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Leek & Cauliflower Cheese

“Cauliflower cheese is a classic family favourite, made even tastier with chunks of sweet and tender leeks and crunchy breadcrumbs. This is fab served with a roast or sausages, or it could easily be served as a vegetarian main dish with fresh crusty bread and a green salad.”

This is the third comforting recipe Olivia Galletly shared with us from her first cookbook, The Hungry Cook.

Recipes

Rustic Fruit Tart

“In my eyes, a seasonal fruit tart is hard to beat. This tart is the perfect way to use up any of the final sun-ripened autumn fruit.”

This is the first of three recipes Jaz Mathisen shared with us from her cookbook, A Year at Awakino Station.

Community

Turning up for Each Other

Kath Menpes, 48, a born and bred Southlander, grew up inland in Heddon Bush and now lives in Orepuki, a small coastal settlement, with her husband, Paul, and their two children, Jamie, 15, and Lizzy, 13, on Paul’s family’s third-generation sheep farm. Three years ago, she joined PGG Wrightson as the store manager at Tuatapere. Five times a week, she channels her commitment to staying active into community fitness sessions for local women, where it’s not just muscles that get strengthened.

Feature Post v2 Weddings

Hearts Racing

A shared passion for horse racing brought Jessica Murphy, known as Jess, and Marc Hamilton together, so when the couple exchanged vows on a bluebird autumn day in Central Otago, it made sense for Jess’s Appaloosa gelding, Micah, to take a starring role.

Feature Post v2 Her Words

Generations of Care

Robyn Stephens, a Te Rohe Pōtae King Country farmer and grandmother of nine, took up dog trials at the age of fifty-nine, following in her father’s footsteps, and at seventy-six is still working as a casual musterer. Here, she reflects on her connection to the past and how her whānau Māori has influenced her.

Her Words

Still Here

Her father’s influence and a deep love for animals inspired her to become a shepherd, but it’s not been an easy road for Wairarapa-based Lara Smith, 29. Here, she shares how her persistence has paid 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.

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Feature Post v2 Stories

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.

Feature Post v2 Weddings

Hopelessly Devoted

Arpége Taratoa, now 32, and Knox Enoka, now 31, were initially caught off guard by their feelings for one another. But with help from some heart-shaped candy, they went from love to marriage, continuing to surprise each other along the way.

Recipes

Pine Nut Dukkah With Foraged Fennel Seeds

Sophie Merkens set out across Aotearoa in Zephyr, her converted van, in search of the wild – both in terms of food and the people who gather, forage, fish and hunt for it. She shares her road-trip tales and advice on how to source wild ingredients in her new book, Eat Wild.

Feature Post v2 Stories

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.

Her Words

Patisserie Pop-up

Between dairy farming, fitness classes and family life, Ruth Guthrie, 48, has found her creative outlet – regularly treating the community of Mohua Golden Bay to a curated selection of delicacies at pop-up patisserie Fix on Friday.