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(From left) Chanelle Purser, Marie Taylor, Joanne Taylor, Wendy McGowan, Kate Belcher, Bronwyn Muir and Bridget Canning.
Joanne Taylor's rural lifestyle magazine Latitude has won the supreme award at the Enterprising Rural Women Awards held in Nelson on Saturday.
"In the seven years of this competition we have seen vibrant rural businesses increasingly appeal to urban residents, tourists and the rural community. This has been reflected in the winning rural business woman Joanne Taylor, who has succeeded in pursuing her publishing dream, while also supporting New Zealand's rural communities," says Wendy McGowan, national president, Rural Women NZ.
Joanne Taylor was the 'Making it in Rural' category winner; however, there were three other exceptional category winners.
'Help, I Need Somebody' was awarded to Bronwyn Muir for her work providing farmers with health and safety advice through OnFarmSafety NZ, based in Stratford.
'Love of the Land' was taken out by Marie Taylor for her restoration of native plants through her nursery Plant Hawkes Bay Ltd.
The 'Stay, Play Rural' category winner, sponsored by Rural Women NZ, was Kate Belcher for her Glenorchy outdoor adventure bike tour company, Revolution Tours.
"This year the judges have awarded additional certificates of special recognition for two dynamic rural women who are contributing to their local community through their entrepreneurial spirit," says McGowan.
"Chanelle Purser owner of Carvin Streetwear in Gore impressed us with her retail success and commitment to youth in rural communities. The judges awarded her a Certificate for Emerging Enterprising Young Rural Woman at the awards ceremony.
"We also recognised another outstanding businesswoman Bridget Canning of WizWireless Ltd, for her contribution to rural telecommunications services for Wairarapa residents. The judges admired her dedication and ingenuity, and awarded her a Certificate of Special Recognition as an Enterprising Rural Woman."
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