The conference is devoted to the theme "Geographical Interactions'' and features several different forms of geography, including physical and human geography.
It will also traverse many topics.
The gathering brings together academics, secondary school teachers, professionals, and others with an interest in geography.
Many of the participants are from the North Island, and about 30 people have come from overseas.
The president of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Emeritus Prof Richard Bedford, of Waikato University, will give a keynote address this morning, focusing on the "challenges and opportunities'' for geographers engaging with public policy.
The Otago University geography department and the Otago branch of the geographical society are hosting the conference, which runs for three days, preceded by a preliminary "icebreaker'' event yesterday.
Organising committee member Dr Sean Connelly said geography was sometimes misunderstood but was "at the heart'' of most of the critical debates over issues facing New Zealand and the rest of the world.
The impact of changes in the export trade and of intensive agriculture on the country's environment, as well as challenges for small rural towns, were among a host of topics to be discussed, he said.
