In This Section

Upcoming Aotearoa New Zealand activities and events

The Aotearoa New Zealand office coordinates several events for local members.

On this page

International Women's Day 2025

Woman in profile for IWD ad

The RACS Aotearoa New Zealand International Women's Day breakfast Zoom is back.

Join us on Friday 7 March, from 7 to 8am, as Dr Jane Strang chats with Dr Ineke Meredith, a RACS Fellow and author.

The event is free. Register now.

 

Dr Ineke Meredith

Racing between hospital patients and torn between her roles as a surgeon, a single working mother and a daughter to two sick parents, Dr Meredith's book On Call is about the cost of care, when empathy comes easier with a patient than with family. When every day presents a life-or-death decision, how do you know when you need to stop? 
 
"Do you take your work home with you?" my son’s psychologist asked me once.
 
"Yes," I answered honestly.
 
"Everything is compared to what I see every day. Sometimes I go home just grateful to be alive."
 
Ineke Meredith was born in Aotearoa New Zealand to parents of mixed-Samoan heritage. She spent part of her childhood in Samoa but moved to Aotearoa after winning a scholarship to study medicine. She graduated from the Otago Medical School, Dunedin, in 2003 with an MBChB, and became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2014. In 2015, she commenced her subspecialty training in breast cancer and reconstruction, and spent time in Aotearoa New Zealand, Sydney, UK and Paris.
 
Now a general surgeon with a subspecialty interest in breast cancer and breast reconstruction, Ineke is working and living between Aotearoa and Paris. She has published research articles in international peer-reviewed medical journals on breast cancer and reconstruction, cancer rates among Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand, and has participated in international collaboratives on cancer rates in diaspora.
 
She is formerly a lecturer for the Wellington Medical School in Aotearoa New Zealand and a former member of the clinical advisory group for the Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand. She is now an advisor to a taskforce for improving breast screen rates in Aotearoa. She also founded and runs Fur Love, a dog skin and body care business.
 
Ineke started to write patient stories in her early consultancy, both as a testament to patients and as catharsis after difficult days on call.

Dr Jane Strang

Dr Jane Strang is a general surgeon specialising in general and colorectal surgery in Nelson.
 
Dr Strang has established laparoscopic colorectal surgery as a safe and effective way of treating colorectal problems that require surgery. She has also established ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery), a pathway for enhancing the recovery of patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
 
Dr Strang has received the RACS Denys Sumner Award for excellence in clinical teaching and two other awards for outstanding services to the College.
 
She is a Trainee supervisor and RACS skills course instructor. She was the Aotearoa New Zealand representative for the Women in Surgery Committee from 2002 to 2020 and is the RACS Aotearoa New Zealand International Women's Day convener.

International Women's Day

International Women's Day is celebrated globally as a focal point in the women's rights movement. It was officially recognised by the United Nations in 1977 but first emerged from the activities of labour and universal female suffrage movements at the turn of the twentieth century.
 

 

 

Annual Surgeons' Meeting

Surgeon cutting string for conference advertising

Join us in September 2025

It’s the highlight of RACS’ Aotearoa New Zealand calendar and you’re invited!

Surgery 2025: Enhancing quality and compassion in surgery
Thursday 4 & Friday 5 September
Parliament, Wellington

A chance for connection, reflection and the sharing of knowledge, the Aotearoa New Zealand ASM brings together surgeons from across RACS' nine specialties and around the motu (country) for a two-day cross-disciplinary event. Topics we'll explore include registries, complaints handling, workforce planning and compassionate leadership.

Don't miss this chance to explore shared perspectives and ideas for improved surgical care.

Bookmark this page and stay up-to-date with details including the programme and keynote speakers.