Rural women across the Bay of Plenty are being encouraged to build confidence and take control of their financial futures through a series of free Money Matters – Rural Women Taking Charge workshops being held across the region from February to April.

The first workshop will take place in Galatea on Monday, February 3, followed by events in Te Puke, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, Kaharoa and Katikati. The Whakatāne workshop will be on Tuesday, April 1, at Mata Brewery on Gateway Drive.

The free workshops are being delivered locally through a collaboration between Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Rural Support Trust and a wide range of rural organisations and sponsors. They are open to women from all rural backgrounds.

Rural Support Regional Coordinator Jodie Craig says the workshops are practical, relatable and very different from traditional finance seminars.

“I honestly went along to the first one thinking it would be something I had to sit through,” she said.

“But I was blown away. There was no lecturing – it was real-life stories that made everything easy to understand and actually relevant.”

The workshops cover farm and household finances, investing basics, managing inflation, and key legal matters such as wills and succession planning.

Each workshop features three experienced rural professionals: Shelley Greer from Gallie Miles Lawyers, Maria Heslop from Craigs Investment Partners, and Gina Webster from Farmit Accountants.

“Having a lawyer, an investment specialist, and an accountant all in the room means women can ask any question and get practical answers,” Ms Craig said. “Those three areas all connect and understanding them gives people confidence.”

Previous workshops highlighted key points about protecting assets, relationship property, and the importance of having a will.

“One of the biggest eye-openers was hearing what can happen if you don’t have things like a will or succession plan sorted, especially in rural settings where there can be significant assets involved.” Ms Craig said.

Feedback from previous workshops shows many attendees took immediate action afterwards, including contacting their lawyers, accountants, and investment advisers.

“Women didn’t just leave thinking ‘I should do that one day’, they followed up and made changes,” Ms Craig said. “They explained why you shouldn’t have all your eggs in one basket and gave some examples, so I went home and said to my husband, all our eggs are in one basket!”

Ms Craig said improving financial confidence also supported wellbeing and strengthened rural communities.

“These workshops give women the confidence to make informed decisions, creating positive flow-on effects for their families and the wider rural community.”

The workshops are open to all rural women, and registration is required to attend.

Everyone who registers goes into the draw to win one of 17 $200 Prezzy Cards, with additional spot prizes available.

For more information or to register, email [email protected] or visit www.rural-support.org.nz/events.