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Abstract

The 59th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of New Zealand was held at Tūhura Otago Museum, Dunedin (26–28 November 2025) under the theme “Advancing Nutrition: Evidence, Translation, and Action”, reflecting the imperative to translate nutrition science into equitable, culturally grounded policy and practice. Scientific sessions spanned sustainable food systems, best practice in research methods and reporting, data sovereignty, women’s health, sports nutrition, Māori and Pacific health, mental wellbeing, chronic disease prevention and management, and nutrition across the lifespan. Plenary presentations addressed systems approaches to Pacific food environments and policy; Māori considerations for indigenous data sovereignty in administrative and health datasets; the CONSORT–Nut extension to strengthen reporting of nutrition randomised controlled trials; menopause and cardiometabolic health; regional action on non–communicable diseases (including the MANA monitoring framework); the benefits and risks of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP–1) receptor agonists within a weight–inclusive, culturally responsive model of care; and critical appraisal of social media nutrition narratives affecting active women. The Muriel Bell Lecture, highlighted strengths–based Pacific nutrition initiatives informed by the Fonofale model of health. Workshops emphasised practical translation, including behaviour change, food waste reduction in aged residential care, weight–inclusive care for GLP–1 users, culinary nutrition, oral health, and dementia risk reduction. Overall, the conference showcased contemporary nutrition research and practice and underscored shared responsibility to turn evidence into action that improves population health and reduces inequities.