ACWW Country of Study 2018:

We are pleased to announce that the ACWW Country of Study for this year is Iceland. We hope you enjoy learning as much as you can about this diverse and interesting country.

Fun fact: Mosquitoes do not exist in Iceland. Find out other curious facts about Iceland.

RWNZ was one of the founding members of ACWW. It is one of the largest international development organisations for rural women.

The ACWW network allows it to engage at the local, national, and international level with the aim of achieving these goals:

- To raise the standard of living for rural women and their families through education, training and community development programmes.

- To provide practical support to our members and help them set up income-generating schemes.

- To support educational opportunities for women and girls, and help eliminate gender discrimination.

- To give rural women a voice at an international level through our links with UN agencies and bodies.

We look forward to hearing how the Branches and members choose to learn more about Iceland and find fun and novel ways to share and learn together.

Lack of enforcement and education around freedom camping has led to ongoing issues in our rural communities says Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ). 

“This summer has been great for both domestic and foreign tourists, however, freedom camping has once again caused angst in our rural communities,” says Fiona Gower, National President.

“Overseas experience shows us that farms can be affected by disease outbreak (such as E. coli) through waste left behind by freedom campers and any loss of income is not acceptable to farming families.

“Adverse effects on human health and that of our environment are clearly issues for all New Zealanders.

“RWNZ supports the concerns of those communities affected by large numbers of disrespectful freedom campers, especially in tourist hot spots such as Queenstown, Wanaka and others.

“RWNZ believes that the government needs to ensure that the legislation is fit for purpose so that rural areas especially road reserve, paper roads and private land are protected from the adverse effects of freedom camping,” says Ms Gower.

Rural untracked parcels change

From 1 February, New Zealand Post customers will see the cost of sending untracked parcels to rural addresses increase by $3.70.

This charge, which was initially only placed on Tracked, Courier and Courier Signature parcels will now also be applied to untracked parcels sent to a rural address as a means to offset fixed costs associated with deliver to rural locations.

New Zealand Post has stated that these costs are a result of the continuing decrease in letter volumes.

Despite ongoing cost reductions made, this change is said to be necessary to continue to operate a sustainable network.

For business account customers, the change will take effect on 1 July 2018 as set out in their contacts.

This is an annual event, where women’s groups in many countries organise walks in their communities along local tracks and trails, to raise funds for the Associated Country Women of the World.

It’s a great way to come together, catch up with friends and have some fun and healthy exercise along the way.

More About The Work Of ACWW

Rural Women New Zealand congratulates of our members who have received remarkable recognition for their extensive and positive contributions to the rural sector and their communities.

RWNZ Board Chair Penny Mudford has been named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her services to arbitration and the primary industries sector. 

Early in her career, Ms Mudford was a dairy farmer and partner in DK and PJ Mudford Dairy Farming Partnership for 20 years, whilst being active on Boards such as the Rural Women’s Discussion Group, and Westpac Trust Kiwi Dairy Farmer of the Year. In 2000, she became Chief Executive of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand, a role she held for seven years. She has since gone into private practice as a dispute resolution practitioner specialised in the resolution of rural disputes, farming contracts, livestock agreements, and farm equity partnerships. After holding a variety of committee roles within the Manawatu/Rangitikei branch of Federated Farmers, she was elected provincial President in 1999. Penny is a member of the New Zealand Walking Access Commission and is Chair of the Racing Safety Development Industry Working Group.

Isobel Greenwood has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for community service. Isobel has supported the people of Tomarata and surrounding districts in a multitude of volunteer roles for the past 50 years.

Her extensive roles and support have included environmental initiatives such as working with the Tomarata Lake Restoration Committee, leading action to have the World War Two names added to the local war memorial, volunteering her time to restore and upgrade the local community hall. She was one of the founding committee members for the establishment of the local playgroup and chapter of the Brownies movement. She has contributed many years of fund raising for the local Plunket Society, has been a Citizens Advice Bureau volunteer, a committee member for the Tomarata Tennis Club and an active member of RWNZ for over 40 years. Being involved with the Tomarata Primary School, Isobel has held many roles there including inaugural librarian, teaching crafts to students, Calf Club Committee Member and returning officer for the first nine Board of Trustees election cycles.

Joan Howse has received the QSM for services to women and the community.

She was a conveyor of the National Standing Committee for Justice and Law Reform. She was a member of the Whangarei Health Camp Board from 1969 and served as Chairperson during this time. As a member of ACWW, she attended the World Conference for many years, and in 1977 created a wall panel which was presented at the conference in Beijing. She has also held many positions with the Northland Justices of the Peace Association, including Treasurer, President and Patron, and has a compiled history of the Association from 1951 to 2000. Joan is also a member of the Women's Fellowship of St John Church in Whangarei, a YMCA Board member, patron and Life Member. She received a New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medial in 1993.

Joy Cowley also known as (Mrs) Joy Coles, DCNZM, OBE, is a recent member of RWNZ and has been named as Member of the Order of New Zealand. She has been a successful, prolific writer of adult and children's fiction books which have gained recognition both nationally and internationally.

Joy has supported children's education through teaching early reading skills and helping those with reading difficulties, as well as writing over 1000 books to assist in teaching reading and other associated skills. She is a patron and former Trustee of the Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust, which supports and promotes the development of children's and young adults' literature in New Zealand.

Her wide recognition includes numerous national and international literary awards, including the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in fiction in 2010, and the University of Alabama's Maryann Manning Award for Outstanding Literacy Scholar in 2011. Since being appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005, she has continued to write for publication, the most recent book being 'Helper and Helper' in 2017. She is also the Honourary President of the New Zealand Society of Authors.

Joy was a former judge of the RWNZ Olive Burdekin Advance Writers Competition and a member of the Kenepuru branch. She was very generous to RWNZ and the community while living in the Marlborough Sounds.

Thelma Margaret Luxton Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for her services to the community and cricket. She is a member of the RWNZ Motunui branch.

Thelma has been a member of the Soroptimists International Waitara since 1984, contributing to membership development, as Treasurer, and as President for three separate terms. She held the title of Regional Programme Director and Archivist of Soroptimists International New Zealand Central, and held previous roles including President. She has been a Trustee of North Taranaki Healthcare Trust since 2005 and led fundraising of $1.5 million to establish and outfit a Health Centre, and supported the establishment of a range of health services at the Health Centre.

She has been involved with cricket in Waitara since the 1950s, having been scorer for Brixton and then Waitara Cricket Clubs from 1955 to 1991. Thelma has been the Secretary/Treasurer for Waitara Cricket Club and Manukorihi Sports Complex, and the official scorer for Taranaki Cricket Association since 1972. She holds title as Chairperson of Massey Trust since 1981, which supports Waitara High School with sports equipment and uniforms along with other school needs.

Rural Women New Zealand National Office will be closed from 5:30 PM Friday, 15 December until 8:30 AM Monday, 15 January 2018.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018. Have a relaxing holiday with friends, family and your local community.

Thank you for your support of our organisation and your commitment to growing dynamic communities. 

Christmas and New Year can be particularly stressful times on farm. If you feel like you, or someone you know needs some extra help, support

or assistance over the holidays, or anytime, there are a number of support agencies and helplines you can refer to:

The Rural Support Trust - 0800 787 254 or www.rural-support.org.nz 

Dairy NZ - Sharemilkers support - www.dairynz.co.nz/farm/tactics/support-for-sharemilkers

Federated Farmers - 0800 327 646 OR www.fedfarm.org.nz - drought feedline 0800 376 844

www.depression.org.nz OR 0800 111 757

Lifeline 0800 543 354

Youthline 0800 376 633 or free text 234

Samaritans 0800 726 666

Women's Refuge 0800 REFUGE (733 843)

Shakti New Zealand 0800 SHAKTI (0800 742 584) (24 hour crisis line with multi-lingual counsellors)

Farmstrong www.farmstrong.co.nz 

Doug Avery's Resilient Farmer - www.resilientfarmer.co.nz

SPCA - www.rspca.org.nz

Rural Women New Zealand National President, Fiona Gower presented at the annual meeting of the International Leptospirosis Society meeting in Palmerston North in late November.

Her speech is below: “I would not wish this on my worst enemy. I was so ill that I thought I would die.”

“We had to leave the farm, our friends, the kid’s schools and their friends. We bought a house in town facing some fields but it was never the same. We never recovered financially.”

These are just two quotes from Rural Women New Zealand members when asked to tell their stories about their experience of leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a disease with widespread consequences. What is astounding is the emotional pain that remains long after the physical illness has passed.

Rural Women New Zealand too has been involved in the leptospirosis fight, having run two very successful campaigns, the first in the 80’s which raised over $150,000 for research in to leptospirosis in the dairy and pig industry by Massey University. This led to a huge drop in cases as the value of vaccinating stock became well known and implemented.

In 2007-2008 the second fundraising and awareness campaign was undertaken, raising over $107,000 to be used in the research by Massey into leptospirosis, in particular freezing workers. The awareness raised in groups such as farmers, rural workers and medical professionals was priceless.

This long term partnership between Massey University and RWNZ representing science and community is incredibly valuable, as it allows the strengths of each to support the work of the other.

It hasn’t just been the funding and the research, it is the long term partnership that has been the strength, that we can turn to each other for support or backing or information sharing. RWNZ is a member of FLAG – Farmers Leptospirosis Action Group and has attended other Leptospirosis forums. I had the privilege of addressing the NZ Veterinary Association in 2012 on the effects of Leptospirosis on rural families and communities and the importanceof disease prevention to them.

By working together, we can prevent more cases occurring and having families saying to us: “Our family had to be split up as we were unable to care for the kids. They were strangers by the time we could get them back again. It is really affecting our relationship. Whatever the cost to inoculate, it costs nothing compared to your life.”

Awareness of the disease which has been raised, and where further work can be done, how to prevent stock getting infected, and importantly what practices rural workers can put into place to lower the risk of them contracting leptospirosis. This is something that community organisations such as Rural Women New Zealand can collaborate on, to raise further awareness to all groups such as rural workers, employers and health professionals. As one rural doctor said after our awareness campaign: “I have never tested much for leptospirosis, but now I will take it more seriously”. We also know that those who have become aware of the disease are more likely to pressure for the test if they are ill.

The recent very wet weather and floods have shown up cases in those involved in the clean-up, contracting the disease from the infected water and mud. We have been working with Rural Support Trusts to ensure the message is disseminated about staying safe at these times is disseminated is vital.

Like that famous phrase says, “it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen,” we have seen the results from the combined research and awareness campaigns. Let’s keep it up so less of our stock is infected, meaning better returns for our farmers and less of our rural workers and families contracting leptospirosis, leading to healthier, happy families staying on the land and keeping having strong rural communities.

Pictured is Jackie Benschop of Massey University, RWNZ Board Member Janet Williams and National President Fiona Gower.

A special thank you to all delegates for making an effort to attend the 2017 Rural Women New Zealand National Conference and AGM in Invercargill.

It was a great success, the friendship, fellowship, and participation, which were much appreciated. The speakers were selected for your interest and enjoyment. The Board representatives organised the heath, social and rural environment workshops, which were well supported by delegates.

A special thank you must go to the committee for their astute quality and dedication to provide all delegates with something to remember about the 2017 conference in Invercargill, which made it so enjoyable.

Mary, Val, Virginia, Heather, Dorothy, Sally, Ann, Jeanette, Pat, Iris, Rhonda, Moira, Eunice, Yvonne and Pasty, you made the conference what it was. It was amazing and an enjoyable time, including great weather even though we were inside. The food was to die for and the friendly atmosphere that we all look forward to at these functions.

A very special thank you to Ian Smith for the wonderful partner’s/spouses tours, with amazing Southland scenery and farmland, that many tourists have never seen before. I am sure the lunches and snacks that were provided were very much appreciated.

Elaine Sloan
Convenor National Conference Committee, Invercargill

Congratulations to the National Competition Winners for 2017

Tarrant Bell & Tutaenui Bell Speech contest topic: “Why Not?”

Tutaenui Bell and Tarrant Bell

1^st Place Alex Thompson, Amuri Dinner Branch, Region 2

2^nd Place Leona Trimble, Hampden Branch, Region 1

Marlborough Short Story & Olive Burdekin short story “ What a Fuss”

1000-1500 words for Marlborough Short Story – Kerry France, Moa Flat Branch, Region 1 for “Guess what I am.” Dominion Essay Tray and voucher from Region 3

1500- 2000 words for Olive Burdekin – Chrissy Sumby, Kenepuru Branch, Region 3 for “Bay Swimming” Voucher from Region 3

Cora Wilding- insulated Pot Stand - any medium

Melva Robb – Marlborough Provincial, 1^st Place, Region 3

Olive Craig Trophy Member of Excellence (Judged by the National Board) Sue Hall Region 6

Talbot Trophy- best Provincial, Branch or Group International Officer report

International Officer - Melva Robb – Marlborough Provincial, 1^st Place, Region 3

The Honora O’Neill Gong is for the best Provincial, Sandra Curd, Mid Canterbury Region 2

Branch or Group President’s Report: Carolyn McLellan, Bainham Branch Region 3

The Lady Blundell Tray Competition

for the most innovative project completed by an individual, Group, Branch, Provincial or Region.

Winner: Amuri Dinner Group.

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is proud to announce the NZI Supreme winner of the Enterprising Rural Women Awards 2017, Debra Cruickshank of Tannacrieff Wines.

“A truly inspiring story” is how the awards judges captured Debra’s business success. RWNZ’s National President, Fiona Gower was on the judging panel and said, “We were impressed with Debra’s demonstration of a love for what she does and a focus on family, heritage and her roots.

“Debra displays a superb work ethic, skill and innovative thinking, which has provided a great foundation from which to leverage and grow the Tannacrieff Wines brand.”

Over 180 people attended the awards event with friends, family and colleagues supporting the four finalists vying for the Supreme Enterprising Rural Women Award. The announcement was made during the RWNZ National Conference at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill.

Minister for Women Hon Julie Anne Genter attended the awards ceremony and said, “rural women have always led the way for New Zealand, and today is no different. Congratulations to the winner, Debra Cruickshank, the finalists, and all entrants to the NZI Supreme Enterprising Rural Women Award.”

The awards are supported by industry partners: Agrisea New Zealand, NZI, SWAZI New Zealand and Homeopathic Farm Support.

RWNZ National Conference connects rural women from around New Zealand

The annual conference has been a successful event showcasing inspirational rural women and their dedication to build dynamic communities through communication, connections and collaboration.

The conference began with a video greeting from the Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Patsy Reddy, who is the Patron of RWNZ.

Guest speakers included Minister for Women Hon Julie Anne Genter who spoke about the importance of what rural women do, and the challenges for the new government.

Speeches were also presented by MP for Invercargill Sarah Dowie and Mayor for Southland District Gary Tong. Key speaker Professor Paul Spoonley spoke about New Zealand’s changing demography, the implications and challenges.

Special guests attended the conference sessions and delegates participated in workshops covering health, rural environment, education and social issues.

Congratulations to the category winners for the 2017 Enterprising Rural Women Awards:

AgriSea New Zealand Love of the Land winner: Kiri Elworthy and Jenny Bargh - Tora Coastal Walk, Martinborough www.toracoastalwalk.nz

NZI Innovative Enterprising Rural Women Award winner: Kylie Davidson and Emma Hammond - Hammond and Davidson Accountants, Riversdale  www.hammonddavidson.co.nz

Homeopathic Farm Support Emerging Enterprising Rural Women Award winner: Jo Kempton - Happy Belly Ferments, Greytown   www.happybellyferments.com 

Swazi New Zealand Entrepreneurial Enterprising Rural Women Award winner and NZI Supreme Award winner:
Debra Cruikshank - Tannacrieff Wines, Cromwell www.tannacrieff.co.nz 

Click here to download a high res image of Debra Cruickshank.