The group marked its 20th anniversary this week, with a seminar that reflected on how far research had come over that time and considered what new questions needed answering.
Formed in 1989 by Prof Sir David Skegg - who is now the University of Otago's vice-chancellor - and Prof Charlotte Paul, the group is based in the University of Otago's department of preventive and social medicine.
It became responsible for the surveillance of Aids and HIV infection in New Zealand, and its initial goals were to monitor the epidemic, develop new methods of monitoring and evaluation, and contribute to the wider knowledge of the disease.
Director Dr Nigel Dickson joined the group the following year, and believed it had been successful in monitoring the disease and linking trends with various behaviours.
He said the number of diagnoses from sexual relations between males rose in the 2000s and remained higher than in the 1980s.
He wanted to find out why, and believed it might have had something to do with behaviour not being as safe as it was.
Prof Paul said the seminar was the perfect way to "celebrate what we've done and to be open to the future".
As methods of surveillance had changed and would change in the future, the group would need to stay fluid in order to remain relevant.
About 50 people from different medical areas attended the event which featured 11 speakers from New Zealand and Australia.
