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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.
Small Prophet, big reward: the Tokanui trio fostering creativity and community through their thriving business in a small town at the very bottom of New Zealand
Sarah, Ann and Sheila, each bringing their own expertise and creative passion, joined forces to form Small Prophet, a design studio at the edge of the world.
“Once the guys see me operating the machinery, they don’t question it” – a young woman moving mountains for a living
Olivia talks to Shepherdess about how she ended up in the earthmoving industry and the challenges and rewards of working in an almost all-male world.
The Power of Planning
Mum-of-three Janelle Downs, 34, packs her days with raising a family, farming, teaching and community work from her farm near Strathmore in Taranaki.
Education as ‘succession planning’: shaping future generations with manaaki and aroha
Maikara Ropata, on how she uses waiata, kapa haka and education in te ao Māori to help shape future generations of decision makers.
Returning age 63 to run the family farm and “fixing this place up so my mum would have smiled”
Now the Waitahora Valley’s oldest resident, Sue left for boarding school at twelve and returned aged sixty-three to work the family farm.
Takurua Winter 2026 Edition
Twenty-Sixth Edition
Our beautiful Takurua Winter 2026 Edition is out now.