Several organisations have joined forces to host the 1869 Conference and Heritage Festival, celebrating the University of Otago's founding that year.
As part of university anniversary activities, the Otago Centre for Research on Colonial Culture and the Australasian Victorian Studies Association are co-sponsoring the conference.
About 80 people, including 20 from six overseas countries, will attend the three-day event, which starts on September 25.
Among the speakers are Paul Guy, of the Otago botany department,
novelist Tina Makereti, film producer Lisa Chatfield, Otago senior lecturer Catherine Smith and
Nature magazine chief editor Helen Pearson.
The Southern Heritage Trust and university anniversary organisers are also supporting the two-day town and gown-themed festival, which starts on September 28.
