International Rural Women’s Day – Emma Burke

Emma Burke is the woman behind Take the Wheel, an initiative designed to give rural women greater confidence with practical skills such as 4WD driving. Her work is grounded in a simple idea: when women are given the chance, encouragement and support to have a go, confidence follows.

You’ve lived rural life in several parts of New Zealand before settling in Canterbury. What has each community taught you about finding your place and belonging?

The fact that no one is coming down the driveway anymore to welcome you to the district, you have to be brave – put on your big gal undies, take a deep breath, and put yourself out there.  By joining committees, you have to have conversations, and it is through those conversations that you find your tribe.  The further from town you are, the more there is a community but regardless of location, you get out / back what you put in.  Each different location has taught resilience, grit, determination and heightened my passion for rural people and all things rural

The idea for Take the Wheel came from wanting women to feel confident behind the wheel of a 4WD rather than being the “passenger princess”. Why was it important to you to turn that idea into something practical? 

 The words “passenger princess” ground my gears, fired something up inside of me and got me thinking – why can’t women feel confident behind the wheel too?  I hate having to step out of the driver’s seat to get someone else to take over because I can’t.  Can’t isn’t really in my vocabulary. The shove to make my idea a reality came about when I was selected to be part of the inaugural Leadership Development Program run by No 8HR in conjunction with Rural Women NZ and a project was part of the training.  Rather than coming up with something new, I breathed life into “Take the Wheel”.  On a more simplistic view too, was what if something was to happen to the driver while you are out the back of the middle of nowhere and you had to get him and the vehicle home – could you do it?  So a safety issue also came to mind.

You’ve also talked about helping women build confidence with skills such as using a chainsaw or putting up an electric fence. What happens when women are simply given the opportunity and encouragement to have a go?

 Given the encouragement and non-critical experiences, women shine.  They also love the rationales of why you do things in a certain way, rather than just doing a task because that is what they have been told to do.  Why should someone have to wait for the man of the house to do the tasks you want done when with a bit of training and confidence boosting you can do it yourself?  Stops you being accused of nagging (you only asked once before and that was 6 months ago !!)

You originally joined Rural Women New Zealand looking for connection. How important are those networks, particularly when women move into a new rural community? 

Absolutely vital.  I wouldn’t be where I was now if it wasn’t for a new friend inviting me to come along.  Even though I was the youngest in the room, it brought about connection with others who get it.  Getting involved gives you a step up into gaining local knowledge, upskilling, and your chance to make a difference to your new community.  Moving inter island and hardly knowing a soul it is challenging starting over.  You don’t lose your existing friends but they are no longer just around the corner to catch up with so you have to find a new tribe and with adult children, you don’t have preschool or school to meet others, so by getting involved with RWNZ, you start to meet others.  Like anything, you get back what you put in.

What does being a rural woman mean to you in 2026?

 It’s a privilege, as not everyone gets to live in paradise / the country.  It means that we are the trailblazers of a modern woman psyche, we are advocates, leaders, instigators, shoulders to lean on, uplifters, role models, adopters of technology to reduce isolation, its being the jack of all with a can do attitude, its using a wet wipe to wipe the mud that has found its way onto your shoes before you enter a meeting, it’s the messy bun – making sure that there isn’t hay in it before jumping on a zoom / teams!!  It is being strong but also gentle, kind caring and nurturing. Its rolling with the punches and getting up again tomorrow to do it all again.  It is carrying on well beyond your reserve when a weather event hits because your livestock depend on you and possibly even your community depending on the severity.  Its being a leader and a voice.

What is the one thing you would change for rural women tomorrow if you could? That their role is valued well beyond the tea and scones maker.  The rural women is juggling so many extra balls than her urban counterparts.  As the Farmlands billboard says “rural never stops” – a rural woman certainly doesn’t and this needs to be valued.  I’d change the fact that meetings (i.e. with bank manager, accountant etc) don’t start until she is seated as well, her voice is heard, and she has equal access to services.  Her work is acknowledged and appreciated.

What’s your rural superpower, the skill, quality or instinct you rely on most? Improvisation – you must be a MacGyver of everything – whether that be in the kitchen, in a nurses uniform, garden, out on the farm or wherever you may be.  It’s also not settling for “that’s the way it’s always been done / we’ve tried that and it didn’t work”  mentality…  hold my gin and let me …