Posts by Robyn
Ranfurly
Amie Pont (Taranaki), 47, is deeply acquainted with the seasons of the Maniototo, traditionally known to Māori as Māniatoto, in Central Otago, having spent most of her life there. Not content merely to observe, she has contributed much to the fabric of the community over the years, from volunteering at the local Ranfurly radio station to establishing the local paper, Positively Māniatoto.
Read MoreRoslein Wilkes
Roslein Wilkes MNZM, 85, reflects on her decades of volunteering with Marlborough Riding for the Disabled – which has not only benefited countless riders, but also helped Roslein through her grief after her husband died.
Read MoreCatherine Chidgey
Catherine Chidgey, 55, is one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed contemporary writers. She’s running a workshop, Writing the Child, at this year’s Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival.
Read MoreAbby France, FMG
Abby France, 38, is a client advice manager at FMG and a mum to two young girls, Harriet, 6, and Pip, 3. She is also a sheep farmer and co-owns an events company. From her home in Heratini Geraldine, Abby helps clients plan for the future – and throws a country fete or two to give them an excuse to get off farm and connect.
Read MoreCreative at Heart
Amy Burke, 41, of Te Mamaku Ruby Bay, near Motueka, created Botanical Skincare, whose roots stretch back to her childhood – playing in her grandmother’s sprawling botanical garden and soaking up knowledge of plants and their properties. Here, the 2024 winner of Rural Women New Zealand’s Creative at Heart award takes us through a day of blending product-making with running a business and raising a family.
Read MoreThe 25th edition of Shepherdess
Letter from the Editor, Ngahuru Autumn 2026 Edition.
Read MoreSecond Skin
A rural upbringing and a career spent promoting merino led Lisa Thompson, 47, to believe wool is in her DNA. Now, as CEO of Wānaka-based sheepskin retailer Wilson & Dorset, she aims to reestablish the centuries-old fibre as a mainstay in modern living spaces.
Read MoreStacey & Kirsty
Stacey Law, 38, and Kirsty Playle, 37, live on neighbouring farms in the tiny settlement of Tiniroto, around an hour inland from Gisborne Tairāwhiti. Stacey is a ward and emergency department nurse in Wairoa and Gisborne, while Kirsty works for the East Coast Rural Support Trust. They’re part of a committee working on upgrades to the Tiniroto Community Hall, made possible, at least in part, by money won in Rabobank’s 2025 Community Hub Competition. They want to ensure that the Hall continues to serve the community – whether for celebrations or civil emergencies.
Read MoreForging a Path
Forging hot steel, wielding sharp blades, and working with half-tonne horses at close quarters is no easy feat, but for Hawke’s Bay farrier Blythe Cruickshank, 32, it’s just another day at the office.
Read MoreCourting Sustainability
Alice Trevelyan and Dave Swney are bringing fresh energy to their Te Awamutu dairy farm. With solar-powered milking sheds and a thriving native plant nursery, The Native Dairy Farmer, they’re growing a life that’s good for their family and gentle on the land.
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