Forging 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.
Courting 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.
Common Ground
When artist and photographer Raymond Sagapolutele arrived at Castle Hill Station, he quickly found common ground with farm managers Anne and Jason Hann, discovering shared values around care for people and place. The Upper Waimakariri Catchment Group – which Anne chairs – hosted Raymond in April as part of the Pacific Arts Nature Residencies, a collaboration between Creative New Zealand and Aotearoa New Zealand Catchment Communities.
All In
In the third of our series of feature interviews, Shepherdess Editor Kristy McGregor chats to Kate Acland, Chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand. Along with her role as chair, Kate and her husband, Dave, farm the 3,800-hectare Mount Somers Station. The station runs sheep, beef and dairy, but the family have diversified with honey and lambswool blankets. Prior to moving south, Kate, who grew up on a lifestyle block in rural Taranaki, founded a winery in Marlborough. Kristy says, “Kate has a high-profile role – I’ve seen her name in the newspaper, and have bumped into her a couple of times. I admire her leadership in what I imagine to be at times a male-dominated industry.” Here, in this conversation, they cover entrepreneurship, farming, family and leadership.
Great Southern Land
Kylie Krippner of Wings & Water in Te Anau and Nikki Ladd of Shark Experience in Motupōhue Bluff take us for a wild ride through Murihiku Southland.
An Ordinary Day
It was just an ordinary day in the Strath Taieri Valley for Anna and Bevan Wilson when Bevan had an accident while working on their farm. Although it was serious, the couple are mindful that the situation could have been far worse. Now, one year on, Anna and a fully recovered Bevan reflect on how they handle on-farm risk.
The Sky’s the Limit
Aircraft maintenance engineer Debbie Garlick grew up tinkering with machines alongside her helicopter pilot dad in the small Southland town of Tuatapere. Encouraged by her family to pursue her aviation dreams, Debbie joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force at just seventeen and, from there, her career took off.
A Dream & Hard Graft
A way of life with a love of horses at its core, encompassed by a strong belief that horses can heal.
A lifetime of delivering babies: “At every single birth, through all the years, it was always amazing, just as it was that first time”
Brenda decided she wanted to be a midwife after witnessing something quite spectacular when she was just twelve years old – the birth of a baby and the beginning of a new life.
Pooling their Waters
Three women working with WAI Wānaka share what ties them to the land and drives their work.
The challenges – and rewards – of running a business in the remote communities of Aotea Great Barrier
Orla, Felicitas and Andi talk about the difficulties – and delights – of island life, living and running businesses in the remote communities of Aotea.
Doing it for the kids: making the local marae clubrooms a community-positive, whānau-focused space
Stacey lives next to Hungahungatoroa Marae, where she has shifted the priorities and focus of the clubroom to provide a more wholesome and community-positive space.
“The compromise works both ways” – the sacrifices rural couples make for work and for love
Holly left the South Island and her beloved curling team behind to be with her partner – but she makes it work, still managing to play for them despite the distance.
Turning out and giving back – two female volunteer firefighters on life in the brigade
Karley and Manaka got together to share what it’s like to be a mum, career woman and local hero – on the Ōakura volunteer fire brigade.
Takurua Winter 2026 Edition
Twenty-Sixth Edition
Our Takurua Winter Edition is out 8 June.