A new $4.5 million initiative plans to train and retain allied health professionals in rural New Zealand areas.

The New Zealand Government has launched a partnership with both the University of Auckland and the University of Otago in a bid to train more pharmacists, physiotherapists and dentists alongside doctors and nurses at both the Gisborne and Whakatane hospitals.

The three-year project will train more than 300 extra health professionals from next year and encourage them to build their careers in rural areas.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said many New Zealand rural communities and hospitals struggled to attract and retain health professionals.

“This scheme will open up new career opportunities for students from rural areas as well as encouraging students to work in rural areas once qualified,” she said.

The University of Auckland program will operate from the Whakatane Hospital, providing training for about 144 medicine, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy students.

“Over the next three years…(these) student doctors, nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists will train side by side, in the classroom and out on the job at Whakatane Hospital,” Ms Tolley said.

The University of Otago program will provide training for around 168 medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy and dentistry students at the Gisborne Hospital.