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| The Gathering |
Annual Meeting of New Zealand Health Professionals
Providing Services for People with Borderline Personality Disorder
In 2006, the annual gathering of New Zealand clinicians involved in providing
services for people with Borderline Personality Disorder was again held in
Christchurch. Conference
Announcement Pamphlet 
The conference was hosted by the Mental Health Division of the Canterbury District Health Board and took place 5 September to 7 September inclusive. The conference featured three respected international keynote speakers - Dr Jon Allen, Professor Anthony Bateman, and Professor Peter Fonagy - each of whom has contributed ground breaking perspectives on the understanding and treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. With these three international speakers, the conference was extended to three days.
Pre-conference workshops were held by national presenters on Monday 4 September, plus an introductory MBT workshop with Professors Fonagy and Bateman. Workshop 6, Mentalisation Based Treatment advanced workshop Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September.
The conference was a huge success, attended by delegates from around New Zealand, many from Australia, and even some from the United Kingdom.
Our thanks go to the Minister of Health, Hon Pete Hodgson, and Director General of Mental Health, Dr David Chaplow, for opening the conference and imparting to the field of treatment for personality disorder the importance it deserves.
Professors Fonagy, Bateman, and Allen impressed all, not only with their formidable individual and combined experience, expertise, and knowledge in the treatment of borderline personality disorder, particularly their own 'model' of Mentalisation Based Therapy, (MBT), but the accessible, clear way they delivered their keynote addresses and workshops, and how personally charming, witty, humorous, and informal they were generally.
On behalf of the organising committee, I extend our thanks to all who presented or attended pre-conference workshops and the conference itself.
Barry Kennedy
Conference Chairperson
The Gathering 2006
