Twenty exciting and innovative businesses are in the line up for the Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Women Awards 2013.

The judges now face the challenging task of choosing finalists in the four entry categories: Love of the Land (sponsored by Agrisea Limited), Help I Need Somebody (sponsored by Telecom) Making it in Rural (sponsored by Fly Buys), and Stay, Play, Rural (sponsored by Access Homehealth Ltd).

These four category winners will go on to compete for the title of Supreme winner, Enterprising Rural Women Award 2013.

"This is the fifth year we've run the Enterprising Rural Women Awards," says RWNZ National President, Liz Evans. "Each year it's rewarding to see the diversity of businesses successfully run by women in rural areas and the significant inputs they make into the wider economy.

"Through these awards Rural Women NZ aims to celebrate their success and raise awareness of women's entrepreneurship, which helps to grow dynamic rural communities."

Entries in this year's Love of the Land category include a fresh produce and gourmet food business, a combined sheep and beef, orchard and farm forestry operation, a native tree nursery, a blueberry grower and product retailer, and a honey business.

In the Help I Need Somebody section there is a butchery and deli, a hair and beauty salon, a skin and sun protection product company, a workplace health and safety service, and an online Kiwiana gift store.

Competing in the Making it in Rural is a merino fashion designer and retailer, a children's book author and illustrator, an exporter of animal products for the medical, pharmaceutical and dietary supplements market, a glass artist, a business that makes soaps and massage oils, and a natural pet care products manufacturer.

Stay, Play, Rural entrants have plenty to offer with farmstay and homestay businesses in the running, as well as an astronomy tourism venture and a luxury lake cruise enterprise.

The Enterprising Rural Women Award winners will be announced at a special ceremony to be held on the opening night of the Rural Women NZ national conference in Christchurch on 23 May.

Check back here over the next month to meet the entrants. Also, visit our Facebook page.

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.

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’.

Rural Women New Zealand has cause to celebrate ‘Back to School’  this year as two rural safety initiatives it’s been promoting get the green light.

We have been advocating for safer speeds around rural schools for several years, and are thrilled that variable speed limits are to be extended to 23 rural schools, following the success of a trial at seven rural schools in 2012,  says Rural Women New Zealand national president, Liz Evans.

“We’re also delighted that a trial of active, flashing, 20km/h signage is to go ahead on a fleet of school buses in Ashburton early this year, with funding approved just before Christmas.

“Our rural children are often placed in very vulnerable situations getting to and from school, and we welcome both these initiatives to raise driver awareness and slow down traffic,” says Mrs Evans.  “We will be actively promoting both these to our nationwide network of members.”

In the first trial, the NZ Transport Agency says the variable speed limits have resulted in an improvement in driver behaviour and reduction in speeds around the rural schools that took part, and the trial will be extended to 23 sites by the end of 2013.

The variable speed limit is set at 70km/h past schools in 100km/h zones, and 60km/h for schools in 80km/h areas.

The speeds are displayed on electronic signs, which allow the speed limit to be changed locally at agreed times.  

Mrs Evans says it’s encouraging to see innovative technological solutions being used to solve safety concerns.

“Technology is also the answer when it comes to reminding drivers about the 20km/h speed limit past school buses, and  it’s exciting that the Road Safety Trust has approved funding for a trial of active signage on school buses.”

The four stage trial with a bus company in Ashburton is expected to get underway in the next few weeks.

Bright 20km/h signs with flashing lights will be illuminated to alert drivers to the speed limit in both directions when passing a school bus that has stopped for children to get on and off.

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!

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.