From the women, for the land

Kristy McGregor, Shepherdess Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, joined our Teams call with her gorgeous three-month-old daughter, Willoughby, casually perched in her arms. The perfect expression of the plurality of women—daughters, mothers, friends, business owners, problems solvers. For provincial women, making connections is a bigger challenge.

The stories of rural New Zealand, particularly the stories of women in rural New Zealand are overshadowed by news from the cities. Before Kristy McGregor moved to New Zealand, the native Australian worked as a Governess on a nearly 2.2 million acre or 900-thousand-hectare cattle station in western Queensland so remote, the closest town, Eromanga, which only has some 30 residents is 230 km away. Though geographically isolated, the social connections were strong. 

“It was very social, such a good social life. We would have four meals together, every day, but coming to New Zealand, I noticed farming, particularly dairy farming, was much more isolated, people working on their own.

“The lack of connection, the lack of social cohesion, can make this life lonely. My partner, Michael, is the fifth generation on his family’s dairy farm in Horowhenua which started as sheep and beef before transitioning to deer and is now a dairy farm. When I first came to New Zealand, Mike was working 14-16 hours a day. He’d work, come home, have a feed, fall asleep on the couch, and repeat day after day,” explains Kristy. 

At first, in 2019, Shepherdess started as an Instagram page and website. 

“I remember writing about this early on. People talk about farms, that is this great lifestyle, but farming is relentless. It is hard on family life. I thought, if this is happening to you, or a friend, perhaps others are experiencing this, too. It is relating through our shared experience, giving space to talk about the issues affecting us. I want to show the joys of rural life, but this part, too,” Kristy continues. 

However, the stories soon outgrew its humble beginnings.

“I didn’t plan on starting a magazine for a magazine’s sake, but I could see there was a need for something. People were feeling isolated. Women I was talking with felt a disconnection. I thought, how do we do something about that? A magazine is a format that connects people. When you share stories or read about someone going through something you can identify with, it makes you feel a little less alone,” says Kristy. 

The first issue of Shepherdess was published in early 2020. 

“We printed the first magazine just before COVID. 5,000 copies arrived at the cow shed in March 2020, and then a week later the borders were shut, and we had to quarantine. We had to quickly think about how to reach people at home. So, we asked people to nominate their roads and sent a bundle of magazines to share with their neighbours, and get it some of the remoter places,” says Kristy. 

Five years, 21 issues, a six-part tv series, and one Muster later, the Shepherdess brand is fully entrenched in New Zealand’s provincial landscape. 

“The first edition was very much produced on the smell of an oily rag. My mother-in-law knows how to bake, so I asked her to make something to feature in the first issue. Over time, the magazine has evolved. Other opportunities have arrived, like the television series on Sky, and the first Muster in 2024 – the three-day festival and retreat for women across provincial Aotearoa.”
 
The second Shepherdess Muster will take place in the Caitlins at Tokanui, Murihiku Southland, 6-8 March 2026. 

Women are at the heart of the Shepherdess story. Stories of women, by women. Cultural engagement is also a central pillar of the magazine. 

“New Zealand has very strong cultural history. It’s something we celebrate, but we also must respect how to do that sensitively,” says Kristy. 

Jasmine Rangi Jones (Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngaa Kiitahi, Cook Island-Tongareva) is Shepherdess’ Cultural Engagement Manager.   

“Jasmine empowers and educates the rest of team, and this influences everything we do. It is important to feature the stories of wāhini, written by Māori, in the magazine.

One of the philosophies we follow is every person has a story to tell. We want to tell their stories. It's not just about the person winning the biggest award or climbing Mount Everest or featuring the local mayor. They can be the day-to-day, real stories everyone can relate to and see themselves in. It can be our mother, or sister, or friend,” explains Kristy.

The Raumati Summer Edition 2024/25 featured 101-year-old Jill MacKenzie from Kaikōura. Jill is Lincoln University’s oldest living graduate.

“Reflecting the diversity – from age, race, sexuality – of provincial women is powerful. We can often be seen as just one group, but we represent far more than that.” 

PGG Wrightson is a proud supporter and magazine partner of Shepherdess. For Kristy and her team, this collaboration just made sense. 

“Every interaction with a PGG Wrightson team member has been a positive, great experience. It is evident everyone loves what they do and are proud of what they do. I love it. These shared values, and connection to communities, really align to what we are trying to do.”