Community

When their two Murihiku Southland rugby clubs merged for the 2025 season to form a new team, Tū Kotahi Wahine, Grace Duthie (Ngāi Tahu), 20, and Ruby Laidlaw, 22, went from being rivals to teammates. We caught up with them last year, and asked about the change.

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.

“What’s unique about Underground is the range – from small-scale growers and land holders to large-scale regenerative and organic dairy, sheep and beef operations, there’s something for everyone,” Fran Bailey, Underground Festival Director says.

Dance like no one is watching is a saying Saniya Thompson, 35, and Morina Colyer (Fasito’o Tai & Le’auva’a, Upolu, Sāmoa), 42, of South Pole Dance studio in Waihōpai Invercargill wholeheartedly encourage. The duo run inclusive pole dancing classes making women – and the occasional bloke – feel confident, strong and joyful in their own bodies.

In this extract from Woolsheds, we take you inside the McNeil’s woolshed at Puketoro, a remote hill country station inland from Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast. This shed may be historic, but the shearing traditions and community are still thriving today.