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Whitney Conder, WiH Comms Group Member (Centre), between two women WiH sponsored registrations at the 2024 Inspiring Wahine Conference.
To mark International Rural Women's Day on 15 October, Women in Horticulture (WiH) and United Fresh New Zealand Inc. are sponsoring the Inspiring Wāhine Conference 2025.
The conference is a three-day event held in Gore, aiming to celebrate the strength and stories of women working in agriculture and horticulture.
The conference opening will coincide with International Rural Women's Day which is celebrated globally to recognise the critical role and contribution of rural women in agriculture, food security, rural development and poverty eradication.
WiH project manager, Stephanie Wrathall, says women are central to the sector's success - from small family-run producers to large multi-million dollar growing operations.
"Women are often at the heart of these businesses and post-harvest workforces, yet they often fly under the radar, juggling family priorities with business success and not always receiving the support and acknowledgement they deserve," Wrathall says.
“United Fresh and Women in Horticulture aren’t just celebrating rural women – we’re backing them in the places they live, grow and lead. Through our sponsorship of the Inspiring Wāhine Conference, we’re championing the voices of wāhine in horticulture and supporting initiatives that empower them at the grassroots level.”
WiH Communications Group member and Inspiring Wāhine Conference organising team member, Whitney Conder, says it’s important to shine a spotlight on the role thousands of rural women play in horticulture as growers, leaders, innovators and kaitiaki of the land.
“This conference is chance for wāhine to connect, reflect and grow. Whether you're hands-on in the fields, behind the scenes in horticulture or supporting the sector from another angle, this three-day experience in Gore is all about supporting each other and celebrating all that we do.”
Alongside practical workshops on topics such as investment, nutrition, managing stress and strengthening advocacy skills, inspirational speakers include Nadia Lim (celebrity chef and entrepreneur), Dr Denise Quinlan (Director of the Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience), Tori Moorby (Olympian), Pauline Smith (award-winning author and educator), and Dr Jo Cribb (leadership and governance expert).
“It’s a chance for rural women to fill their own cup and be part of a community that understands the unique challenges and triumphs of rural life,” Conder explains.
The United Nations’ theme for 2025 is ‘Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future’ which invites everyone to celebrate rural women’s essential role in building climate resilience, conserving biodiversity and caring for the land.
Here at home, United Fresh leads the Women in Horticulture initiative and Wrathall says WiH’s advocacy and support in person and online is making a real difference to how women perceive their value and role within New Zealand’s $6.85 billion horticultural export industry.
“Sponsoring the Inspiring Wāhine Conference as a real-world example of how United Fresh and WiH are celebrating, empowering and amplifying the voices of wāhine across the sector,” Wrathall says.
As New Zealand marks International Day of Rural Women today, women from across the horticulture sector are calling attention to the crucial role they play in building a more sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient industry.
This International Women's Day, there are calls to address a reported gender disparity gap between men women New Zealand's horticulture industry leadership.
An initiative that supports networking and career progression of women in horticulture has received state funding.
Industry collective Women in Horticulture (WiH) – along with the Massey Hort Society hosted – recently held a livestream event to acknowledge the vital role that women play in New Zealand’s $6 billion horticulture industry.
Industry collective, Women in Horticulture, and the Massey Hort Society are hosting a livestream event tonight to acknowledge the vital role women play in the horticulture industry.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
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