Celebrating 100 years of Rural Women NZ
- Ashley’s Volunteer Story
And the rural voices shaping what comes next
Some volunteer experiences feel less like helping out and more like being invited into something special. For Ashley from Kiwi Bid Support, joining the judging panel for Rural Women New Zealand's Lower South Island Regional Speech Competition was exactly that.
Held as part of RWNZ's 100-year celebrations, the competition brought together rural women with stories to tell, ideas to share, and a clear sense of pride in the communities they represent.
A milestone worth celebrating
Rural Women New Zealand has spent a century helping rural women connect, learn, lead and support one another. With branches around the country, RWNZ creates opportunities for friendship, education, training and advocacy, all grounded in the strength of rural communities.
That made the 2026 Rowley Brooch Speech Competition a fitting part of the centenary celebrations. The theme, Legacy and the Next Generation of Rural Women, invited contestants to reflect on where rural women have come from, what they carry forward, and the future they want to help shape.
Putting rural voices centre stage
Public speaking can be brave, personal and a little nerve-racking, which is exactly why it is so powerful. Each contestant brought her own style, humour and perspective to the stage, sharing stories about community, resilience, leadership and the legacy rural women continue to build across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The regional winner will go on to represent the Lower South Island at the RWNZ National Conference and AGM, where she will compete in the National Public Speaking Competition.
Behind the judging table
Ashley joined Rosemary and Kathy, both fellow Toastmasters Speech Club members, on the judging panel. Together, they had the difficult but enjoyable task of listening closely to each speech and recognising the skill, confidence and heart behind every performance.
The standard was high. The speakers used pitch, tone and storytelling beautifully, with just the right amount of humour to keep the room engaged. More importantly, their messages showed how strongly rural women continue to support their communities and one another.
“It was a pleasure to be part of such a special occasion celebrating 100 years of Rural Women New Zealand. The calibre of speakers was outstanding, and it was wonderful to witness the confidence, storytelling ability and passion each contestant brought to the competition.”
Ashley, Operations Manager, Kiwi Bid Support
Why this mattered to us
We spend a lot of time helping organisations find the right words for important opportunities. So this event felt close to home: it was all about confident communication, strong stories and giving people a platform to be heard.
RWNZ is more than a network. It is a place where rural women can grow their confidence, step into leadership and advocate on issues that matter, from education and health to connectivity, wellbeing and social inclusion.
KBS was proud to play a small part in celebrating this milestone and recognising the next generation of rural leaders, storytellers and community champions.
Congratulations to all the speakers and to Rural Women New Zealand on 100 years of connection, advocacy and community spirit. Here's to the stories still to come.
Want to join the Rural Women community? Find out more by visiting their website: Here