Feature Post v2

More than just a festival, a Booktown is a town that has forged its identity around books. Intrigued, Kristy recently spoke to Mary, who has been Featherston Booktown’s operations manager for the past seven years, to find out more about the impact the initiative has had on the small South Wairarapa community.

Emilie Bean has spent the past four years growing her cut flower business – The Arrowtown Flower Company – and supplying local blooms around Kā-Muriwai Arrowtown. More than a luxury, they are a way for Emilie to create connection and mark special occasions through beauty.

Light layers for the lingering autumn sun and warmer ones for crisp mornings. Here we draw inspiration from autumn in Māniatoto Central Otago – russet hues from tussock and the muted tones of Clyde’s historic brick-lined streets.

Meg Burden’s farm was one of many properties damaged and cut off during and in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. Two years on, Meg reflects on the little and big things they did to get by, and how the strength of rural communities shines through.

Workwear for women on the land. We showcase Betacraft’s new women’s summer range in its natural environment – on the farm.

From studying at Lincoln as a Land Girl during World War II to working on farms throughout Waitaha Canterbury, Jill MacKenzie looks back on a lifetime of connection to the land.

The Tora Coastal Walk in the Wairarapa was one of the first multi-day, fully catered walks across private farmland in Aotearoa. Now in its thirtieth year, it was originally started by three neighbouring farming families, and is now run by Kiri Elworthy, daughter-in-law of Jane Elworthy, one of the founders.