Rural Women New Zealand is delighted to announce the winners of the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award 2013, following an award ceremony at the opening of the Rural Women NZ national conference in Christchurch yesterday evening.

Liz Evans says “These awards, now in their fifth year, offer an opportunity for rural businesswomen to shine.  Our aim is to showcase and celebrate rural enterprise, and this year the judges had 20 strong entries to choose from.”

The Supreme Winner of the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award 2013 is Diane Coleman of Treeline Native Nursery, based at Ngongotaha, near Rotorua.  Diane also won the Love of the Land category, sponsored by Agrisea Limited.  (www.treelinenursery.co.nz).   

Treeline Native Nursery, which Diane started 17 years ago, grows and supplies NZ native trees, shrubs and grasses for revegetation and ornamental purposes, growing 300,000 plants a year that are sold to councils, farmers, landscapers, developers and the home gardener.  

Rural Women NZ national president, Liz Evans, said Diane Coleman was chosen as the Supreme Winner out of a strong field of contenders, saying she displayed “skill, calm confidence in the progress of her business and a clear awareness of her market.”

“When demand for products slowed with the 2010 economic downturn, Diane adapted to conditions, made some innovative decisions and was able to maintain production levels.

“Added to this, the business is rural-based, employs several rural women and gives back to the community with fund-raising support.”

Other winners on the night were Jan Harper, of Bluespur Butchery in Lawrence, who won the Telecom-sponsored Help! I Need Somebody category. 

As one of New Zealand’s first female butchers, Jan, who’s been in the industry since 1977, said it was a ‘dream come true’ when she opened her own business, Bluespur Butchery, in 2009.  As well as selling meat to the public, a big part of the business is processing for farmers and hunters.

A very successful exporter of animal by-products from Waipukurau took away the Making it in Rural category, sponsored by Fly Buys Ltd.  Angela Payne runs Agri-lab Co-Products Ltd (www.agri-lab.com).  Utilising animal parts that previously may have ended up in the offal-pit, the company specialises in placenta, glands, membranes, tendons and glandulars, with 90 percent of the product exported.  This is shipped all over the world as raw products for the pharmaceutical and dietary supplements markets.

Kylie Stewart of Rangitikei Farmstay was announced as the winner of the Stay, Play, Rural Award, sponsored by Access Homehealth Ltd.  Her 1500 acre farm has been in the family since 1901 and Kylie has breathed new life into many of the old buildings to create attractive accommodation for up to 19 guests at a time who come from all over the world to get a taste of New Zealand rural life with farm tours, horse treks, clay bird shooting and shearing and mustering demonstrations on offer.  (www.rangitikeifarmstay.co.nz).

The judging panel also decided this year to give a special Rural Women NZ Encourgement Award.  This went to Lee Lamb, a young farming woman who lives in Waikaia, Southland.

As her children grew, and unable to find New Zealand farm-themed books to read to them, Lee decided to write and illustrate her own.  A self-taught writer and painter, Lee was also determined to have her books printed in New Zealand.  She now has four titles:  On the Farm Shearing, On the Farm Autumn Muster, On the Farm Milking Time and On the Farm Harvest.

In congratulating all the winners, Liz Evans said, “Running a successful business anywhere in today’s competitive economy is not easy.  It takes time, commitment, money and a passion to succeed. And, of course, you have to have the initial idea to get started.

“And, in the rural context, the start-up and ability to keep going can produce even more challenges. The logisitics of running a business away from a centralised urban area can throw up hurdles such as access to prompt transport and communication – not to mention  extra costs of freight and postage.  All our winners have jumped those hurdles.”

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.