National Office

Meet the RWNZ National Office


  • Chief Executive (Kaiwhakahaere Mataamua)

    Marie grew up mostly in Middlemarch and Dunedin, before her family moved to Sydney for her high school and university years. And while she’s been a proud Wellingtonian since 2002, her heart still considers rural Central Otago her home.

    Marie’s eclectic CV traverses a broad range of leadership experiences that will add value to Rural Women New Zealand. She spent her early 20’s exploring the back blocks of Australia as an Outward Bound instructor and started her own marketing and communications business in Wellington when her children were small. In 2014, she had one wine too many with a friend and co-founded Good Bitches Baking Charitable Trust, which was awarded NZ Community of the Year in 2020.

    Marie has also squeezed in several decades in and around the public service in Wellington, most recently as a member of the leadership team at Fisheries New Zealand at the Ministry for Primary Industries. During her time at Fisheries NZ, Marie worked on strategic engagement, was the driving force behind the creation of FirstMate, NZ’s Seafood Sector Support Network, stood up the Strategy and Governance Directorate, successfully launched the Onboard Cameras programme in the inshore fishing fleet.

    A keen cook, Marie spends her spare time enjoying good food and wine with family and friends, travelling whenever she can, and dabbling in watercolour painting.

  • Office Manager and Board Secretary

    Felicity began her working life in 1996 ‘learning the trade’ in community radio in Masterton; a career she pursued for about 12 years. In 2007 and craving a break from the 9 to 5, Felicity ‘went back to school’, graduating from Victoria University 4 years later with a B.A. in Humanities (Hons). Since returning to the world of full time employment, she has worked for various membership organisations in Wellington.

    When the opportunity arose to work for RWNZ, it spoke directly to her rural roots. Felicity loves supporting New Zealand’s rural communities even though she doesn’t don her gumboots as much as she would like to these days. Any spare time Felicity has is spent singing in a chamber choir, and enjoying dance of various styles for fun and fitness. Reading, going to the theatre, playing piano and getting out for walks fills up most weekends.

    Felicity is the National Membership Manager as well as National Office Manager. Her role is primarily to assist Members with any and all sorts of queries and requests. She oversees the annual subscription renewal process and assists the RWNZ Board administratively.

  • Communications and Social Media Support

    Mia moved to Wellington from Whanganui when she began her Communications degree at Massey University, where she started at RWNZ as an intern in 2020. Mia produces the Black Heels and Tractor Wheels Podcast, runs the RWNZ social media and assists Lisa to promote RWNZ events, such as the NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards.

  • Projects & Events Manager (Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa, Huinga Hoki)

    Outside of work, Lisa has a broad range of interests. She regularly entangles herself in Pilates Reformer machines and plays croquet. She loves to create in her kitchen and reads a wide range of books with detective stories being her current favourite. She especially enjoys spending time with friends, going out to live theatre and music, and travelling (when circumstances permit). Lisa has a dog called Marley who she walks in the bush near her home in inner city Wellington.

    She is a member of her local community council and a committee member at her croquet club. In her previous incarnations Lisa worked for not-for-profit organisations, as a lawyer for six years and in the printing industry for ten years. Lisa organises and co-ordinates RWNZ’s national event programme and enjoys assisting Members with events in their areas. She also oversees the development of RWNZ projects. She is the current Editor of the Express magazine and you will see regular online communications from her too. Lisa is the National Office representative on the Centennial Committee.

  • Finance Coordinator

    Janet hails from Taihape where her family runs a sheep, beef and deer farm. After being raised on the farm, life has taken her in many directions; a horticultural degree from Massey to marketing officer at Fruitfed back in the 80’s. Then a shift to tourism and running her own wedding co-ordination business in the Whistundays, Australia. She returned to Wellington in 2006 with her two (now adult) children, and have been working in finance ever since. You can take the girl out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the girl.

  • Policy Advisor

    Kelly grew up on a small sheep and cattle farm in Waiuku, South Auckland. From there she moved to Dunedin to study at the University of Otago, before moving to Wellington and starting her career in policy. She has over 20 years of experience working in policy and project management for a range of government agencies, including the Departments of Conservation and Internal Affairs, Ministries of Education and Social Development, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Public Service Commission. Kelly has also worked in the private and non-government sectors, for Fulton Hogan and The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa.

    As Policy Advisor for Rural Women New Zealand, Kelly is focused on coordinating and supporting the work of the RWNZ Policy Action Advisory Groups, including the international work undertaken by RWNZ with Associated Country Women Worldwide and as a member of the International Women’s Caucus. Outside of work Kelly loves the outdoors and nature, and spends weekends walking the hilly trails of Wellington or further afield.