New Year honour to Evans

 Evans has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM). Evans was Rural Women national president from 2011 to 2013, and was Marlborough provincial secretary for 10 years. She was also the administrator for the Marlborough Provincial Federated Farmers from 2003 to 2011.

Evans says she sees the award as both a personal recognition, and recognition of Rural Women New Zealand as an organisation.

"We are an organisation that is so dependent on quality members and we are so lucky to have them.

"My association with Rural Women New Zealand has been a long and interesting journey over 40 years. Over that time the same issues have come up – advocacy for better services, or not losing services, in rural, to the anxiety about membership. It's a testament to the organisation that it's kept going and will keep going."

Through Rural Women, Evans has used her skills to give a voice to rural communities and people. She credits this in part to ramping up the organisation's communications under her watch, a particular focus given her background as a journalist.

"There aren't many charitable, voluntary organisations that have been able to sustain the type of communications we have, both print and online."

She also counts among her most rewarding achievements the establishment of the Enterprising Rural Women Awards, now in their sixth year, which have helped raise the profile of women running a wide variety of small rural businesses.

Originally, a town girl, Evans was introduced to rural life when she married husband Geoff in 1974. Since then, she has farmed and raised a family at the head of the Waihopai Valley out of Blenheim.

"I am still really committed to rural and helping farming women and families and promoting their values and aspirations, and will do what I can to keep doing that."