News and Inspiration

Nominations open for 6th Attitude Awards

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:57:00 GMT

Nominations are open for the sixth Attitude Awards. The awards celebrate high achievers who have taken on the world and its perception of disability. Entrants range from supreme athletes to less known New Zealanders whose family, friends and neighbours think they should be recognised for their courage, perseverance or support for people who live with disabilities. Attitude Awards trustee Dan Buckingham, a member of the Wheel Black team, says success for the winners means more than a medal or prize. ‘‘We look for the stories of courage and determination that change the way people view what is achievable with a disability,’’ he says. The awards will be celebrated at a gala dinner in Auckland on December 3.

Nomination forms can be downloaded here, or from www.attitudeawards.org and emailed to office@attitudeawards.org or posted to Attitude Awards 2013, PO Box 9071 Newmarket, Auckland 1149. Nominations will close at 5pm on July 3. ACC is proud to be Principal Sponsor of the Attitude Awards, which are organised by the Attitude Awards Trust, with support from Attitude Pictures and TVNZ.

For more information, download the poster or the categories for nomination informational flyer.

Time to Plant your Garlic - and a Garlic sauce recipe

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:40:00 GMT

Now's the time to plant garlic - any time around the shortest day.

If you haven't saved your own from last year, get your bulbs from the garden centre - just pull them apart and push into the soil about 5cm deep and 20cm apart.

Note: You can't grow the Chinese bulbs you buy from the supermarket, they have been sprayed as required on import into the country and won't germinate.

Garlic is a good companion plant around roses, as it helps keep aphids away.

So get into the garden this weekend, and come summer you'll be able to make an attractive plait to hang in your kitchen.

Here's a Garlic Sauce recipe, featured on page 142 of our cookbook, A Good Harvest, courtesy of Moira Jenkins of Woodlands branch. (You can buy A Good Harvest at our online shop.)

2 large onions
250 grams of garlic
1 tablespoon giner
500g brown sugar
4.5 litres malt vinegar
2 tablespoons common salt
25g whole cloves
1kg golden syrup
1 small bottle Worcestershire sauce.

Method: Chop onion and garlic. Add all ingredients except Worcestershire sauce. Leave overnight. Boil 1 hour. Strain through muslin cloth. Add Worcestershire sauce. Bottle.

Local Body Elections

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 01:21:00 GMT

Rural Women NZ members are being encouraged to stand for local government and District Health Boards in the local body elections being held in September.

We ran a workshop on this at our national conference in Christchurch in May, with presenters Geoff Evans, who is a Marlborough District Councillor, and John Ayling, the chair of Access Homehealth Ltd.

Nominations for the elections open in July and run for a month (exact dates dependent on legislation currently before Parliament -for details call 0800 922 822).

One of those who is going to put her hand up is Dr Olive Webb (pictured left).

A long standing member of Rural Women New Zealand, Dr Webb (ONZM) is contesting the mayoralty of Selwyn.

Dr Webb comes from farming stock. She grew up in the King Country and Waikato and has lived in Selwyn for 40 years. Dr Webb has had thirteen years on the Canterbury District Health Board, coupled with six years on the board of Rural Women NZ’s Access Homehealth Ltd.
Key issues for Dr Webb include community engagement, fiscal responsibility, water quality, and enhancing the smaller towns of the Selwyn district.

Dr Webb is a registered clinical psychologist and director of the Institute of Applied Human Services where she consults and coaches various organisations in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. She specialises in developing strategies and interventions that enable people with disabilities and people who are vulnerable to live ordinary lives. She has a proven track record in business success and is no stranger to implementing change in a large scale organisations.

Dr Webb can be contacted by phone 03 3180880, Facebook www.facebook.com/olivewebb or email owebbnz@gmail.com or for more information go to her website webb4selwyn.com.

Ashburton School Bus Safety Trial launched

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Rural Women New Zealand is part of a major new trial to find effective ways of slowing drivers around school buses.

Education campaign: Ashburton bus company Pearsons Coachlines is at the heart of the trial, which kicked off on 10 June with an extensive awareness campaign of the 20km/h speed limit in either direction when passing a school bus that’s stopped for children to get on or off. This includes a media campaign, billboards featuring 'Either way it's 20k', and a radio jingle.

The trial is being carried out by Transport Engineering Research New Zealand (TERNZ), with funding from the Road Safety Trust (now part of the NZ Transport Agency). The trial also has the support of the police and the Ashburton District Council as well as Rural Women New Zealand.

We are delighted the trial is finally underway, after years of advocating for more to be done to keep children safe travelling to and from school by bus.

Rural children are especially vulnerable when drivers speed past school buses and have been involved in a number of serious and fatal accidents. Rural children often get on or off the bus where there is an underlying open-road speed limit and no pavements.

More to come: There will be further phases of the trial launching in August and October.

At each phase of the trial, traffic speeds will be monitored past the buses, to gauge driver response.

“Over the last three weeks Rural Women NZ has also helped conduct a survey of the Ashburton community, finding out what drivers know and how they currently respond to the 20km/h rule,” says Liz Evans.

This gives the researchers a baseline, so they can measure the improvement in driver behaviour with each phase of the trial, and find out the effect on driver speeds at each stage.

In the 23 years since 1987, twenty-three children have been killed in New Zealand when crossing the road to or from school buses. In addition 47 have been seriously injured, and 92 received minor injuries.

Y Front Up to Prostate Cancer

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Rural Women New Zealand has launched a fundraising campaign for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand called Y Front Up to Prostate Cancer. This campaign is geared at not only fundraising, but also at raising awareness among all men, and women, to talk to their GPs about screening and risk factors for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer affects 2,500 NZ men each year - that's 7 every day! This disease has an unknown origin, but it is believed to be influenced by testosterone. Last year, the Ministry of Health set up a taskforce to begin to lay out recommendations and programmes for screening, similar to those for cervical and breast cancer.

Here are few items to consider for Y Front Up to Prostate Cancer:

The fundraiser is taking place between now and the AGM on 25 Novmber 2013.
There will be a large push in September. PCFNZ celebrates Blue September each year to raise awareness, find out more here.
Rural Women New Zealand National Office will collect the money and announce the total at the November AGM.
November is the internationally celebrated Movember month to raise awareness for prostate cancer. Don't forget to bring your moustache with to our AGM!!
Please contact National Offices with your event details, or head over to our Forum to discuss it there*. National Office will assist with promotion and speakers for your event(s).

Unsure of what you could do as an event? Here are some ideas we've had so far:

Sew a jumbo sized paid of Y Front undies and see how many people you can fit in a pair.
Community dinner with bangers, mash and spotted dick for dessert.
Small blue buckets to be taken around to businesses for collection.
Pineapple lump cupcakes for prostate awareness.
Pikelets for prostates.
Decorate a pair of Y Fronts competition and art display.
An Undie 500 run.

Further reading: Recommendations from the 2012 Prostate Cancer Taskforce

*Note: to post in our Forum discussion you will first have to login.

Rural Women / Access Scholarship 2013

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 03:49:00 GMT

Applications close 1 July for Rural Women NZ & Access Homehealth scholarship

Health professionals with an interest in the rural sector have just three weeks to apply for this year’s the Rural Women NZ & Access Homehealth scholarship, with a closing date of 1 July.

“This $3000 scholarship will be awarded to a health professional to help further his or her studies,” says Rural Women New Zealand National President, Liz Evans.

“Given our rural focus, we are particularly keen to support someone who has an interest in providing health or disability services in rural communities.”

Preference will be given to applicants who are studying at post-graduate level.

Last year the scholarship went to a rural practice nurse, Lynette Downie (pictured above) from Murupara, for post graduate study in Women’s Health through Otago University.

Full information and application forms can be found at www.ruralwomen.org.nz (bursaries tab) or www.access.org.nz.

Constitutional Review - Rural Women encouraged to have your say

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

The deadline to have your say on the NZ Constitutional Review has been extended to 31 July due to growing interest in this topic.

Rural Women New Zealand is encouraging its members to get involved in the current review of how the country is run and what’s important for our future.

In the first half of 2013, the Constitutional Advisory Panel, which is an independent advisory group to the Government, is seeking submissions on New Zealand’s constitution.

Specific topics for discussion include:

the pros and cons of having our constitution written down in a single document,
the role of the Treaty of Waitangi in our constitution, and
electoral issues such as the length of the Parliamentary term.

Panel Co-Chair Emeritus Professor John Burrows spoke at our national conference in Christchurch recently, and encouraged people to become informed and take the opportunity to make a submission.

There was a concern that interest groups could flood the panel with submissions and overtake the process, so Prof Burrows said it was essential for individuals to get involved and to have their say.

This is an opportunity for people to tell the panel how they see New Zealand and its future.

The Panel is due to report back to the Government by the end of 2013. Its recommendations will be based on submissions received.

Public submissions are due by 31 July 2013 and can be made online at www.ourconstitution.org.nz by email or post. People can find a wealth of information and meeting resources on the website or by phoning 0508 411 411.

Comfort Cushions

Thu, 30 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Our lovely members created a few templates after much demand from others for these items! Below we have the breast cancer post surgery comfort cushion, the turban-style head scarf and a beanie. We also have included tags for you to pin to the items as you give them out.

Comfort cushion (pictured above)

Turban-style head scarf

Beanie

Feel free to contact us at National Office if you have any other questions.

Rural Crime Survey results

Wed, 29 May 2013 03:59:00 GMT

Crime Survey Results: Drink driving and speeding a serious concern

Drink driving and speeding are key areas of concern for rural people according to an online rural crime survey conducted by Rural Women New Zealand.

“Over 80 percent of people told us that speeding was a problem in their community and 75 percent said drink driving was also a problem,” says Liz Evans, Rural Women New Zealand’s national president.

While urban people are getting the message not to drink and drive, in rural communities there are persistent offenders who are still ignoring the law, with serious consequences.

At the Rural Women New Zealand national conference in Christchurch last weekend, John Perham of Crimestoppers and Asst Commissioner: Road Policing, Dave Cliff ONZM, (pictured above) said rural people need to move from being by-standers in the crime prevention process to being active participants in helping police in every way we can to make our rural communities safe.

Often rural people will know who is regularly driving drunk, but there is a reluctance to dob in friends and neighbours.

John Perham said people can give information about offenders to Crimestoppers anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111. Police can then act on the tip off and ensure these people are apprehended and prosecuted.

John Perham said in most years 80 people are killed drink driving. But the numbers of people whose lives are affected is much higher: For every 100 drink drivers killed, 50 passengers and 20 others are killed, and 1,000 are seriously injured.

Seventy percent of the Rural Women NZ rural crime survey respondents also said that theft of fuel was a problem, while just over half saw theft of vehicles or of items from a vehicle as an issue.

Asst Commissioner Dave Cliff said in terms of machinery theft, such as quad bikes, it raises the question 'where were the keys?' "Let's engage in a little bit of self-protection."

Dave Cliff also told Rural Women NZ members that police now see family violence as ‘incredibly important and the most important area when it comes to crime prevention’ because when children are exposed to violence in the home on an ongoing basis, boys in particular become less likely to be empathetic and more likely to become offenders themselves. Whereas when girls are exposed to ongoing domestic violence they come to believe it is perfectly normal, and later, that having a partner who is violent is normal.

Stock theft is also a problem, but police will only be able to get to the bottom of it when they start to get evidential material. Dave Cliff urged people in rural communities to report stock theft.

"John Perham, Crimestoppers chairman, assured us that rural people should have no worries about confidentiality when using the 0800 number. The call centre is in the UK so even those of us who think we have distinctive and identifiable voices will remain anonymous," Liz Evans said.

Click to view results of Rural Crime Survey

Diane Coleman is a 2013 ERWA entrant

Wed, 29 May 2013 03:00:00 GMT

Diane Coleman was announced the Supreme Winner of the Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Women Awards on 23 May 2013. She is also the Love of the Land category winner (sponsored by Agrisea).

Her business is based 20km north of Rotorua in the small community of Kaharoa. Treeline Native Nursery grows and supplies native trees, shrubs and grasses for revegetation and ornamental purposes. Established in 1996, in its first 12 years of operation production grew from 10,000 trees to 300,000 produced and sold.

An essential part of the nursery production is seed collection, and eco-sourcing seed has become a major factor in customer requirements. Diane travels through BoP and Waikato, contacting farmers for this task. The nursery’s location at 419m above sea level ensures plants are hardy and relatively pest free.

An interesting development over the last three years has been joining a bio-dynamic group and exploring planting by the moon, using an old Allied Farmers Co-op lunar calendar, which has streamlined the company’s propagation with surprisingly good results. Plants are supplied in bulk to councils, farmers, landscapers, developers and the home gardener.

You can view Treeline Native Nursery's catalogue and learn more by visiting its website.

Check back here often to see the latest updates on Diane, including videos and stories from around the web.

Stuff.co.nz, Grower ignored downturn

Rural TV (NZ) produced two videos of Diane. Watch her category win acceptance speech. Watch her interview as the Supreme Winner.

SunLive, Rural woman winner

ERWA entry Rangitikei Farmstay

Tue, 28 May 2013 23:55:00 GMT

Kylie Stewart was announced the Stay, Play, Rural (sponsored by Access) category winner at this year's Enterprising Rural Women Awards ceremony at the Rural Women New Zealand National Conference in Christchurch. Her business, Rangitikei Farmstay, offers accommodation for up to 19 guests and a range of activities on and off the 1560 acre sheep and beef farm at Marton.

Kylie and her husband Andrew moved on to the farm in 2005, surrounded by beautiful landscape and scattered, largely unused buildings filled with ‘treasures’ – saws, stencils, pack saddles, and a push mower to name a few, used by the Stewart family on the farm for the past three generations. The couple began renovating the old buildings and first opened up a bunkhouse and farm museum. They have since converted three other buildings and have developed their farmstay business with farm tours, shearing and mustering demonstrations, horse riding, farm walks, clay bird shooting and hole in one golf.

They now see a range of guests from school groups, birthday parties, and overseas travellers. Continuing to develop, the couple are presently building a lake to begin water activities on the property. To set up your visit to Rangitikei Farmstay, find them online.

Check back here often to see the latest news posted about our Stay, Play, Rural winner.

The Wanganui Chronicle, All creature comforts on hand

Rural TV (NZ) produced a video of Kylie's acceptance speech. View it on YouTube.

Enterprising Rural Women Award 2013 winners announced

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Rural Women New Zealand is delighted to announce the winners of the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award 2013, following an award ceremony at the opening of the Rural Women NZ national conference in Christchurch yesterday evening.

Liz Evans says “These awards, now in their fifth year, offer an opportunity for rural businesswomen to shine. Our aim is to showcase and celebrate rural enterprise, and this year the judges had 20 strong entries to choose from.”

The Supreme Winner of the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award 2013 is Diane Coleman of Treeline Native Nursery, based at Ngongotaha, near Rotorua. Diane also won the Love of the Land category, sponsored by Agrisea Limited. (www.treelinenursery.co.nz).

Treeline Native Nursery, which Diane started 17 years ago, grows and supplies NZ native trees, shrubs and grasses for revegetation and ornamental purposes, growing 300,000 plants a year that are sold to councils, farmers, landscapers, developers and the home gardener.

Rural Women NZ national president, Liz Evans, said Diane Coleman was chosen as the Supreme Winner out of a strong field of contenders, saying she displayed “skill, calm confidence in the progress of her business and a clear awareness of her market.”

“When demand for products slowed with the 2010 economic downturn, Diane adapted to conditions, made some innovative decisions and was able to maintain production levels.

“Added to this, the business is rural-based, employs several rural women and gives back to the community with fund-raising support.”

Other winners on the night were Jan Harper, of Bluespur Butchery in Lawrence, who won the Telecom-sponsored Help! I Need Somebody category.

As one of New Zealand’s first female butchers, Jan, who’s been in the industry since 1977, said it was a ‘dream come true’ when she opened her own business, Bluespur Butchery, in 2009. As well as selling meat to the public, a big part of the business is processing for farmers and hunters.

A very successful exporter of animal by-products from Waipukurau took away the Making it in Rural category, sponsored by Fly Buys Ltd. Angela Payne runs Agri-lab Co-Products Ltd (www.agri-lab.com). Utilising animal parts that previously may have ended up in the offal-pit, the company specialises in placenta, glands, membranes, tendons and glandulars, with 90 percent of the product exported. This is shipped all over the world as raw products for the pharmaceutical and dietary supplements markets.

Kylie Stewart of Rangitikei Farmstay was announced as the winner of the Stay, Play, Rural Award, sponsored by Access Homehealth Ltd. Her 1500 acre farm has been in the family since 1901 and Kylie has breathed new life into many of the old buildings to create attractive accommodation for up to 19 guests at a time who come from all over the world to get a taste of New Zealand rural life with farm tours, horse treks, clay bird shooting and shearing and mustering demonstrations on offer. (www.rangitikeifarmstay.co.nz).

The judging panel also decided this year to give a special Rural Women NZ Encourgement Award. This went to Lee Lamb, a young farming woman who lives in Waikaia, Southland.

As her children grew, and unable to find New Zealand farm-themed books to read to them, Lee decided to write and illustrate her own. A self-taught writer and painter, Lee was also determined to have her books printed in New Zealand. She now has four titles: On the Farm Shearing, On the Farm Autumn Muster, On the Farm Milking Time and On the Farm Harvest.

In congratulating all the winners, Liz Evans said, “Running a successful business anywhere in today’s competitive economy is not easy. It takes time, commitment, money and a passion to succeed. And, of course, you have to have the initial idea to get started.

“And, in the rural context, the start-up and ability to keep going can produce even more challenges. The logisitics of running a business away from a centralised urban area can throw up hurdles such as access to prompt transport and communication – not to mention extra costs of freight and postage. All our winners have jumped those hurdles.”

Watch: Diane speak about being the Supreme Winner. Video produced by

Rural Networks Plan to Reduce Alarming Suicide Rates in Farmers

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:40:00 GMT

Rising pressures on farmers and alarming statistics that show depression is a real issue in rural communities has prompted rural organisations to get together to find real solutions.

A group of prominent rural networks have met to brainstorm on ways to promote farmer wellness. The group included Rural Women New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ, Dairy Women’s Network, Beef + Lamb NZ, AgResearch, Young Farmers, Rural Support Trusts, Farmsafe, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Rural General Practice Network, Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand and FMG.

Several groups have committed policies and action plans on mental wellbeing and reducing farmer suicides, however the time has come to pool those resources and ideas into one holistic strategy that puts the farmer first.

The meeting highlighted the fact that the poorer outcomes in terms of mental health of people living in rural communities compared to urban centres in New Zealand is of major concern to the people living and working in those communities. Ministry of Health data shows the suicide rate for those living in rural areas is 16 per 100,000 people, compared to a rate of 11.2 per 100,000 people in urban areas
The coalition wants to raise awareness of anxiety and depression in rural communities and to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Stigma is a serious issue and often prevents people seeking help when they need it.

It is expected that stronger connections and partnerships between the organisations will ensure better outcomes for those suffering from severe stress, anxiety, depression and suicide.

The downstream effects of anxiety and depression are numerous. Poorer decision making on farm, affecting animals and the whole farm system, must not be underrated. This often leads to poorer farm productivity and profitability. The most significant effect of course is on the family and those closest to the person affected.

The new coalition will explore the development of a Rural Health Policy, along the lines of the Australian framework.

Image created on tagxedo.com.

2013 Women Walk the World

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

The 2013 Women Walk the World event took place on 14 April. Over 350 members, friends and families took part in 24 walks around the country.

You can read more about this story in the latest Express you received in the mail, or by logging in to our Members Zone.

Adult Learners' Week applications now open

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:24:00 GMT

Adult Learners' Week/He Tangata Matauranga is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) initiative supported by the Tertiary Education, adult and community education providers at a local level and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.

This year, Adult Learners' Week will take place 2 - 8 September. Currently, there is funding available for programmes offered to adults who are looking to improve skills such as literacy (including digital) and numeracy, and for strengthening social cohesion. All event ideas will be considered for Adult Learners' Week, however, so all are encouraged to submit an application form. Past events range from teaching English to an immigrant in a private home, a programme at the local library, a community support group, and a private training organisation.

Adult Learners' Week is put on bythe Adult and Community Education (ACE) Aotearoa, the lead body for adult and community educators and a voice for adult learners. To learn more about ACE and Adult Learners' Week, visit the website.

If you'd like a copy of the application form for funding an event, click here. Applications are due by 30 May and will be processed by 8 June.

Bluespur Butchery and Deli

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Jan Harper! She was announced the winner of the Help, I Need Somebody Enterprising Rural Women Award category (sponsored by Telecom). Bluespur Butchery and Deli is Jan Harper's business based at Lawrence in Otago. When the deli opened in 2009 it was a ‘dream come true’ for Jan, who’s been in the butchery trade since she left school.

Jan sells meat to the public, but the main focus is on processing meat for farmers and hunters. Lambs, pigs and venison are butchered and made into sausages, saveloy, burgers, and more. A popular service is gourmet lamb, where Jan creates barbecued cuts, marinated kebabs, mint-glazed lamb cutlets and ‘legendary’ burgers.

Visit Jan next time you're in Lawrence!

Check back often to see where Jan has been mentioned and featured.

Otago Daily Times, Butcher wins RWNZ award

Watch Jan's acceptance speech, produced by Rural TV (NZ).

Long Island Model Search

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:54:00 GMT

Long Island, with Rural Women New Zealand, is searching for the next plus size model. Whether blonde, brunette, tall, short, size 14 or 30, send your head shot to tracy.thompson@longisland.co.nz by 20 May 2013 to be entered to be the next top Plus Size Model for Long Island.

The winner will be flown to a Long Island photoshoot in Christchurch. She will have professional hair and makeup done by a stylist and be featured on the cover of the next catalogue. Winner will also receive a $400 Long Island wardrobe!

The winner will be announced at the Rural Women New Zealand National Conference on Saturday 25 May 2013. Good luck!

ERWA Entrant Lee Lamb Publishing

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:53:00 GMT

Lee’s business is based at Waikaia, Southland, where she is an author and illustrator of children’s picture books about NZ farming practices. She lives with her husband and two young sons on a sheep and beef station and has to date written and illustrated four books in the ‘On the Farm’ series. Keeping the stories true to life, they are educational as well as entertaining for children. She was an entrant in the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards and the Storylines Book Awards.

Visit Lee on Facebook to watch for the next book to come out.

Meet the face behind Shopenzed.com Lesley Armstrong-Jennings

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:14:00 GMT

Lesley’s business is an online customer-driven Kiwiana gift store which has evolved since 2000 when she began supplying Kiwi goods to overseas customers on eBay. Shopenzed.com is now one of the largest online retailers of New Zealand-inspired gifts and collectables. The business caters for tens of thousands of customers worldwide, carrying over 3000 items, with more being added every week. All purchases carry a 365 day money back guarantee.

The customers are often ex-pat Kiwis, or people who want to travel of live in New Zealand or who have holidayed here. 90 percent of orders are shipped overseas, with Australia a growing market. Products include sheepskin boots, slippers, possum merino knitwear, NZ jewellery, rugby gear, souvenirs, books, cosmetics, food and more. Customer service is key to the business’ success, with ‘mad dashes’ to the nearest courier depot (a 50km round trip) to deliver a last minute order the norm. Free gift wrapping in exquisite wrapping paper adds that special touch.

Visit Shopenzed.com and browse the vast selection.

Sweetree Honey near Hamilton is owned by 2013 ERWA entrant

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:41:00 GMT

Stephanie Lynch owns Sweetree Honey based in Horsham Downs, near Hamilton. The business involves every aspect of honey production, from caring for bees in 150 beehives, harvesting, packaging and direct selling at farmers markets, as well as through retail shops and the company website.

The bees have access to a wide range of flowering plants, and honeys from different areas are not blended with each other, meaning customers can choose a honey based on the location shown on the jar, such as Horsham Downs, Marokopa, Four Brothers Reserve and Hakarimata, with each having its own special characteristics. The company also produces bee pollen.

You can order Sweetree Honey online and learn more about it at sweetreehoney.co.nz.

Meet 2013 ERWA entrant Lynne Johnston

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:36:00 GMT

Lynne Johnston’s hair and beauty salon business is based at Riversdale in Southland. Herd About Hair & Beauty began in 2008 when she realised the need to diversify the family’s reliance on dairy share milking income after the downturn.

She first re-opened a hair salon in Riversdale that had ceased trading a year and a half earlier, growing the business to employ staff to work alongside her. In response to the success of the hair salon she rented a second shop next door and employed a beauty therapist, offering a range of beauty treatments in addition to hair dressing. Both the hair and beauty salons are now open six days a week.

In the meantime, Lynne has grown her own family, with a fourth child born in February 2011. She is also still involved on the farm, rearing calves through the spring. The success of Herd About Hair & Beauty is based on offering rural people everything a city salon could offer, with exceptional service, with the mission statement ‘a little bit of luxury close to home.’ Visit the salon online for price lists and services.

2013 ERWA Entrant Saskia Missaar owns Aotea Embrace

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:05:00 GMT

Saskia Missaar owns Aotea Embrace based on the remote Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. With little local employment and just 852 people living on the island, Saskia started the business in 2009 making soaps, massage oils, calendula balm and lip balms. She now also makes a range of body lotions, hand cream and face moisturisers. All Aotea Embrace products are made with essential oils and home grown ingredients such as manuka honey, herbs, flowers, native plants and clay, giving her products the ‘Barrier’ touch.

Saskia sells her products to those with sensitive or dry skin and as gifts. She keeps her prices affordable. Starting the business was a real challenge with no banks on the island, limited water and limited transport to the mainland.

Visit Aotea Embrace online to find out more about where to buy products and what is available.

Diana Baird, 2013 ERWA entrant, owns Fairview Enterprises

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:49:00 GMT

Diversity is the key to Diana Baird’s business, Fairview Enterprises, based in the Kawhatau Valley in the Rangitikei. She and her husband run a sheep and beef farm, orchard, farm forestry and cereal cropping operation.

Summer fruit production includes traditional style peacharines, plums and quinces, (there is no other commercial fruit production for 100km). They also have a Drysdale sheep stud and promote and market specialist carpet wool. The farm has two-tier forestry, with trees and grazing beneath, as well as multi-species forestry and amenity tree planting.

They have a walking route for private tours (Kawhatau Valley Walks), run on-farm research (current interests include bumble bees, Ume, succession and aquaculture), and are involved in Massey University case studies and tutoring. They have previously been successful in the NZ Ballance Farm Environment Horizons Awards.

You can visit for the orchards and their fruits, or go on the Kawhatau Valley Walk.

National Conference 2013

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Rural Women New Zealand National Conference – Christchurch 23-26 May 2013

See the Draft programme here

The Student Volunteer Army’s Sam Johnson and Helen Heddell, Farmy Army catering co-ordinator extraordinaire, will give a unique perspective on the Canterbury earthquakes as guest speakers at the Rural Women New Zealand national conference being held at The Chateau on the Park in Christchurch from 23 to 26 May.

It will be an opportunity for 200 Rural Women NZ members from around the country to look ahead as they focus on the conference theme ‘The Future’s Bright – Inspire a Generation’.

“We are looking forward to coming to Christchurch, and are starting off with a bus tour to get a better perspective of the issues the city is facing,” says national president Liz Evans.

“It will be a chance to see first-hand the effects of the earthquakes and the innovation and resilience of Cantabrians as they rebuild their lives.”

The Land and Water Forum will be the focus of a Water Seminar being held on the first day of conference, with panelists Prof Jenny Webster-Brown from University of Canterbury’s Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management, David Caygill of Environment Canterbury, Green MP Eugenie Sage and Federated Farmers’ grain and seed chair Ian McKenzie.

“The focus will be on drought preparedness, water storage and irrigation systems, which are not only topical, but also tie in with the UN International Year of Water Co-operation 2013.”

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker and Hon. Jo Goodhew, Minister of Women’s Affairs and Associate Minister of Primary Industries, will be official guests at the conference opening ceremony.

“Then Peri Drysdale of Untouched World will set the scene for our Enterprising Rural Women Awards ceremony. She will talk about her journey to success, from a nurse who didn’t know the difference between an invoice and a statement to a New Zealand fashion and sportswear brand icon.”

The suspense will build as our four category finalists in the Enterprising Rural Women Awards 2013 give short presentations about their businesses, before the Supreme Winner is announced.

The Rural Women New Zealand national conference is always an opportunity to learn something new, be inspired and re-kindle friendships.

Workshops sessions will focus on technology, local body elections and the future focus of the organisation.
Social functions will include a Camelot-themed medieval festival and a gala dinner with guest speaker Leona Dargis, a visiting Nuffield scholar from Alberta, Canada, who’ll be sharing her enthusiasm for the agricultural sector.

We are grateful to all our sponsor partners, and in particular Telecom, Fly Buys, Animal Health Board, Chorus, NZ Post, Agrisea and Access Homehealth Ltd.

For registrations contact national office (04) 473 5524, or a registration form is available in the Members' Only area of this website.

Meet Jules Smith, 2013 Enterprising Rural Women Award entrant

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:01:00 GMT

Jules Smith owns and operates WashBar Ltd. It is based in Whangarei, and specialises in NZ made natural pet care products targeting the equine and canine market. The products evolved from a soap making hobby, when dog lovers approached Jules to make soaps for dogs with skin problems.

Allergies in dogs primarily manifest as itchy skin, and Jules’ market research revealed a market opportunity, which led to producing her specialist soaps in commercial volumes. She now focuses on wholesale supplies to pet stores and vets and has continued to expand the range of products. Her WashBar products are sold at 349 retailers across NZ and is exporting to Australia.

Jules' new products include, a horse soap and natural flea repellent for dogs. She recently developed a range of spritzers for dogs to freshen their coats, producing what she believes to be the first 100% natural, alcohol-free spritzer commercially available.

To find out more about WashBar Ltd, visit the website.

Heidi Rosewarne is a blue 2013 ERWA Entrant

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Heidi Rosewarne and her husband purchased a small blueberry orchard just outside Whakatane in 2002, knowing nothing of horticulture or blueberries. They had previously been livestock farmers in south Taranaki. It was a steep learning curve to develop a business from ‘honesty box’ roadside sales to the business that now supplies a range of blueberry products direct to the public markets domestically and internationally - 30 percent of the harvest is exported, 30 percent is sold on the domestic NZ market, and 40 percent is sold at the shop.

Blueberry Corner started as one orchard in 2002 and has now grown to three. With all three orchards operating and growing season harvesting November-April, people are able to have fresh blueberries right from NZ 6 months of the year.

Each year, new specialty blueberry products are introduced, and now include jams, relishes, juices, chocolate, soap, tea and honey. Go for a visit and try a few different items at Blueberry Corner.

Meet Deborah Hambly, 2013 ERWA Entrant

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:32:00 GMT

Deborah runs Astronomy Adventures from Baylys Beach, Northland, where she takes people on tours of the night sky with NZ’s largest hands-on telescope open nightly to the public.

With a passion for astronomy, Deborah arrived in NZ in 2005 with a plan of offering astronomy facilities for tourists and astronomers. Acquiring her first second-hand giant telescope and dome, she set up on her front lawn, and has since acquired five more telescopes and caters for groups of up to 40. The Skydome Observatory was fully operational by early 2006. The telescope to guest ratio is kept at no higher than 1 to 4, so visitors observe at leisure. Added to this Deborah tells stories and adds fun facts, myths and legends to the experience.

Go for a visit to Astronomy Adventures.

Meet Angela Payne, 2013 ERWA Entrant

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:55:00 GMT

Angela's business, Agri-Lab Co-Products Ltd, is based in Waipukurau, where she has become a successful exporter of animal products, achieving consistent growth; even in the face of the world economic downturn. The business specialises in supplying ingredients for the medical, pharmaceutical and dietary supplements markets, including placenta, glands, membranes, tendons, eyes, brains, blood products and glandular. Ninety percent of the products are exported to countries such as Japan, USA, Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Australia.

Angela has taken the business from conception through to the internationally recognised company it is today. She says her location is a significant competitive advantage in the export market of pharmaceutical and bio material with NZ being a BSE free country and having good access to freezing works, farms and essential services.

Visit Agri-Lab Co-Products online to learn more.

Christina Perriam Fashion Design, 2013 ERWA Entrant

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 01:08:00 GMT

Christina's business is based at Tarras in Central Otago. Her passion for merino wool and fashion has grown out of her upbringing on Bendigo Station, where she was influenced by her father's entrepreneurial spirit and her mother's love for merino. As a qualified fashion designer, she took over her mother's business in 2010, after her mother passed away, and is focused on completing her mother's dream and vision of making the small village a "must-visit" destination.

Christina manufactures and retails affordable luxury merino wool products that are proudly NZ made, targeting women, baby and children. Suprino Bambino is Christina's new child and baby clothing range, which is making a big splash and increasing sales month to month.

Her emphasis is on sustainability, quality and affordable luxury. The range includes clothing, accessories, sleepwear and home wears. Visit her Christina Perriam website for the women's line and, Suprino Bambino for the children's.

Jill Hollingum, 2013 ERWA Entrant

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Jill's business is based near Picton, and involves workplace health and safety services, training and education. She has put her background as registered nurse to good use, and takes her occupational health services to the clients. Her client base has grown to 60 regular clients including factories, vineyards, aquaculture, wood mills, engineering, construction sites and aviation.

Jill works with clients to help them build and maintain a healthy and safe work environment, achieve legislative compliance, reduce employee down time, and cost effectiveness. Services include health monitoring, such as workplace hearing tests, lung function tests, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and vision screening; pre-employment work fitness assessments; workplace drug and alcohol testing, rehabilitations programmes; ergonomic workstation assessments; noise and hygiene surveys; and pre-audits for ACC compliance.