Welcome to the Sharing Shed!

Rural Women New Zealand is excited to announce the return of its popular webinar series, The Sharing Shed, with a Summer Series!

This season features a range of webinars showcasing well-known New Zealanders, leadership and succession experts, investing professionals, and inspiring rural wahine. Covering a wide range of topics, from how to host a summer BBQ to navigating succession planning, starting an agritourism business, and making the most of your KiwiSaver - there’s truly something for everyone.

The Sharing Shed offers members a valuable opportunity to learn, engage, and connect online while being informed, inspired, and entertained.

These webinars are exclusive to members, and past webinars can be viewed in the Member Zone. Not a member yet? Join Us today for just $50 and enjoy access to the full series, free for members!

REGISTER HERE

Culinary legend Annabelle White provides an exclusive presentation for members of RWNZ. Share Annabelle’s catering stories and tips for successful BBQing for the coming summer months. She will give you suggestions and tips on how to deal with the most complicated social situations around the Grill - so much more than just recipes!

Sunday 12 Oct 2025, 7:00pm

  • Popular television and radio cooking personality Annabelle White is synonymous with good food and fun times in the kitchen.  Annabelle believes that keeping food simple, easy, “confidence building” and delicious, mixed with plenty of tips, funny quips and great recipes make for good times for family and friends.

    The author of eleven cookbooks Annabelle is also busy with cooking classes and the public speaking circuit. In 2009 the University of Waikato recognized her with the Distinguished Alumni award

As we know from the TV series, Succession is a complex and emotional topic for families and businesses. Property law specialist Michelle Needham will share key steps to take for constructive succession discussions and what it means for intergenerational asset management.

Tuesday 21 Oct 2025, 7:00pm

  • Michelle is a commercial property lawyer at Lane Neave Queenstown with wide-ranging experience in succession planning, conveyancing (rural and residential), business sales and purchases, relationship property, trusts, estates, leasing, and land development. She specialises in complex subdivisions and cases under the Reserves Act 1977 and Public Works Act 1981.

    She is solutions-focused, advising individuals, councils, and corporates. Recognised as a 2022 NZ Lawyer Rising Star and a 2021 NZ Law Awards Excellence Awardee, she also has a strong interest in aviation law, particularly aircraft transactions, and is a member of the Aviation Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Tuesday 4 Nov 2025, 7:00pm

Optimising saving for retirement income and achieving investment diversification can be a challenge. JBWere investment advisors Harriet Jones and Angus Marks will discuss some of the principles of investment, saving options for rural women, and the miracle of compounding interest.

  • Harriet is an Associate Adviser with JBWere.  Harriet is dedicated to building strong, lasting relationships with clients and helping them achieve their financial goals. She thrives on meeting new people and connecting with individuals from all walks of life.

    Angus works for JBWere to manage investment portfolios for charities, school foundations, high net worth individuals, family trusts and individual investors.  Working with the charitable sector is a particularly engaging aspect of his work, and this flows into is private life where Angus sits on the boards of the Barnardos Foundation and his children’s school.

Join AWDT General Manager Julia Jones for a conversation about women who have enjoyed success in their chosen field and how learning new skills and making new connections have helped them achieve their goals.

Tuesday 18 November 2025, 7:00pm

  • Her previous experience includes working at KPMG with a focus on agribusiness strategy, navigating rural banking during the Global Financial Crisis as Agri Regional Manager at ANZ, self-employment and fostering partnerships in her recent role at Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

    A proud AWDT alumni and current Chair of Meat the Need, a food security charity, Julia combines her deep sector knowledge, relationship-driven leadership and passion for empowering people to create a thriving and resilient future for agriculture.

Lawyer Michelle Needham joins us for a second webinar on rural asset management in a talk about trusts. What are they? What are the pros and cons, and what might trust structures mean for relationship property?

Tuesday 2 December 2025, 7:00pm

  • Michelle is a commercial property lawyer at Lane Neave Queenstown with wide-ranging experience in succession planning, conveyancing (rural and residential), business sales and purchases, relationship property, trusts, estates, leasing, and land development. She specialises in complex subdivisions and cases under the Reserves Act 1977 and Public Works Act 1981.

    She is solutions-focused, advising individuals, councils, and corporates. Recognised as a 2022 NZ Lawyer Rising Star and a 2021 NZ Law Awards Excellence Awardee, she also has a strong interest in aviation law, particularly aircraft transactions, and is a member of the Aviation Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.

The 2nd of our three exclusive audiences with Annabelle. Share tips on pulling off the perfect Christmas day gathering, and allowing yourself to enjoy the day too. Simple, easy and fun, who needs extra stress at Christmas! As well as advice for dealing with problematic family members - a good time guaranteed. Attendees will receive complementary copies of Annabelle’s recipes.

Tuesday 9 December 2025, 7:00pm

  • Popular television and radio cooking personality Annabelle White is synonymous with good food and fun times in the kitchen.  Annabelle believes that keeping food simple, easy, “confidence building” and delicious, mixed with plenty of tips, funny quips and great recipes make for good times for family and friends.

    The author of eleven cookbooks Annabelle is also busy with cooking classes and the public speaking circuit. In 2009 the University of Waikato recognized her with the Distinguished Alumni award

Look out for more Sharing Shed webinars coming soon!

Our 3rd session with Annabelle for RWNZ members. Enjoy tips on summer entertaining with minimum fuss and maximum enjoyment. Stress free, easy and yet super delicious ideas for those hot summer nights. Attendees will receive complementary copies of Annabelle’s recipes.

Tuesday 13 Jan 2026, 7:00pm

  • Popular television and radio cooking personality Annabelle White is synonymous with good food and fun times in the kitchen.  Annabelle believes that keeping food simple, easy, “confidence building” and delicious, mixed with plenty of tips, funny quips and great recipes make for good times for family and friends.

    The author of eleven cookbooks Annabelle is also busy with cooking classes and the public speaking circuit. In 2009 the University of Waikato recognized her with the Distinguished Alumni award

Employing great staff is key to business and personal success. Employers carry responsibility for employees’ economic, social and emotional welfare. Successful business women and HR professional Lee Astridge of #8HR will lead a discussion on what great employers do to recruit and retain great talent.

Tuesday 27 Jan 2026, 7:00pm

  • As one of the founders of No8HR Lee understands what it means to be a business owner as well as bringing years' of experience in leadership, HR and people development roles.  This includes global experience gained in a range of roles from senior leadership, governance, operational board and management, to technical specialist and advisor.  

    Lee has a strong reputation nationally for both her professional expertise and her abilities as a motivational speaker and facilitator.

International visitors and kiwi tourists are looking for authentic New Zealand rural experiences. With every part of New Zealand offering something unique, what are the pro and cons of setting up an agritourism venture, who can help, and what are some things to look out for. Agri-tourism CEO Marijke Dunselman will share her insights on setting up successful agritourism ventures and talk with women who have set up their own tourism business.

Tuesday 10 Feb 2026, 7:00pm

  • Founder & CE Agritourism.nz

    Marijke Dunselman is one of New Zealand's leading tourism business & marketing consultants and trainers and has run her own consultancy and training business for over 23 years. She has worked with hundreds of tourism businesses over the years and has set up several tourism marketing networks. 

    Having worked with many farmers over the years in developing their agritourism business,  she set up Agritourism NZ in 2019 bringing together tourism and agriculture.