About 500 participants from throughout New Zealand will converge on Dunedin this week for the National Rural Health Conference.
The New Zealand Rural General Practice Network gathering is being held in association with the New Zealand Rural Hospital Network and the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand.
Conference manager Rob Olsen, of Wellington, said the event would give Dunedin an economic boost, through spending on accommodation, dining and other items.
About 350 participants are from the South Island and 150 from the North Island. The conference's main aim was to advance continuing education in rural health.
Mr Olsen was pleased about 90 students in medicine, nursing, midwifery and pharmacy would attend the event, being held from tomorrow to Sunday.
The speakers will include Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman, University of Otago graduate Nigel Latta, a psychologist, author and TV personality, and Matt Vickers, the husband of the late Wellington lawyer Lecretia Seales.
Ms Seales' legal team last year unsuccessfully sought clarification in the High Court at Wellington about whether it would be an offence under the Crimes Act if her doctor were to help her die and if a ban on assisted dying contravened her human rights under the Bill of Rights Act.
‘‘Wai Ora, Healthy Environments'' is the theme of the conference, being held at the Dunedin Centre.
The Pat Farry Trust Fun Run and Walk will be held on Saturday morning in association with the conference and the Otago Polytechnic School of Nursing will host a symposium and workshop tomorrow for rural nurses on learning in the 21st century.
Polytechnic principal nursing lecturer Jean Ross said the workshop would be attended by about 30 practising rural nurses from throughout the country.
