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Amy Po-Ching says financial confidence starts with understanding your position, knowing what you own, what you owe and where you want to go financially. Supplied. When Levridge founder and financial adviser Amy Po-Ching stood in front of a room full of women at the Women in Seed Forum in Christchurch last month, the discussion quickly turned from KiwiSaver and investing to women can feel uncomfortable talking about : financial independence. But it’s a conversation worth havin

Glen Thurston speaking at the NZDA conference as part of ongoing conversations around mental health, firearm safety and help-seeking within the hunting community. Supplied. For MentalHunts co-founder Glen Thurston, the conversations around mental health and firearms legislation deeply personal. The father, builder and passionate hunter has spent much of his life navigating depression, burnout and alcohol abuse. Those experiences eventually led him to launch MentalHunts alongs

For years, rural New Zealand has been told to “speak up” and “reach out” when things get tough. But for many people living and working in the country, asking for help is rarely that simple. Isolation, workload pressure, financial stress, relationship strain and the deeply ingrained culture of simply “getting on with it” can all become barriers long before someone ever reaches crisis point. That is where Fiona McCracken believes things need to change. After years working acros

When Anna King entered the NZI Rural Women Business Awards, she did not quite realise the scale of what she was stepping into. A client had suggested she apply, and King, founder of Pilates and movement business AnnaFit, decided to give it a go. “I didn’t even know about the Rural Women Business Awards. It was one of my clients who told me about it,” King says. “When I applied, I actually didn’t realise how big it was. I just thought, that looks really cool, and off I went.”

Emmy Maxwell says Rural Women New Zealand should have consulted members before lodging its submission on the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill. Supplied. Rural Women New Zealand says its opposition to the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill was a board-led advocacy decision, but one rural woman says members should have been consulted before the organisation spoke publicly on their behalf. Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is facing q

Women working and living on farms across Aotearoa New Zealand are being urged to take part in a national survey researchers hope will help fill a long-standing gap in rural wellbeing data. The Health and Wellbeing of Women in Farming survey is being run by researchers from Massey and Lincoln Universities and is open to women who work and/or live on-farm. Massey University’s Nicky Stanley-Clarke says while rural mental health has become a much more visible issue in recent year

Methven men are being encouraged to “take their health seriously”, at a free Men’s Health Night, hosted by the Methven Lions Club and Medical Centre. “Most blokes know full well that they should get checked up and never do anything about it, until they get a nasty shock,” said Methven Lions member Mac McElwain. “This event is about putting the opportunity in front of local men, giving them a chance to understand that if they are worried about something, they’re not alone.” Th

Rural Women New Zealand chief executive Sandra Kirby said uncertainty around fuel supply and pricing was creating anxiety for many rural families already dealing with significant transport demands. As New Zealand heads towards the 2026 New Zealand general election, Rural Women New Zealand says rural families are continuing to face growing pressure around cost of living, fuel, isolation and access to basic services. Chief executive Sandra Kirby said many of the issues affecti

A new partnership between Farmlands, Rural Support Trust and digital wellbeing platform ignite is set to make it easier for farmers, growers, farm workers and their families to access mental health and wellbeing support, without leaving the farm gate. Announced at the Rural Industry Leaders Dinner on the opening night of Fieldays 2026, the three-year partnership comes as the Government’s draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026–2036 identifies rural communities as a gr

In rural New Zealand, we often talk about rural infrastructure: good roads, reliable services, decent connectivity. But there’s another kind of infrastructure that rarely makes it into policy documents, yet quietly underpins rural wellbeing every day — the country pub. And let’s be clear from the start: this isn’t about alcohol. It’s about connection. It’s about having a neutral, welcoming place where people can turn up without needing a reason, a roster, or a role. In my pre

Men’s champion Jay Reeve and Women’s champion Abbey MacDonald celebrate after earning their place at the World Stone Skimming Championships in Scotland. Photo Deanna Gerlach An icy start on the shores of Lake Hāwea did little to deter the crowds gathering for the inaugural Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championships. The event, held on May 16, was presented by Novus Glass supporting Melanoma New Zealand. Wrapped in puffer jackets and beanies, spectators lined the lake edge while c

Farmers across Mid Canterbury are encouraged to step away from the pressures of the paddock this weekend, and focus on connection, wellbeing, and a bit of friendly competition at the upcoming Tennis for Farmers event. Hosted by the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust, the event will be held on Sunday, May 17, from 3-7pm at the Ashburton Trust Tennis Centre. Organisers Tom Matteucci and Crystal Jewell are both third-year scholarship students from Lincoln University, and inspire

Maybe things haven’t gone the way you hoped lately. Maybe the season turned on you, the bills stacked up, or someone said something that affected you more than it should have. Rural life has a way of throwing curveballs with extra force — fuel prices, weather, markets, regulations, breakdowns, and the sheer unpredictability of working with land, animals, and machinery. There are absolutely things outside your control: what others say and do, luck, timing, the weather, traffic

The nation’s most decorated living war hero has something to say about arable farming, and last month, he visited Ashburton to deliver the message. Willie Apiata, to date the only recipient of the Victoria Cross in New Zealand, was recognised for carrying a wounded soldier to safety under fire in Afghanistan, and now he has delivered a series of talks to Canterbury farmers. His memo was simple. “Don’t be a dick, ask for help.” Apiata was clear. Whether on the battlefie

From left, John Chapman, CEO of MATES in Construction; Lucy Waterreus, CEO of ClubsNZ; Barbara Kuriger, MP for King Country and Taranaki, deputy speaker of the house, and Patron of the Whatever with Wiggy Charitable Trust; and Craig Wiggins, meeting in Parliment in 2025. Supplied. Rising fuel costs are placing fresh pressure on rural New Zealand, adding to the growing burden of many local farmers. And Craig Wiggins, founder of the Mid Canterbury ‘Whatever With Wiggy’ mental h

If I asked you to name three or four events that have happened to you over the last few years, what comes to mind? Probably the big stuff. Accidents. Break‑ups. Graduations. Getting engaged. Someone dying. But notice that I didn’t say major events. Like most people, your mind likely jumped straight to the significant moments—the ones that feel dramatic or life‑defining—when the truth is that each and every day contains dozens of small events that can offer wonder, comfort, a

Following on from last month’s article about recognising when it might be time to seek professional support, this month we’re looking at what actually happens when you see a counsellor, psychologist, or therapist for the first time. Rural people are good at getting on with things. We fix machinery with whatever’s in the shed, we check on neighbours after a storm, and we shoulder more than we ever say out loud. But even the most capable people hit patches where the load gets t

Mark Ferguson, chief executive of neXtgen Agri, is taking on a 2,000km movement challenge across 2026 to raise funds and awareness for brain cancer research. Supplied. Christchurch-based neXtgen Agri chief executive Mark Ferguson has set himself a significant challenge for 2026 — walking, running or riding 2,000 kilometres over the year to raise funds and awareness for brain cancer research. The challenge, called TwentySix2000, was inspired by the diagnosis of one of his clos

Stress, worry, and low moods are part of the human experience. Everyone encounters moments of emotional strain, especially in today’s unpredictable world. Yet when these feelings persist or begin to interfere with daily life, they may signal something more serious than ordinary ups and downs. Distinguishing between everyday challenges and knowing when professional care might be needed, is an important step toward protecting your wellbeing. If you find yourself overwhelmed by

With Mental Health Week just having past, it’s great to see awareness building on the topic – an issue that has always existed, but with more visibility and acknowledgement, comes a perception that problems are increasing. If you don’t struggle with your mental health, that is great. You lucked in when mental health issues were being randomly assigned to around a quarter of the population, or roughly half of us over the entirety of our lives. But if you haven’t had the misf