2026 Conference Programme

Saturday, 30 May

• • 8.15am: Registrations continue

• • 9am: Welcome and housekeeping – Jeff Tollan, FRONZ president
    Auckland Council representative
    Welcome from Conference host, Glenbrook Vintage Railway

• • 9.20am: Track inspections and
    maintenance – Nigel Whitwell, GVR W&W
    Manager

• • 9.50am: Morning tea

• • 10.05am: City Rail Link update – Russell McMullen

• • 10.35am: NZTA safety moment

• • 11.05am: How to engage with council – Andrew Kay, Franklin local board member

• • 11.30am: Integrated Safety Presentation

• • 12.00pm: Phil O’Connell – Bridging the generational divide
    
    
  • 12.30pm: Lunch
    
    
  • 1pm: KiwiRail update – David Gordon
    
    
  • 1.40pm: Update on the new rail ferries and their infrastructure – Chris McKenzie,
    Chair of Ferry Holdings Ltd
    
    
  • 2.10pm: Insights from NZTA’s new rail safety regulator manager – Pelin Fantham
    
    
  • 2.40pm: Chris Newman and Harvey Stewart from the Rainforest Express – The project, the difficulties and its future.
    
    
  • 3.10pm: Coffee/tea/fingerfood
    
    
  • 3.15pm: TrackSafe – Megan Drayton
    
    
  • 3.50pm: Break before bus trip to MOTAT

Saturday evening

• • 4.45pm (est): Visit to MOTAT 1 and 2 sites, with train and tram rides, workshop visits, and a small meal. Price is additional to full conference fee

• • 8.30pm: Bus departs MOTAT, arriving at the hotel about 9pm

Sunday, 31 May

• • 8.40am: AGM sign in

• • 9am: Tramways upate

• • 9.10am: AGM

• • 10am: Rail Heritage Trust update – Murray King

• • 10.30am: Coach departs the Double Tree Hotel to Pukekohe Railway Station where you transfer to a GVR train for a trip to and tour (by rail) of the Glenbrook Steel Mill, then to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway for lunch, train trips and a tour of the railway. (Train dep. Pukekohe at 11am)

• • 5pm: Bus departs Glenbrook Vintage Railway for Hilton DoubleTree Hotel

• • 5.30pm: Estimated arrival at Hilton DoubleTree Hotel.

• • 6.30pm: 2026 FRONZ Awards Dinner

Monday, 1 June

• • 8.45am: Coach departs Double Tree Hotel to the Pukekohe Railway Station transfer to a Glenbrook Vintage Railway steam excursion for a trip to Huntly (visit Huntly Station Museum) on the way visit Mainline Steam’s new Mercer site and then coach from Huntly to the Bush Tramway Club. (BBQ Lunch)

• • 2.30pm: First bus departs Bush Tramway Club, direct for Auckland Airport (estimated 4pm arrival).

• • 2.30pm: Second coach departs to Huntly, for those travelling by train.

• • 3.15pm: Train departs Huntly for Pukekohe Railway Station

• • 4.45pm: Bus departs Pukekohe for the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel (estimated 5pm arrival).