We are officially in full countdown mode. With less than a week to go, the momentum behind the Rural WONCA Conference is impossible to miss. Final details are locking in, registrations are still coming through, and Wellington is about to welcome a truly global rural health community.

We begin with WWPRP Council Day, followed by Assembly Day, setting the scene for what comes next — four big days of conference that are anything but business as usual. Expect packed plenaries, hands‑on workshops, and cross‑cutting conversations that bring rural clinicians, researchers, policy leaders and communities into the same space. One standout moment will be our political panel, tackling how future New Zealand governments will actually deliver on the Rural Health Strategy and close rural health inequities — a timely, bold, and much‑needed conversation.

The conference experience goes well beyond the session rooms. We’ll be opening together with a welcome drink at Te Papa, celebrating leadership and impact at the awards dinner at Tākina, and reconnecting through a strong line‑up of social events designed to spark real connection. Our partners’ programme and Whānau Pass will also open the door to Wellington and the wider region — ensuring this week is memorable for everyone travelling with us.

Culture and place are front and centre. Each conference day will be grounded by powerful cultural performances, from kapa haka to Pacific dance, led by local young people and iconic groups. The Ahi Kā – Te Ao Māori Hub will be a living, breathing space within the conference — a place to pause, listen, kōrero, and engage deeply with hauora Māori and Indigenous worldviews of rural health. This is not an add‑on; it is central to who we are and how we think about a thriving rural future.

And yes — we need to talk about the food. The menu is exceptional. Local, seasonal, proudly New Zealand produce, thoughtfully prepared and shared. It reflects our values of sustainability, connection to place, and manaakitanga — and it’s going to be a highlight in its own right.

Most importantly, this conference will leave a legacy. Through the Aotearoa Declaration, published abstracts, and supporting research papers, we are contributing to something bigger than this week alone. These documents matter. They strengthen national rural health sustainability and help drive meaningful global action long after delegates return home.

We are almost there. I cannot wait to welcome you to Wellington for what promises to be a bold, energising, deeply connected, and unforgettable Rural WONCA Conference.

Ngā mihi nui,

Dr Fiona Bolden
Chair, Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network & Chair, Host Organising Committee 

Important scam alert - accommodation and travel emails
We are aware of scam emails being sent to conference presenters and participants, falsely claiming to offer accommodation or travel arrangements for Rural WONCA 2026. Please note:

• Rural WONCA 2026 does not use third-party travel agents to contact attendees.
• Any email requesting your travel dates, payment details, or accommodation confirmation did not come from the conference unless it is from an official Rural WONCA / Conference Organiser email address.
• If you receive a suspicious email, do not reply, click links, or provide any personal or payment information.
• We recommend reporting these messages using “Report Phishing” in your email provider and then deleting them.
• For accurate and up-to-date information, please refer only to the official conference website or communications sent directly by the Rural WONCA 2026 Conference Team.
• If you are unsure about a message you have received, please contact us via the official conference contact details listed here.