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After 17 years as a volunteer firefighter, Felicity Lang is stepping into the role of first female officer for the  Waipara Volunteer Fire Brigade. Felicity Lang has been answering the pager for nearly two decades. Now the Waipara volunteer firefighter is stepping into an officer role at the brigade, becoming the first woman to do so - although it’s not something she makes much of. To her, it is simply the next step. “I’m just one of the guys,” she says. “That’s how I look at

Gabe Ross (left) and Riley Meason became full time content creators last year. A turning point was when the pair entered and won the reality show ‘Tracked’. Supplied. Weekend Mish didn’t start as a business. It started with a group of mates filming their hunting trips for fun - and seeing what happened next. Today, best friends Gabe Ross and Riley Meason run one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing outdoor content platforms, sharing everything from farming skits to multi-day bush

The Gore-raised country artist Jenny Mitchell returns to the Wanaka A&P Show stage this year. Photo: Supplied Country artist Jenny Mitchell has spent the past year on big stages across Australia and New Zealand, opening for international acts, winning awards and building serious momentum.  But when she steps onto the Wanaka A&P Show stage on March 13 & 14, it’s a kind of homecoming. Because long before the tours and the awards, there were A&P shows, rural halls and small-town

Moa Brewing co are riding the low carb wave with their Southern Alps low carb lager. Supplied. From its home among the Marlborough vines, Moa Brewing Co is carving out a new future: one built on family ownership, South Island sourcing and a fast-growing low-carb lager that is now challenging much larger global players.  Under Managing Director Stephen Smith, the brewery has stabilised, rebuilt and begun rising quickly in a shifting beer market, driven in large part by Souther

While Duncan and Lorna Humm never intended on starting a pet cremation business, it’s been a natural fit for the Mid Canterbury couple. Photo: Isla Humm For Mid Canterbury deer farmer Duncan Humm, starting a pet cremation business was never part of the plan. “I definitely never woke up one day thinking I’d like to start a cremation business,” he says. “It just sort of evolved.” Humm, who is also co-founder of farming platform NZ Farming, runs Summerland Pet Cremation alongsid

Dating has never been simple, but for rural New Zealanders it can feel especially stacked against you. Distance. Long hours. Small communities. Everyone knowing your business. Add dating apps into the mix and suddenly love feels less like a romance and more like a logistics exercise. Christchurch-based dating coach Jude Gane sees it every day. “Everyone’s single,” she says. “But no one’s making it work.” App fatigue is real Dating apps were meant to make things easier. In som

Dylan Aymes (left) and Hannah Williamson have worked in hospitality together for years – and now they are not just good mates, but business partners. Claire Inkson When Hannah Williamson and Dylan Amyes unlocked the doors to D.O.T.I in June last year, they did it on a leap of faith.  Redundancy had pushed them out of their long-held roles at Waipara Hills, and although they both temporarily picked up jobs elsewhere, they were still searching for what came next. Then the old A

Sally Macdonald has run her clothing shop, Sally Macs,  in Amberley for 29 years. Amberley is a town with one foot firmly planted in its rural past and the other stepping confidently into a future of boutique shopping, modern cuisine and wine-region tourism.  It is both a service town and a destination, a place where you can pick up fencing gear or stock feed in the morning and enjoy a long lunch, winery tasting or artisan shopping in the afternoon.  Increasingly, it is a tow

Mary Blain with her book, “Explore with me Mid Canterbury.” Anisha Satya When Mary Blain’s first son was born, she was given a children’s book about New Plymouth.   “I read that to him, and he wanted to hear it a hundred times, so I came to know all the places in New Plymouth,” she said.   “When I visited, I knew all the places I wanted to go.   “I thought, ‘why don’t we have one here?’.”   That series of events is what led to Blain writing, illustrating and producing “Explor

Angel Nobel, with sons Charlie (left) age 18 months and Archie (four), launched Little Rides in May after attending a charity gala focused on encouraging young people into trades. Supplied. Children from Ashburton to Ashley can now enjoy a ride-on experience they will never forget, thanks to a new Canterbury business that uses digger hire to fund free rides for children who might otherwise miss out. Little Rides, launched in May by Christchurch mother and banking professional

Recipe courtesy Nadia Lim These Vietnamese-inspired meatballs are packed with flavour. Ideally cooked on the BBQ for that smoky char, they’re lifted to new heights by the addictive Peanut Chilli Crack — a spicy, salty, crunchy topping that brings heat and texture to every bite. Serve with noodles and lettuce cups, or straight from the pan with a cold beer. A true crowd-pleaser. SERVES 4–6 Prep time: 45 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes PEANUT CHILLI CRACK ½ cup roasted peanuts1 c

Entrepreneur Taylor McConnell has branched out into tallow skincare – a niche market that has seen a surge in popularity. Supplied. Mushrooms and skincare might seem like an unlikely combination, but it’s a winning one for North Canterbury entrepreneur Taylor McConnell. When Taylor McConnell walked away from running a car yard almost a decade ago, he knew one thing for certain: he didn’t want to work for anyone else again. What he didn’t know was that a chance encounter with

The old hospital was originally opened in 1922. Claire Inkson Nine months after turning the key on Rotherham’s landmark former Amuri Hospital, Sarah and Michael McGregor are still uncovering the building’s character - sometimes under coats of paint. “The whole place was whitewashed, hiding a multitude of sins. We found purple skirting boards, a black room, orange paint over lino, but we also found original doors and historical lamps tucked away,” Sarah says. The property, whi

Cristy Benson ready for another adventure, overlooking Lake Pukaki. Supplied. At 43, Cristy Benson did what many dream of, but few have the courage to attempt. She traded a stable career in agricultural data analytics for a Ford Ranger, a Jayco caravan, and a life on the road with her two dogs and a camera. She has travelled the length of the country and is now in the South Island, through farm gates from Cheviot to the Ashburton Lakes and the  Mackenzie Country. What began a