Submission

28 February 2005

Cherie Engelbrecht

Ministry of Women's Affairs

PO Box 1049

Wellington

Dear Cherie

Comments on Women in Enterprise Project

1   Thank you for the opportunity for Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) to comment on the paper Women in Enterprise : Preliminary results of a review of women in small and medium-sized enterprises.

2   The paper covered many of the issues very well but RWNZ are disappointed that rural women were only mentioned once at the very end in relation to the need for further information about the variation in women's businesses across different groups. RWNZ strongly supports this as is mentioned below there are a number of additional constraints faced by rural women in enterprise.

3   With the economic downturn in the 1980s there was an emergence of small rural businesses such as bed and breakfast accommodation, homestays, farm tourism, clothing labels etc. These business opportunities were taken up by rural women primarily because they did not face the same barriers as other opportunities. These barriers include remote location (access to services such as banks, markets, information), lack of childcare (or cost of travel to childcare), lack of good telecommunications (particularly poor internet access). In addition rural women often face additional commitments of travel for children to school, sport, supermarket etc.

4   There are a number of tertiary educated women living in rural areas because they have married a farmer. These women have huge potential given encouragement and information. The internal constraints of lack confidence and attitude to risk can be harder to overcome when living in comparative isolation in a rural area.

5   Rural women lack support networks to assist with business development. Therefore RWNZ strongly supports under Part Six possible policy implications, b) promoting the development of women entrepreneurs' networks and capability.

6   Support networks such as Her Business meetings are held in large towns, often at times that are not suitable for rural women who have to travel considerable distances.

7   The need for a range of ways to make it easier for women to obtain information and learn is extremely important. Many rural women do not have the ability to link to web based programmes easily due to poor network service.

8   With sponsorship support, RWNZ has run seminars on Women in Finance, Women in Farming and is currently investigating a series of Women in Business workshops to be held around New Zealand . These programmes demonstrate that there is definitely a need for greater information and support networks for rural women to firstly become involved in; and secondly to enhance their skills in business.

9   RWNZ would be pleased to be involved in any further opportunities to improve the knowledge and understanding of women in small to medium enterprises as well as any initiatives to better support rural women in business.

Yours sincerely,

Maggie Bayfield

Executive Officer

Rural Women New Zealand