About

Our inaugural Editor’s Letter

Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends. Entrepreneurs, problem solvers, business owners, project conceivers. Women wear many hats. Often, many at the same time. 

As a young woman, I found the strength country women uphold almost daunting. They are so strong and resilient, no matter the odds that are thrown at them. Now, I find myself surrounded by them, and I’m continually amazed at their resourcefulness and depth of talent. This collection has been lovingly curated and its physical form has been birthed from a place of conscious intention; that of connecting and cultivating vibrant rural communities. 

“We’re here to connect, empower and inspire women across rural New Zealand, by offering a place to tell the people stories of our rural communities.” 

I moved to New Zealand six years ago. Before that, I was living on a cattle station in far western Queensland, one of the remotest parts of Australia. The nearest town of more than 30 people was an eight-hour drive away.  Through the weekly mail plane that would land on the dirt airstrip, and weekend gatherings with neighbours, I learnt a lot about belonging and rural communities. Yet I felt the women were missing out. With a group of women, I created the Channel Country Ladies Day. It’s an annual event, now eight years on stronger than ever, to bring women from the remotest corners of three states together for a weekend of laughs, connection, comradery and burlesque.

Upon crossing the ditch, I noticed that New Zealanders are pretty quiet at sharing the good things that are going on. There’s a wealth of treasures in rural communities, but they aren’t widely celebrated or shared. In the cloud of cows and grass, there’s an appetite for people stories. I now find myself as a partner of a farmer, raising our sixteen-month old son, who is the sixth generation to live on the family farm. This magazine is the first step towards a greater vision I have of cultivating and celebrating vibrant rural communities.  

The launch of a printed publication is an anomaly in lives occupied by digital media. Yet, it’s much more of an experience. Receiving a magazine that you treasure in your letterbox is a real treat. On goes the kettle, as you settle down to read. It’s to be poured over, gently flicked through, savoured. It’s an offering of our most precious resource; our time.

I owe a great deal of thanks to Claire Dunne, the founder and editor of Australian magazine Graziher. Claire is a visionary when it comes to telling stories of women in the bush. She has shown that there’s an enormous appetite for connection; that we are stronger together. Claire has been there from the conception of Shepherdess, when it started as an Instagram page 13-months ago. And she’s been on the end of the phone as we’ve curated the first edition of the magazine, which you’re now holding in your hands. 

We’ve been overwhelmed by support for Shepherdess. Thank you for the encouraging words, and to those of you who have backed the description of a concept, before I had anything that I could show for it…but you believed in the concept anyway. If you’ve come across this magazine for the first time, you can support us by telling your friends about it, buying a copy for a friend, sharing a photo on your social media, or taking a copy to your local café.

I hope that this read fills you with appreciation and pride at the people in our rural communities. I hope that it inspires. Shepherdess is a place to share the stories of the resourcefulness, entrepreneurship and courage in rural New Zealand. My story. Your story. Our stories. 

Kristy

Meet the Team

Freelance Writers & Photographers

In addition to our core team, we have a network of freelance writers and photographers based right across New Zealand who know their communities and are continually uncovering down to earth stories.