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The National Rural Health Conference 2025 was held from 1–3 May at Te Pae, Christchurch. New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa editor Barbara Fountain and reporters Fiona Cassie and Martin Johnston were there to take in the presentations and socialise with attendees.
![New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa editor Barbara Fountain, RNZCGP president elect and Tauranga-based specialist GP Luke Bradford, Ministry of Health clinical chief advisor rural health Helen MacGregor, and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora clinical director primary and community care Sarah Clarke [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/1.%20Barbara%20Fountain%2C%20Luke%20Bradford%2C%20Helen%20MacGregor%20and%20Sarah%20Clarke.jpg?itok=kb6uqswb)
![Ngāti Porou Oranga specialist GP Elina Pekansaari and Te Nikau Hospital specialist in general practice and rural hospital medicine David Short [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/2.%20Elina%20Pekansaari%20and%20David%20Short.jpg?itok=IsUs-f2F)
![Locum specialist GP Margriet Dijkstra and OmniHealth regional operations manager (southern) Patricia Morais-Ross [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/3.%20Margriet%20Dijkstra%20and%20Patricia%20Morais-Ross.jpg?itok=gwJ_jz2j)
![Golden Bay dairy farmer and dairy industry health and safety doctoral student Deborah Rhodes, and Golden Bay Community Health specialist GP Rachael Cowie [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/4.%20Deborah%20Rhodes%20and%20Rachael%20Cowie.jpg?itok=giBT8pHQ)
![Hauora Taiwhenua clinical director rural health Jeremy Webber, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine president Rod Martin and Observa Care director of business operations Deborah Martin, the wife of Dr Martin [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/5.%20Jeremy%20Webber%2C%20Rod%20Martin%20and%20Deborah%20Martin%2C%20the%20wife%20of%20Dr%20Martin.jpg?itok=t8QU5V4o)
![Spark Health chief executive John Macaskill-Smith and client director Bryan Bunz [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/6.%20John%20Macaskill-Smith%20and%20Bryan%20Bunz.jpg?itok=ZCwwZvUq)
![Associate dean (rural) Kyle Eggleton, third-year medical student Roselle Winter, and second-year pharmacy student Alina Khanal, all from the University of Auckland [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/7.%20Kyle%20Eggleton%2C%20Roselle%20Winter%20and%20Alina%20Khanal.jpg?itok=DR3MOfhO)
![Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora clinical editor and specialist in general practice and rural hospital medicine Anu Shinnamon, and Whakarongorau chief clinical officer Ruth Large [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/8.%20Anu%20Shinnamon%20and%20Ruth%20Large.jpg?itok=8KQtBO5g)
![Te Kahu Hauora Practice specialist GP Jane Laver and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua chief operations manager Tania Chamberlain [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/9.%20Jane%20Laver%20and%20Tania%20Chamberlain.jpg?itok=k4-wDQbz)
![University of Otago Centre for Rural Health director Garry Nixon and Rural WONCA chair Bruce Chater [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/10.%20Garry%20Nixon%20and%20Bruce%20Chater.jpg?itok=G3TyFveP)
![Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Committees Aotearoa chair Gill Genet, Waitaha Primary Health chief executive Bill Eschenbach, and Spark Health digital health specialist Carolyn Gullery [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/11.%20Gill%20Genet%2C%20Bill%20Eschenbach%20and%20Carolyn%20Gullery.jpg?itok=YJwzoyad)
![North End Health Centre specialist GP Grahame Jelley and Pinnacle Midlands Health Network clinical director Jo Scott-Jones [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/12.%20Grahame%20Jelley%20and%20Jo%20Scott-Jones.jpg?itok=JZN18Nzq)
![Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network chief executive Grant Davidson, Rural WONCA chair Bruce Chater, network chair Fiona Bolden, and Te Kahu Hauora Practice specialist GP Jane Laver [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/13.%20Grant%20Davidson%2C%20Bruce%20Chater%2C%20Fiona%20Bolden%20and%20Jane%20Laver.jpg?itok=dFCQVQCh)
![Central Otago specialist in general practice and rural hospital medicine Mark Smith and Queenstown Medical Centre specialist GP Katelyn Costello with her eight-month-old daughter Layla [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/14.%20Mark%20Smith%20and%20Katelyn%20Costello%20with%20her%20daughter%20Layla.jpg?itok=mpQDIdX-)
![University of Auckland fifth-year medical students Rebekah Kenny and Ryan Semmens, University of Otago sixth-year medical student Jenna Tidswell, and University of Auckland third-year medical student Jesse Davis [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/15.%20Rebekah%20Kenny%2C%20Ryan%20Semmens%2C%20Jenna%20Tidswell%20and%20Jesse%20Davis.jpg?itok=Ilo6F_GF)
![Kaitaia Hospital nurses Robbie Williams and Lia Corrigan, Ngāti Porou Oranga paramedic Raewyn Lawrence, and Ngāti Porou Oranga general manager Te Puia Hospital and nāti pēpi service Caroline Thompson [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/16.%20Robbie%20Williams%2C%20Lia%20Corrigan%2C%20Raewyn%20Lawrence%20and%20Caroline%20Thompson.jpg?itok=aKO1Lj0l)
![Te Nikau Hospital specialist in general practice and rural hospital medicine Sara Gordon, Lakes District Hospital rural hospital medicine specialist James Reid, Thames Hospital specialist in general practice and rural hospital medicine Rory Miller, and University of Otago postgraduate administrator Linda Reynolds [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/17.%20Sara%20Gordon%2C%20James%20Reid%2C%20Rory%20Miller%20and%20Linda%20Reynolds.jpg?itok=myMWSB_h)
![Hato Hone St John PRIME service manager Stephen Graham, and Methven Medical Centre specialist GPs Gayle O’Duffy and Laura Pfeifer [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/18.%20Stephen%20Graham%2C%20Gayle%20O%E2%80%99Duffy%20and%20Laura%20Pfeifer.jpg?itok=cQNhFsLa)
![Ngāti Porou Oranga change lead and Tairāwhiti Toitū Te Ora Iwi-Māori Partnership Board co-chair Tania Rauna and Hikanui Hauora director Sonya Smith [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/19.%20Tania%20Rauna%20and%20Sonya%20Smith.jpg?itok=wvTFQxCI)
![Geraldine midwives Caitlyn Leslie and Kendra Short [Image: NZD]](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2025-05/20.%20Caitlyn%20Leslie%20and%20Kendra%20Short.jpg?itok=NgAM9Uy_)
Otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeon Francis T. Hall discusses the evaluation of thyroid nodules, which primarily aims to determine the likelihood of malignancy. He then reviews the treatment of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer, including recent advances in management
![New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa editor Barbara Fountain, RNZCGP president elect and Tauranga-based specialist GP Luke Bradford, Ministry of Health clinical chief advisor rural health Helen MacGregor, and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora clinical director primary and community care Sarah Clarke [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/1.%20Barbara%20Fountain%2C%20Luke%20Bradford%2C%20Helen%20MacGregor%20and%20Sarah%20Clarke.jpg?itok=091NETXI)
![Ngāti Porou Oranga specialist GP Elina Pekansaari and Te Nikau Hospital specialist in general practice and rural hospital medicine David Short [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/2.%20Elina%20Pekansaari%20and%20David%20Short.jpg?itok=h5XfSBVM)
![Locum specialist GP Margriet Dijkstra and OmniHealth regional operations manager (southern) Patricia Morais-Ross [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/3.%20Margriet%20Dijkstra%20and%20Patricia%20Morais-Ross.jpg?itok=jkrtRfJC)
![Golden Bay dairy farmer and dairy industry health and safety doctoral student Deborah Rhodes, and Golden Bay Community Health specialist GP Rachael Cowie [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/4.%20Deborah%20Rhodes%20and%20Rachael%20Cowie.jpg?itok=oM0_GcJc)
![Hauora Taiwhenua clinical director rural health Jeremy Webber, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine president Rod Martin and Observa Care director of business operations Deborah Martin, the wife of Dr Martin [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/5.%20Jeremy%20Webber%2C%20Rod%20Martin%20and%20Deborah%20Martin%2C%20the%20wife%20of%20Dr%20Martin.jpg?itok=P_aGmX_H)
![Spark Health chief executive John Macaskill-Smith and client director Bryan Bunz [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/6.%20John%20Macaskill-Smith%20and%20Bryan%20Bunz.jpg?itok=5yJvVZ0I)
![Associate dean (rural) Kyle Eggleton, third-year medical student Roselle Winter, and second-year pharmacy student Alina Khanal, all from the University of Auckland [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/7.%20Kyle%20Eggleton%2C%20Roselle%20Winter%20and%20Alina%20Khanal.jpg?itok=RQLd3TEs)
![Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora clinical editor and specialist in general practice and rural hospital medicine Anu Shinnamon, and Whakarongorau chief clinical officer Ruth Large [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/8.%20Anu%20Shinnamon%20and%20Ruth%20Large.jpg?itok=i5TMswY9)
![Te Kahu Hauora Practice specialist GP Jane Laver and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua chief operations manager Tania Chamberlain [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-05/9.%20Jane%20Laver%20and%20Tania%20Chamberlain.jpg?itok=jtMklaCZ)
