RWNZ applauds hormone patch funding rethink
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says it welcomes recently announced consultation on Pharmac’s funding of ostradiol patches used by women going through perimenopause and menopause.
Rural Women New Zealand’s (RWNZ) new president is excited to be taking on the role.
Gill Naylor, a South Island farmer, says RWNZ is a ‘vibrant organisation’.
“I am excited to be standing on the shoulders of those that have been empowering rural communities since 1925.”
Naylor says farming and rural New Zealand have always been a big factor in her life. “I grew up on my parents’ sheep and beef farm about 20 minutes north east of Invercargill.”
In the 1980s, she moved to her husband’s Central Otago family farm.
Naylor told Rural News one of the biggest issues the new board will be tackling in the coming months is the use of cheques in the rural sector after several major banks announced they would phase out their use.
“Removing cheques as a form of payment is putting extra stress onto rural communities and we are calling for cheques to continue to be accepted until every rural household and business has consistent, reliable internet access.”
Naylor says that the use of cheques is very high as a payment method in more rural areas, but “the banks and other institutions have seemingly not taken the needs of rural communities into consideration when making these decisions.”
She says RWNZ is currently seeking feedback from its members on the impact of climate change on rural communities.
Naylor is joined by three new board members, Emma Higgins, Malvina Dick, and Claire Williamson.
“The new board is a great mix of experience and knowledge from within RWNZ and skills from outside the organisation which is vital to us being able to continue to strengthen and support rural communities,” says chief executive, Liz Pennington.
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
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