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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The benefits of a collective oomph – how taking part in AWDT’s ‘It’s all about YOU’ programme led to longstanding connections and a rewarding career
Katherine credits this course with helping her to find inspiration and confidence to embark on a journey in life coaching, teaching, and group facilitation.
One woman’s mission to share a life-saving message about gynaecological cancers: “We’ve normalised talking about breasts, so let’s remove the stigma about talking about our vaginas.”
Her own cervical cancer diagnosis set Bay of Plenty farmer Sjaan on a mission to raise awareness about gynaecological cancers.
Pirinoa
Jacqui Sutherland, 77, has found her place in Pirinoa, South Wairarapa, where she raised her family and still lives with her husband.
“It’s never going to be just sunshine and rainbows, and it doesn’t have to be” – a closer look at post-natal depression
Carla was diagnosed with post-natal depression when her daughter was about eighteen months old, after the two of them and Carla’s partner moved to Ōhope from the remote East Cape.
A Taste of Timaru – Clarissa
Clarissa, a star of Timaru’s food and beverage scene, shares how she spends her days off with Shepherdess.
The short course full of “useful little gems” to help identify stress and prioritise wellbeing in yourself and others
Alice Trevelyan, 33, completed the ‘Know Your Mindset. Do What Matters’ programme with her husband, Dave.
Takurua Winter 2026 Edition
Twenty-Sixth Edition
Our beautiful Takurua Winter 2026 Edition is out now.