“The NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate and showcase excellence in business, entrepreneurship and innovation by rural women,” RWNZ national president Fiona Gower says.
“In deciding to hold the awards this year, we realised that there has never been a better time to recognise and support women who own and operate rural businesses.”
Executive manager of commercial underwriting Christina Chellew represented NZI as one of the judges on the panel.
“The judges were highly impressed with the calibre of entrants in this year’s awards, especially in the innovation and resilience each has shown against the background of covid-19,” Chellew says.
“It was extremely difficult to select our category winners as there were so many incredible entrants.”
In 2018, RWNZ refreshed its Enterprising Rural Women Awards to become the NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards. By broadening the award categories, updating the application process and strengthening the judging criteria, RWNZ and NZI have ensured that the awards provide rural women business owners with an outstanding opportunity to showcase the diversity of their rural businesses.
Presentation of the awards to the Category winners and the announcement of the overall Supreme Award winner will take place on November 20 in Wellington.
The Award winners for each category are:
– Creative Arts – Farmers Daughter Design Studio – Rebecca Tosswill, Wairarapa
Becks Tosswill owns and operates Farmers Daughter Design Studio from a sheep and beef farm in the Wairarapa hill country. Farmers Daughter tells rural stories, and Becks is deeply committed to bringing her clients’ passion for their businesses to life through creative design and strategic thinking.
– Emerging Business – Grass Roots Media; Chelsea Millar, Manawatu
Chelsea Millar is the Boss Lady and owner of Grass Roots Media. Chelsea and her team of four staff members draw on their rural roots to create and manage social media communications and campaigns for the food and fibre sector. They are hashtag Agvocates for the primary sector from the grassroots up.
– Innovation – Purvis Feeds; Henrietta Purvis, North Otago
Henrietta Purvis and her husband Graeme came up with the idea of a lucerne chaff business due to their involvement with horses. Now, Purvis Feeds is recognised as a leading brand of animal feed and the first brand in New Zealand to infuse premium lucerne chaff with cold-pressed rapeseed oil to create a premium product.
– Love of the Land – Higgins Shearing; Sarah Higgins, Marlborough
Sarah Higgins owns Higgins Shearing, which she operates in sunny Marlborough. In an industry where there are stereotypes of what shearers look like and behave, Sarah and her team are a breath of fresh air. Their passion for their work and commitment to producing quality results while having fun doing it is what makes Sarah’s brand stand out. As a competitive and world record holding shearer herself, Sarah encourages her team to develop their skills by participating in shearing and woolhandling competitions.
– Rural Champion – SMW Design & Events; Sue Wilson, Wairoa
Sue Wilson has been a champion for her rural community for decades, much of it as a dedicated volunteer who embraces new projects and knows how to turn community dreams into reality. SMW Design & Events grew out of Sue’s passion for her community and “piece of paradise” in Wairoa.
– Bountiful Table – The Baked Dane; Lisa Brink, Horowhenua
Lisa Brink’s business, The Baked Dane, creates Scandinavian-inspired baked goods that are almost impossible to resist. Lisa draws her inspiration from her childhood in Denmark where she was surrounded by family and people who loved working with food.
– Rural Health and Wellness Excellence – Kate Ivey Fitness; Kate Ivey, Mackenzie District
Kate Ivey’s business was born out of her own struggle to consistently live a healthy lifestyle, despite having qualifications and extensive experience in the health and fitness industry.
After the birth of her third child, Kate finally realised that she knew exactly what to do to look after herself, as well as being a mother and wife.
