What matters to practice managers? Insights from PMAANZ 2026

From making better use of technology to supporting staff wellbeing and improving patient experiences, practice managers who attended the 2026 Practice Managers and Administrators Association of New Zealand (PMAANZ) Conference in Wellington came away with plenty to share. 

We supported 11 practice managers – all from different practices across the Pinnacle network – to attend, giving them the opportunity to learn, connect with colleagues and bring new ideas back to their practices. 

Pinnacle has a long history of supporting practice managers from across the network to attend the PMAANZ conference. They are a valued part of the primary care workforce, and their work is critical to keeping general practices running and supporting patient care. While our investment is modest, it’s one way we can show our appreciation for the work they do and our commitment to their professional development.  

We were also proud to support Chynelle Williams, practice manager at Ngāti Pikiao Health Clinic, who presented on “Building belonging: Serving Māori and indigenous communities with compassion”. 

It was great to see Chynelle sharing her knowledge and experience with colleagues from across the country. 

Learnings, takeaways and highlights 

We asked practice managers from our network about their conference highlights and what they'd learned. Their feedback covered everything from the day-to-day challenges of running a busy practice to the importance of looking after staff and building strong relationships with patients and whānau. Highlights and takeaways included: 

• considerable interest in AI and digital technology, particularly how these tools could reduce administration, improve workflows, strengthen cybersecurity and support patient care  

• connecting with other practice managers, rural practices and service providers  

• leadership, staff wellbeing and resilience: Practice managers reflected on managing stress, making decisions under pressure and creating workplaces where people feel supported, included and able to communicate openly. 

• patient relationships and equity; feedback highlighted the value of listening to patients and whānau, building trust, recognising barriers to healthcare and adapting support to meet the needs of different people and communities. 

• useful learning around Cornerstone accreditation, privacy, information management, ACC processes and governance responsibilities. Hearing from healthcare leaders, policymakers and industry experts gave attendees different perspectives on the future of primary care. 

Overall, the practice managers we heard from valued the chance to learn new things, exchange ideas and connect with others doing similar work. They came home with practical ideas to share with their teams and consider putting into practice, as well as a renewed appreciation of how much good leadership, strong relationships and teamwork matter in general practice. 

The 2027 PMAANZ Conference will be held in Ōtepoti Dunedin from 16-18 September.