Girls can drive economic growth and social stability; New Chicago Council report calls for increased investment in rural adolescent girls. 
Adolescent girls living in rural areas of the developing world have untapped potential to drive economic development and help meet the world’s future food supply needs, says a new report released by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Girls Grow: A Vital Force in Rural Economies identifies opportunities to empower rural girls to spur economic and social change in their families and communities. Catherine Bertini, 2003 World Food Prize Laureate, serves as the publication’s lead author and chair of the project that produced the report.  Read More

We’ve produced some ‘hard questions’ that you can use as a basis for voicing rural concerns during ‘meet the candidates’ events, and as a basis for developing your own questions.  Read More

The Rural Women NZ Manifesto for 2011-2014 is now available! This manifesto is published by Rural Women NZ to advise the Government of the issues that create disparities for rural communities, and to offer solutions. Read More

What are the big concerns affecting your community? What are your local candidates’ or political party’s stance on these issues? Can candidates ensure your concerns will be addressed through positive legislative changes? Read More

We have received a warm 'thank you' letter from Christchurch Women's Refuge for all the practical support from Rural Women NZ members around the country.   Read More

Environment Minister Nick Smith has announced the criteria and assessment panel for the new fund to help councils and communities clean-up nationally significant water bodies that have been polluted.  It’s called the Fresh Start for Fresh Water Clean Up Fund, which will have $9 million available in the coming year.  For more information go to More information, including criteria for the fund and application forms are available at: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/water/freshwater/fresh-start-for-fresh-water/cleanup-fund.html    Read More

Telecom’s CDMA network will close in July 2012, however because CDMA phones often work where GSM phones don’t, people living or working in rural areas have tended to hang on to their CDMAs.  Now they’ll have to switch, and Consumer Magazine recently tested 17 new mobiles with a focus on finding models that work well in country areas. The three best in their test for reception were the Telecom R54, Telecom R109 and Nokia 6120 Classic. The best smartphone was the Apple iPhone 4.  The phones are all compatible with XT as well as with the Vodafone and 2degrees networks. Read More

Rural Women New Zealand applauds Transport Minister Steven Joyce’s decision to accept our recommendation and extend the 20kmh speed limit past school buses to 20 seconds before and after a school bus has stopped if the bus is displaying a flashing sign. Read More

A vibrant group of women from Top of the South came together last weekend at St Arnaud for a leadership training programme, sponsored by Landcorp. The weather was chilly (minus 7 degrees on Sunday morning!) but inside the lovely new St Arnaud hall the atmosphere was warm and buzzing! Read More