The unaffiliated fee is for retired participants, or for anyone who does not receive a regular wage or salary. All other participants pay the affiliated fee.

No, the conference registration fee includes entry to the opening ceremony and the three full days of the conference.

Accompanying guests may attend the opening ceremony (20 Oct) but not the conference sessions (21-23 Oct). Tickets for the opening ceremony are available with registration, costing NZD30 for accompanying guests. The event includes as Maori welcome (mihi whakatau), a kapa haka performance, VIP speeches and drinks and finger food. The opening ceremony is held at the Dark Sky Project, 1 Motuariki Lane, Tekapo.

This is an optional event for the evening of Tuesday 22 October. It will be a three- course meal in Peppers Bluewater Resort, Lake Tekapo, which is 500 m from the Tekapo Community Hall. Places are strictly limited with only a few remaining tickets. The after-dinner speaker is Prof Marie Connolly, who has just published her first murder mystery set at Mt John Observatory entitled Dark Sky.

Yes, but you must indicate your needs or those of accompanying guests when registering.

No, these visits are free but, as space is limited, we ask participants or their accompanying guests to register for the observatory tour so we know numbers in advance. The tours take place from 2 pm to 4:30 pm on Sun 20 Oct, leaving from the Dark Sky Project, 1 Motuariki Lane, Tekapo

Yes, all registered conference participants are welcome to offer a talk or a poster. Limited speaking slots are available (15 or 20 minutes, including a few minutes for Q&A) and poster board spaces available (A0 portrait or A1 landscape).

Yes, email a pdf file to [email protected] by 11 October. The cost is A0 NZD30, A1 NZD25. Laminating posters, if required, costs $20 for A0 and $12 for A1.

The University of Canterbury provides 3 shuttle vehicles for the road trip from Christchurch to Tekapo. Seats must be booked in advance and are preferentially for keynote invited speakers and overseas participants. Departures from Christchurch will be 9 am, 11 am and 1 pm on 20 October and for the return to Christchurch at 5:30 pm on 23 October (on conclusion of the conference) and at 9 am and 12:30 pm on Thu 24 Oct. The road trip takes 3 hours or more if you stop for a break on the way. Email [email protected] if you wish to reserve a seat.

Please check the accommodation page on this site for a wide list of options. Tekapo has several motels and many privately owned, furnished holiday homes. Those on the west side of the village are closer to the conference venue (Tekapo Community Hall, 6 Aorangi Crescent), but all are within walking distance to both the Dark Sky Project and the Tekapo Community Hall. Several places offering accommodation are already full for late October and prices are high. If you have your own transport, you may find lower accommodation prices in Fairlie (35 min drive) and Twizel (45 min drive).

Yes, there will be a book display with a number of recent tiles being offered for sale. Payments can be made by cash, eftpos or credit card during the morning and afternoon tea breaks or the lunch break during the conference 21-23 Oct.