MaDE2020 has been postponed until further notice. Conference dates are to be advised, likely to be in late 2020.

Dear MaDE Network members,

Circumstances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have dictated that we must announce the postponement of MaDE2020 in Auckland until later this year.

This decision was taken after engaging with various stakeholders including our sponsors and exhibitors. Obviously the hosting of MaDE2020 in May 2020 would have been impossible.

As you are all aware, the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications have been grave and the escalation worldwide in recent weeks and days is very concerning. The MaDE2020 Organising Committee has been monitoring the situation and reviewing all available options, with the health and safety of everyone involved being our priority.

The preparation for MaDE2020 has been ongoing since June 2019 with many colleagues; authors, reviewers, sponsors, exhibitors and of course all those already registered, contributing towards making MaDE2020 another successful event. We feel that by postponing rather than cancelling MaDE2020 outright, we are safeguarding all the hard work done to date. The new dates for MaDE2020 will be decided after the New Zealand COVID-19 lockdown period has been lifted and will likely be late 2020 at the same venue, Cordis Auckland. We see this as the best solution we have at hand under these unprecedented circumstances. In setting the new date, we acknowledge that there will be various limitations such as the availability of keynote speakers, sponsors, abstract authors and delegates.

We will strive towards ensuring an exciting MaDE2020 Conference Programme with sponsors and exhibitors participating as they intended and abstract authors retaining their opportunity to present an oral or poster if they choose to make themselves available to attend.

We sincerely hope that you understand our decision and continue to support MaDE2020 under the circumstances. We acknowledge that for some of you, the new date may not be ideal, but we hope you will be able to participate in our event later this year. The MaDE2020 Organising Committee is working hard to implement this postponement and will communicate with all concerned in due course to make these changes go as smoothly as possible.

We will do our utmost to ensure that MaDE2020 will be yet another successful event. And, last but not least, the Organising Committee send their heartfelt support to all those affected in one way or another by COVID-19.

Dedicated New Zealand government website: covid19.govt.nz