Christchurch has been chosen to host the 13th triennial Commonwealth Health Minister's meeting next year, Health
Minister Annette King and Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton said today.
It will be the first time New Zealand has hosted the conference. New Zealand was nominated at the last conference, held
in Barbados.
Mrs King said the week-long conference will be attended by about 50 Commonwealth health ministers, plus family members
and advisers.
Mr Anderton said he was delighted at the choice of his home town. "Christchurch has it all, a well-linked international
airport, excellent convention and accommodation facilities all in close proximity. It is also such a beautiful city
overseas visitors can't help but be impressed."
Mr Anderton said such meetings often generated parallel events such as symposiums, trade fairs and tourism promotions.
"The meeting will provide an opportunity to run such events and to showcase New Zealand. Such events will have to be
self-sustaining, but they have the potential to increase the number of visitors considerably.
"It will also be a chance to show off Kiwi ingenuity, and the wonderful scenery and tourist attractions in the South
Island and the rest of New Zealand."
Mrs King said the theme of next year's conference will be Priority Setting in Health Systems.
The triennial meetings offered an excellent opportunity to share ideas on contemporary issues, she said. "There is
always plenty to share and to learn from a meeting of ministers who have a common interest in the good health of people
in their countries."
Mrs King said the Commonwealth Secretariat had yet to confirm the exact timing of the meeting, but it is expected to be
in October or November next year.
The Ministry of Health will be responsible for organising the conference, which will be run by the Commonwealth
Secretariat. The Ministry will meet other government agencies over the next few months to begin preparations for the
meeting.