Rural Women New Zealand held a very popular cheese making demonstration at Tamahere Community Centre in the Waikato on Monday 12 November, with 45 women learning to make ricotta, mozzarella and halloumi cheeses.

“There is a growing interest in learning traditional skills such as cheese making, and we were thrilled with the success of the evening,” said Rural Women NZ member Janet Williams, who organised the demonstration with the new Tamahere Rural Women NZ group.

The demonstration was run by Neil Willman of The New Zealand Cheese School and Sue Arthur of Over the Moon Dairy Ltd in Putaruru.

Sue and Neil and also brought along a selection of top-shelf gourmet cheeses to taste.  These were complemented with wine tastings of four different wines from The Hamilton Wine Company.

Rural Women New Zealand had their book “A Good Harvest” on sale, with samples of pickles made from the book. 

Following the success of the event, more cheese making classes are planned for next year, beginning with three demonstrations in Taranaki in February.

Rural Women New Zealand welcomes the White Paper for Vulnerable Children, seeing it as a sincere and thorough examination of the situation for children in this country.

On the plus side, we applaud the more co-ordinated approach to protecting vulnerable children, the Child Protect phone line, more training for professionals and local multi-disciplinary children’s teams.

Involving the local community is also very important, especially in rural areas where people can be isolated and abuse hidden.

Vulnerable children can be living in families that are quite transient, so the requirement for different agencies to work more closely together, and the web-based national database on vulnerable children, are also positive moves.

Read more about the White Paper for Vulnerable Childrenher

A study by Massey University researchers has found that vaccinating working dogs is likely to be beneficial in protecting them from the Hardjo strain of Leptospirosis. 

Leptospirosis is a severe and sometimes fatal disease in dogs. Dogs may also have no symptoms, but can be a source of infection for humans and other animals.

The Massey study sampled 655 dogs, which were screened for four Leptospirosis strains: Copenhageni, Pomona, Harjo and Ballum. 10.3% of all types of dogs tested positive to serovar Copenhageni, while serovar Harjo was predominantly found in breeds of dogs used as farm working dogs.

The full scientific article ‘A Serological Survey of Leptospiral Antibodies in Dogs in New Zealand” AL Harland, NJ Cave, BR Jones, J Benschop, JJ Donald, AC Midwinter, RA Squires & JM Collins-Emerson, was published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal – 8 August 2012, and can be purchased by going to www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzv20

Entries are now open for the Rural Women New Zealand Journalism Award 2012, which will be presented at the NZ Guild of Agricultural Journalists Awards in Wellington on 12 October.

Rural Women NZ began sponsoring the prize five years ago to encourage journalists to redress a serious gender imbalance in the rural media, and turn their attention to the achievements of women living and working in rural communities.

It’s a strategy that’s paid off, says RWNZ national president, Liz Evans.

“At last year’s awards, there were more entries in the Rural Women New Zealand Journalism Award category than any other, reflecting much more balanced reporting in the rural media.”

There’s also been a growth in the number of women working as rural reporters.

One iconic rural television show has brought in five new freelance reporters and directors in the last seven years, and four of these have been women. The producer describes the women as very experienced, talented and able.

“We’re delighted to see on that show alone that half of its recent episodes were made by women reporters and directors, and several had women as the main subject,” says Liz Evans.

Last year’s winner of the Rural Women New Zealand Journalism Award was Rebecca Harper, who’s since gone on to become news editor of a major farming weekly newspaper.

Entries in the RWNZ Journalism Award 2012 must be of two articles, radio broadcasts or television programmes based on the theme of ‘rural women making a difference’. 

“This could be in the sense of community involvement, on farm, or in another rural-based business or activity.”

Entries close Monday 10 September 2012. Any New Zealand-based journalist or communicator is eligible to enter the award. The winner will receive $500.

Download the entry form HERE.

The Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) new combined primary industry statistics for the March 2012 quarter (with data from the seafood sector now included) show that the sector accounted for 71% of all NZ merchandise exports in the year to March 2012.

Reasons were: better-than-usual pasture growth during the March 2012 quarter, resulting in near-record carcase weights for slaughtered livestock and an 11.5% increase in milk solids’ production, compared with the same quarter in 2011. However, the increased production was counterbalanced by a stronger NZ dollar and easing international dairy prices. The result was that overall primary sector export revenue for the quarter was down 2.4% on the previous year (to $8.3 billion). However, total export earnings for the year to March 2012 were up 6.2% on the previous year at $32.3 billion.

   Send us photos of your pets and be in draw to win a pet hamper and a special feature in the next issue of RWNZ Express! Competition is open to all pets - cows, mice, alpacas, dogs, rabbits, cats and sheep! 

Please note the hamper is only available in a cat or dog option. Hamper includes; a 15 kg bag of the appropriate pet food, pet toys, a copy of Two Cats One Dog Magazine and a Masterpet bed.

How to enter

Complete the pet profile below about your pet and send your answers, your contact details and accompanying photo(s) to emma.barker@ruralwomen.org.nz or post to RWNZ, PO Box 12-021, Thorndon, Wellington 6144 by the 17 August to go in the draw to win.

Pet Profile

1. Name
2. Age
3. Breed
4. Things I like
5. Cool tricks I can do

We will be choosing several to go up on our Wall of Fame below and Facebook page. So keep checking back!

Winners will be announced late September and winning photos printed in the RWNZ Express magazine.

My name’s Shadow and I’m five years old. I love snuggles in the blankets at night and playing hide and seek.

I’m Max the five year old Fox Terrier cross. I like children, am an awesome guard dog and love to chase my tail.

I’m Friend the Suffolk lamb and only a couple of months old. I drink LOTS of milk and like riding on the motorbike.

My name is Piri, I am an eight month old seal point Birman. I like retrieving balls of wool from the wool basket; tossing and dragging them around the house until they are an unravelled mess. When hungry, I also like biting toes. When feeling playful, which is most of the time, I love tossing my toys around the house; hunting them down and pouncing on them, and that includes chunks of real meat!

I’m Xena the four year old Burmese cross. I like butter, cheese and purring and can pick food up with my paw and eat it. I am pretty clever and can even tip over the kitty kitchen and make food appear like magic!

 I’m Diva, a 14 week old German Shorthaired Pointer. I love showers as I dance around and around with my big floppy ears spraying water all over the place. I love running really fast into the shower so the water splashes and then I race back out and do it all over again. I try really hard to lap up the water before it disappears down the drain and stand staring in total amazement when I can’t get it all. And if anyone is in the shower, I absolutely love licking the water that runs down their legs. The first time I did it I heard a scream but now it’s just all giggles so I lick toes as well now – humans are really quite funny in the shower!

I’m Zsofi, an eight year old Irish Setter. I just love helping out around the farm - my owners call me their supervisor because I'm always around and trying to lend them a hand milking the cows, especially down in the pit. I love any spilt milk or the occasional cow poo - Yummy!!!
I also love to carry around bones and lounging on the leather sofa. I can stretch out on my back feet up in the air and snooze all day - love it!!!

I'm Ducko the duck. I love cuddling up to Bucko the lamb, nothing like a nice snuggle between friends in the springtime sun.

Check out our Facebook page to see more Pet Pinups www.facebook.com/ruralwomennz 

Rural Women New Zealand recently highlighted the devastating impacts on families of leptospirosis, a disease that can be passed from infected animals to humans, at the New Zealand Veterinary Association conference in Hamilton last week.

Fiona Gower, an RWNZ member from Port Waikato, put the human face on leptospirosis, which is a key health concern for rural people, as New Zealand has one of the highest rates of infection in the world.

Liz Evans, RWNZ national president, says if farm animals are affected it can lead to severe stress for farmers dealing with poor animal health, a drop in milk production, poor reproduction and loss of stock.
“But when a family member or members contract the disease the impacts are huge,” she says.
“Depending on the severity of the case, it will mean a long illness and recovery time, and at worst, death. Emotionally the stress on the family of having a sick spouse, parent or child is incredible – not knowing when or if they will get better.”

Rural Women New Zealand has collected heart-rending stories from people who’ve caught the disease - the months and even years taken from people’s lives, and the long term impacts on their health and financial situations.
One said, “After I contracted lepto my husband was so terrified of the disease he sold the farm.” Another said “In the first week I thought I would die; then I wished that I had.”
Mrs Evans says strengthening links between the research and medical sectors and the rural community is key to eradicating lepto.
“Working collaboratively we can raise awareness of leptospirosis and how to prevent it through vaccination of stock and good hygiene practices.

“In people, early diagnosis and treatment are also important in minimising its severity and long-term effects.
“We strongly suggest that rural people and farmers presenting at their GP with non-specific symptoms should always request that a test for leptospirosis be included in the blood test line-up, although antibodies will not be present for two to three weeks.”

In people the mild form of lepto is a minor flu-like sickness, but without the respiratory symptoms. The severe form may include extreme headaches, high fever, nausea, muscle pain, breathing and vision problems and diarrhoea. About half of people with severe lepto are hospitalised, and there can be permanent complications from kidney or liver damage.

Rural Women New Zealand is the chair of the Farmers Leptospirosis Action Group, which is conducting SFF-funded research into leptospirosis at Massey University, looking at the cost-benefits of vaccinating sheep and cattle.

RWNZ has been involved in the fight to stamp out leptospirosis since the 1970s. At that time, members raised over $150,000 to fund research that led to the development of vaccines for dairy cattle and pigs.
With the death of a meat worker at a sheep-only plant in 2006, Rural Women NZ members mobilised once more, raising $107,000 for further research at Massey into transmission pathways from animals to farmers and meat workers.

Photo: Fiona Gower

Val Tarrant at Rural Women New Zealand's national conference, Hawera 2012 - before presenting the Tarrant Bell for our speech competition. Simply click on the image to watch a short movie of Val in action.  

A new collection of writing published by South Canterbury Rural Women New Zealand is a treasure trove of stories and poems celebrating the lives and work of rural women.

At last weekend’s launch of the anthology Ragwort and Thistles, Minister of Women’s Affairs and Rangitata MP, Jo Goodhew, said “Women were and women are the fabric of our land.”

The Minister congratulated the 48 contributors - many of whom were in Timaru for the launch – saying the book of poetry and prose moved her and will become a treasured publication to many.

President of Rural Women New Zealand’s South Canterbury Provincial, Margaret Chapman, says the publication of the book had been a big project. 

“During 2011 we held a nationwide writing competition seeking original, non-published works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry that celebrated women and the role they play or have played on our land and in our rural communities.

“In all, 321 entries were received, ranging from witty poems and moving stories about remarkable pioneer women who shaped our country, to modern stories about women farmers today.”

A judging panel of five, including Pleasant Point writer Karalyn Joyce, had an incredibly hard job to select the 52 individual poems and stories that are included in the book.

They chose as winner a short story called Ragwort and Thistles, by Marion Day of Picton, saying the story invoked clear and vivid memories.

In a close second, was Milk and Honey, another very descriptive and well-written story by Annalisa Vaatstra of Wanganui.

In third place came Madge, a beautiful character poem by Dawn McMillan of Thames.

The book will have broad appeal for both rural and non-rural people. 

“It’s a good read – designed to entertain, to inform and in many cases to evoke memories,” says Margaret Chapman. 

“The book celebrates the vital part that women play in farming – in the past, present and into the future”.

The book is available for purchase through Rural Women New Zealand’s website – www.ruralwomen.org.nz 

Photo above  from left to right
Kerry Maw, RWNZ National Councillor; Alyson Ulrich, judge; Vicky O'Connor, photographer; Yvone Cochrane,contributor; Hon Jo Goodhew, MP


For further information about the book contact:
Margaret Chapman
President South Canterbury Provincial
Rural Women New Zealand
(03) 693 9994, (027) 207 6008
mgchapman@xtra.co.nz

A new guide for migrant dairy farm workers is now available! 

Copies are available from Rural Women NZ national office or you can download it from Immigration New Zealand's website HERE.