Common rural vision: Long-standing network gives way to new rural health advocate

Children had their own confer­ence “programme” back in the early days of the then Rural GP Network; pastoral care of isolated rural GP families was a major focus. Three decades later the network, which evolved into an advocacy and support group for rural general practice and all rural health professionals, has voted itself out of existence. Dr Davidson believes it is common sense to have a single voice for rural health when all parties have a common vision. Hauora Taiwhenua is absorbing the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand, Rural Nurses New Zealand, the New Zealand Rural Hospital Net­work, New Zealand Institute of Rural Health and Students of Rural Health Aotearoa, each of which has its own chapter. Other chapters have been set up for rural midwives and maternity provid­ers, rural allied health professionals and Whānau Whānui for rural Māori health professionals and providers.