From passenger princesses to queens of the road

  A competition for the “biggest splash” added to the fun of the event. Supplied

Images courtesy of Velocity Photography

When Darfield’s Emma Burke heard someone mention the term “passenger princess,” she didn’t laugh it off.

 Instead, it sparked an idea that would see women from across Canterbury stepping up, taking control, and learning practical skills behind the wheel.

“The words passenger princess were used, and I went ‘what?’” Emma said. “Our boys are very involved with the North Canterbury Four Wheel Drive Club, and there’d been an incident while they were out having an adventure. The driver became unwell, and his passenger wasn’t confident in getting the vehicle home. That’s when I thought, we really need to do something about this.”

That idea became Take the Wheel, a women’s 4WD training day held at Springfield on October 19, which drew 20 women and 10 spectators.

The day was run with the support of the North Canterbury Four Wheel Drive Club, whose members volunteered as coaches.

“It was all women behind the wheel,” Emma said. “The coaches were all the blokes from the club, and they were brilliant. They took everyone right back to basics and made sure there was no pressure or judgement.”

Participants rotated through six training stations, covering topics such as managing tyre pressures, vehicle recovery, using personal locator beacons, and hill starts on uneven ground.

 “Some of the women didn’t even know what PSI meant,” Emma said. “By the end of it they were using gauges, adjusting tyre pressures, and understanding how much rubber they had on the road at different settings.”

The final station, river crossings on the Kowai River, was the clear favourite.

“The river was shallow enough to be safe but wide enough to have fun in,” she said. “We even had a biggest splash competition. I was lucky enough to get a ride through the water myself. It was just awesome to see the smiles.”

Participants rotated through six training stations, covering topics such as managing tyre pressures, vehicle recovery, using personal locator beacons, and hill starts on uneven ground.

Feeding the crew

Food was an important part of the day, thanks to the Darfield Glenroy Branch of Rural Women NZ, where Emma serves on the committee.

 “The 4WD Club agreed to help on the condition they were well fed,” Emma said. “The branch ladies put on an amazing morning tea spread, and we definitely surpassed expectations.”

Lunch was a community effort, with buns donated by Darfield Bakery, lamb from Tim Sowman at Annavale Station, and cooking gear provided by Nicky Geddes of Verve Real Food Catering.

“The lunch went down a real treat,” Emma said. “We had to move back to our place to get out of the wind because no one wants silt in their sandwiches.”

The final station, river crossings on the Kowai River, was the clear favourite.

A fundraiser for a cause

The event raised more than $2000 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, with another $2000 expected once the raffle for a Thermomix TM6, donated by Libby Gray of Shared Territory, is complete.

The scratchie raffle was won by Loganne in her “two-tonne orange road cone” ute, and the Lotto bonus draw prize was also donated to the cause.

“We’ve been blown away by people’s generosity,” Emma said. “All proceeds are going to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and that feels really good.”

The event was also supported by a long list of local businesses, including Trafco Hire Centre, Hillside Farm, and national brands such as FMG, Harraways Oats, Thirsty Acres, and J & P Watkins Cherries.

“The feedback was amazing,” Emma said. “People said they learned new skills and felt empowered. There was no criticism and no silly questions. Everyone was just encouraging each other. That’s what I wanted it to be.”

1.      The scratchie raffle was won by Loganne in her “two-tonne orange road cone”  Ford Ranger Ute

 Building skills and connection

The idea for Take the Wheel grew from Emma’s participation in Rural Women NZ’s Leadership Development Programme with Number 8 HR, which challenged participants to create a project that gave back to their communities.

“It was about honouring the past and embracing the future,” Emma said. “For me, it was about bringing rural women together, whether they grew up on farms or moved here more recently. Not everyone’s had the same opportunities to learn those hands-on skills, and this was a way to build confidence and connection.”

Following the success of the 4WD day, Emma is already planning a Hands-On Rural Skills Day for early 2026, featuring trailer-backing with different vehicles, changing tyres, setting up and fault-finding electric fences, and possibly beginner chainsaw sessions. “There’s a real appetite for it,” she said. “We’ll keep the same supportive format. Learn, laugh, and give it a go.”

From taking the wheel to learning new rural skills, Emma’s vision is simple: empower women to feel capable, confident and connected. “Sometimes confidence comes from just giving it a go,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about.”