of life, unbreakable bonds, friendship, loyalty, and the connection between people, families (whānau), and the spiritual world, inspired by intertwined fern fronds. It signifies paths that diverge but always remain connected, symbolizing unity and the strength found in relationships
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Call for Presentations - Spread the Word!
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The call for presentations is now open and closes on Sunday 15 March 2026, 5pm.
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The call is open to members, registered music therapists, allied professionals, students, and the general public. Please spread the word among your personal and professional networks.
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We welcome submissions for oral presentations, panels/round tables, workshops, posters, performances, shared musicking, and other creative formats that reflect our conference theme and reflect the diversity of practice, participation, theory, and collaboration. We welcome your critical reflections; magical moments; and your journey with music therapy or related fields.
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Our audience will include members, registered music therapists, people with lived experience, allied health professionals, students, people involved in community groups or government agencies, and the wider public.
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(If you have any difficulty using the form, please email the Administrator for an alternative option.)
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Conference Selection Committee
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Invitations have been sent to potential Conference Selection Committee members. The committee will be announced as soon as all members are confirmed.
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Registration will open in May 2026. A provisional conference programme will be published before registration opens.
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Thanks to the Conference Working Group
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My thanks to all members of our working group for their creativity, commitment, and open communication.
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Irene van Schalkwyk, Kathryn Stevenson, Leesa Tilley, Rachel Foxell, Rachael Farrell, and expert administrator Barbara Lewis.
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Alison Talmage
MThNZ Council Member
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CALL FOR PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS
MThNZ Conference 2026
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Calling all presenters and performers who wish to offer an oral presentation, panel/round table, workshop, poster, performance, shared musicking, and other creative formats that reflect our conference theme and reflect the diversity of practice, participation, theory, and collaboration. We welcome your critical reflections; magical moments; and your journey with music therapy or related fields.
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The conference theme, Te Poutama Hononga: Weaving Connections, celebrates the art of weaving together people, stories, and music, creating patterns of understanding, and community. The te reo name, gifted by Matua Sonny Nehu (University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research) means “the connected journey of achievement and progress”. Each thread represents a unique experience or voice, and through the process of weaving diverse strands, new relationships and meanings emerge.
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We welcome submissions for oral presentations, panels/round tables, workshops, posters, performances, shared musicking, and other creative formats that reflect our conference theme and reflect the diversity of practice, participation, theory, and collaboration. We welcome your critical reflections; magical moments; and your journey with music therapy or related fields. Our audience will include members, registered music therapists, people with lived experience, allied health professionals, students, people involved in community groups or government agencies, and the wider public.
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(If you have any difficulty using the form, please email the Administrator for an alternative option.)
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Oral presentations: 20 minutes plus 5 minutes questions (25 minutes total), followed by a five-minute changeover and time to move to the next session.
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Panel discussions and roundtables: 55 minutes (including short presentations, discussion, and audience questions) - for example, three speakers, each 10 minutes, and 25 minutes discussion.
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Workshops: 55 minutes, with an emphasis on active audience participation.
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Posters (size A0 or A1) will be displayed throughout the conference, with a scheduled opportunity for presenters to give a brief elevator pitch introducing their work.
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Performances of 15-30 minutes will be featured during the conference breaks
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Other format suggestions are welcome, if aligned with the conference theme.
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Note, you may submit more than one presentation proposal; due to scheduling limitations, we may invite oral presentation proposals to be presented as a poster instead, and we reserve the right to limit oral presentations to one per presenter (after the anonymous review process).
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Response to presenters: Your submission will be acknowledged, and the Selection Committee will aim to finalise the programme by 1 April. Advice will be sent out as soon as possible after this date.
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Please spread the word among your personal and professional networks. The call is open to members, registered music therapists, allied professionals, students, and the general public.
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Music Therapy Educators Gathering 2026
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The ArtEZ Academy of Music in partnership with Aalborg University (Denmark) and Melbourne University (Australia) are hosting a unique Music Therapy Educators Gathering
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Music educators from around the world will meet in Enschede in the Netherlands on 16th and 17th April to explore the evolving landscape of our profession. The timing of this collaborative gathering is fortuitous for Music Therapy in New Zealand given current course developments at Victoria University of Wellington and the potential for the Master of Creative Arts to begin at the University of Auckland in 2027. It is likely that Victoria University of Wellington staff will be represented at the event and will provide feedback for the wider music therapy community in due course
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Findings from the 2024 Survey of Registered Music Therapists
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The 2024 Survey aimed to obtain statistical information “to promote better understanding of music therapy in New Zealand, and to support registration, pay scales and other employment opportunities that would enhance work opportunities in NZ”. It was developed by Music Therapy New Zealand council representatives and administered by the New Zealand Music Therapy Registration Board. Applicants for registration gave permission for the deidentified statistical information to be shared with Music Therapy New Zealand. Dr Daphne Rickson completed the analysis and prepared this report 1.
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There were 78 responses to the survey (approximately 87% of eligible participants). All respondents identified as Registered Music Therapists. One also identified as a counsellor, one as a Regional Centre Manager, a third as a lecturer, and another as a supervisor.
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IHC Library
Did you know that Music Therapy New Zealand has a resource Collection at the IHC Library ?
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Our partners at the IHC library hold MThNZ's library collection, which includes
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e-books. Library access is free to anyone living in New Zealand. Books are
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requested online and mailed out countrywide along with a return
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The Library is open to anyone living in New Zealand over 18. They have information on all aspects of intellectual disability, autism and other developmental disabilities, with resources built up over many years.
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You can join the Library by registering online, registering in person, or by phoning us. You need to be over 18 to join. Contact us if you have forgotten your login details, please don’t re-register.
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IHC Library is open to visitors. Please make sure you carry a mask as requirements are constantly changing and you may need to wear one. You can visit the library on the
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Opening hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, except for public holidays.
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Congratulations
Mauri Tui Tuia | Creative Therapies NZ
for this very well deserved recognition for their trauma-informed creative support for tamariki.
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From the Judges: “Mauri Tui Tuia exemplifies innovation and impact in the creative industries, bridging art, health, and education through trauma- informed, culturally grounded creative therapies. Serving diverse communities across Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau, their work reaches tamariki, whānau, educators, and iwi partners creating measurable social and wellbeing outcomes. As Aotearoa’s only organisation uniting arts, music, and dance movement therapy, Mauri Tui Tuia is forging new pathways in an emerging market, demonstrating commercial sustainability while redefining how creativity drives community resilience and inclusion based right here in Tai Tokerau.”
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The Sound of Us 2025 – Southern Music Therapy Annual Concert
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In September, we, Southern Music Therapy (SMT), hosted our annual concert The Sound of Us 2025 at the Braintree Wellness Centre, with performances by our clients, for our clients, their families and support workers. This is more than just a concert; every year has and will continue to demonstrate how music can tell stories of resilience, connection, and growth. This year we had almost 100 people attend – record numbers!
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Each year, our therapists choose one client or group they think would benefit from the opportunity to perform in the concert. We had 10 outstanding performances this year. Our clients' performances included a few groups sharing medley’s while playing a variety of instruments; a couple of individuals shared covers of their favorite songs by Ed Sheeran, ABBA & Billy Joel, along with a few original compositions. Each individual performer has their own unique story, this includes those living with brain injuries, blindness, intellectual disabilities, neurodegenerative conditions, mental health conditions, and in stroke rehabilitation, reflecting a cross-section of SMT clients.
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The team couldn’t miss out this year so we included an interactive item facilitated by our music therapy students, and a whole SMT team performance playing Country Roads on our own instruments including the flute, violin, trombone, bass guitar, clarinet & keys - you can imagine the vibe of the room by this point!
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A highlight of the SMT concerts is always getting to celebrate our clients and experiencing the warmth and encouragement from our audience. If you are in Christchurch next September, keep an eye on our website & socials for the next concert – you won’t be disappointed!
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A Big Thank you
The CeleBRation Choir Christmas celebration marked the end of another year of
singing and the completion (at last!) of my very long, part-time PhD at Waipapa
Taumata Rau | University of Auckland School of Music and Centre for Brain
Research (CBR).
I would like to record a special thank you to my supervisors, Associate Prof Te Oti
Rakena, Prof Suzanne Purdy, and Adjunct Prof Daphne Rickson NZ RMTh, for their
support, guidance, and patience. Special thanks too to all my participants, including
members and volunteers from the CBR’s CeleBRation Choir and the Kahikatea
Music Therapy and Arts Trust’s Sing Up Rodney community group; and several
members of Music Therapy New Zealand and Aphasia Choirs Go Global. I am also
very grateful to Jenny Gordon NZ RMTh for a wonderful job-share partnership.
Our honoured guests included the CeleBRation Choir’s number one supporter,
Distinguished Prof Sir Richard Faull, founder of the CBR. Sir Richard is a semi-
finalist for New Zealander of the New Year and is semi-retiring to become an
ambassador of the CBR. We were also delighted to meet the new CBR Director, Prof
Hanneke Hulst, a neuroscientist from The Netherlands. We were also pleased to be
joined by Linda Webb, MThNZ President, and many other supporters from the
University.
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MThNZ President Linda Webb and Alison Talmage NZ RMTh
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(Photo © Centre for Brain Research)
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(Photo © Centre for Brain Research)
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How music therapy benefits men in prison
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“Music brings people together. It bridges cultural gaps, creates instant connection, and lights up the brain in ways we’re only beginning to understand,” says Chris O’Connor, a registered music therapist with more than 20 years of experience as a professional musician, composer and educator.
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In recognition of his contribution, Chris received the Northern Region Arts in Corrections Educator of the Year Award 2025.
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Chris’s path to music therapy emerged from a lifelong relationship with music – starting with playing drums as a teenager and performing in various bands, then continuing through formal studies in jazz at the Wellington Conservatorium of Music and Ethnomusicology at Victoria University of Wellington.
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After two decades of performing, recording, composing and teaching, Chris felt it was time to take a new direction. Drawn to music therapy and its power to foster healing – something he had personally experienced – he pursued a masters degree in the field. Read more.....
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2026 Conference of the International Association for Music and Medicine
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The 9th International Conference of the International Association for Music and Medicine will take place in Bengaluru, India, and online, from October 22–24, 2026.
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The theme is "Shaping Cultural Dialogues within Music and Medicine," bringing together researchers, clinicians, artists, educators, and practitioners to explore how cultural perspectives shape music-based healthcare.
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The abstract submission deadline has been extended and is open until January 10, 2026, with acceptance notifications on March 1, 2026. Presentations may be delivered either in person or online. More information is available at iammonline.com/iamm2026
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2026 Membership Subscriptions
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At the Board meeting in November a small increase in subscriptions was approved.
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Subscriptions are due on 1 April 2026. The new subscription rates are as follows:
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Friend and Non-Practising RMTh $70
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Corporate membership $220
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Vacancies
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Registered Music Therapist (part-time), Southern Music Therapy
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Closes: 20th January 2026
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We are seeking a skilled music therapist to join our dynamic, supportive team.
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The ideal candidate will have the following key skills & attributes:
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Strong facilitation skills and confidence in leading group sessions.
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Ability to work effectively in learning environments and adapt to diverse needs.
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Strong vocal abilities and confidence using guitar and/or piano in sessions.
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Experience working in specialist education settings.
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- Schools and community environments: Supporting children in specialist education settings and inclusive learning groups.
- Clinic-based sessions: Working with adult clients, including those with long-term neurological or developmental needs, at both of our clinic spaces.
- Group and individual therapy: Facilitating sessions that promote communication, cognitive development, emotional expression, and social connection.
- Opportunities to lead large group music experiences, such as instrumental ensembles or choirs, fostering creativity and collaboration.
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This role is based in Christchurch, New Zealand and will be part-time, minimum of 20 hours per week.
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Applications for this role should be sent to info@smt.nz by 20th January 2026
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Acknowledgments
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MusT is a publication of Music Therapy New Zealand.
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Editor: Lisa Stanley (Administrator)
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Contributors: Stephen Guerin, Linda Webb, Barbara Lewis
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Music Therapy New Zealand is a registered charity in New Zealand. As a not-for-profit
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Music Therapy New Zealand relies on the generous support of donors and members to
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sustain its activities. A heartfelt thank you to the generous contributions of our friends,
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affiliates, corporate members and supporters upon which our organisation depends.
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