Gala 2026

27/03/2026

EARLYBIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

We are excited to confirm that next year's Gala will be Friday 27th March at the Dunedin Town Hall. We hope you will be able to join us for a great night of entertainment, food, wine and an auction, so that the Foundation can continue to fund world-class medical research right here in Otago.We are delighted to announce that our headline speaker for next year’s OMRF Gala is Hilary Barry!

Hilary has graced our televisions across Aotearoa since 2016, but now she is joining us at the Dunedin Town Hall on 27th March 2026 at the OMRF Gala! Not only will Hilary be sharing some hilarious stories with us, she’s even agreed to be a “willing” participant for some of MC Jonathan Usher's magic tricks (so long as she’s not sawn in half apparently!).

A born and bred Wellingtonian, Hilary started her career in radio in the Wairarapa before joining TV3 as a junior reporter in Christchurch in 1993. Hilary remained at the network for 23 years as both a reporter and news anchor. In 2016 Hilary moved across town and to the other side of the remote control, joining TVNZ’s Breakfast and then Seven Sharp.

Though she’s won awards for journalism and presenting, Hilary is most well known for her giggling fits and, on one occasion, snorting on air. To this day it remains her most embarrassing moment.

Hilary’s “formal Friday” was a lockdown staple for many of her followers in 2019 and 2020 – a live baking show dressed in her many fabulous outfits.


We are privileged to have the wonderful Jonathan Usher as our MC. Jonathan will be known to many of you not only as an incredible entertainer but as a supporter of a range of charities such as the OMRF. Jonathan will also provide some fabulous entertainment throughout the night.

We have also secured the incredible LA Social as our band for the evening. For those of you who have been to any events with LA Social before, you will know that as soon as they play their first note, the dance floor is full, so we are excited to have booked them with their busy schedule.

What a night! Hilary Barry as our headline speaker, magician and MC extraordinaire Jonathan Usher as our MC, and LA Social as our fantastic band. Combine this with delicious food and wine, dancing, mingling and an auction at the stunning Dunedin Town Hall…would you want to be anywhere else?

Contact Tracey Fleet on 021 030 4900 or [email protected] to lock in your table/tickets. The discounted earlybird price is only available until 30th September:

  • Table of 10 - $2,500 incl GST (instead of $2,650)
  • Ticket - $250 incl GST (instead of $265).

There are also some exciting sponsorship opportunities. Get in touch with Tracey to find out more.