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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Marianne Awburn

“The biggest take-away from It’s All About YOU was finding confidence in my skills”: the course giving rural women the boost to really go for it

Marianne talks about pursuing her dream career whilst getting her work/life balance right.

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Gill Rolfe

At the Vanguard

With the support of FMG, Melanoma New Zealand’s Spot Check Van is bringing proactive healthcare into communities across Aotearoa.

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Jace and her son Wyatt

Working as a stock manager with a baby in tow

Jace talks to Shepherdess about how she is managing a career in farming whilst bringing up a child on her own.

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Kiri and kids in the garden

Aligned with Nature

It can be difficult to justify sweeping changes when it’s your livelihood on the line.

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Bella making clay cups

The young primary school kaiako using pottery to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention

Bella highlights the importance of te ao and te reo Māori in her job in education, and raises funds and awareness for mental health through her project Have a Cuppa.

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Jenna Smith

“I always thought I had to be everything in equal parts to be successful.” – from dairy assistant to CEO and governance roles.

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Takurua Winter 2026 Edition

Twenty-Sixth Edition

Our beautiful Takurua Winter 2026 Edition is out now.

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