The Asian Pacific Phycology Association (APPA) was established to develop phycology in the Asia Pacific region, to serve as a venue for the exchange of information related to phycology, and to promote international cooperation among phycologists and phycological societies in the Asia Pacific region. Every three years the Asian Pacific Phycological Forum (APPF) is held to provide an opportunity for scientists, technologists, resource managers and people from industry to gather and discuss the latest phycological developments and research in the region.   The Vth APPF will be held in Wellington, New Zealand in November 2008. Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand and home to National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa). The APPF in Wellington is being organised through ASPAB (the Australasian Society for Phycology and Aquatic Botany) with both New Zealand and Australian members assisting, and jointly hosted by NIWA and VUW.