Central Otago Dinner October 2026

Rural Woman New Zealand, Central Otago Dinner

Whether you're a Rural Women NZ member or simply a woman who is rural at heart, you are warmly welcome here. This is a night for all of us, a chance to get out and spend an evening with good company around a table.

We know it is a busy time of year for farmers, horticulturalists and rural communities. Come and make some genuine new connections, catch up with familiar faces, and go home with a full belly and a warm heart, having heard a brilliant guest speaker.

Real people. Delicious kai. Great conversation.

Guest speaker - Chanelle O'Sullivan

Central Otago farmer, entrepreneur and connector of rural women

Chanelle O'Sullivan is a Central Otago farmer, entrepreneur and connector of rural women. Having left Auckland at age 17 to study agriculture, she moved to the South Island to work on sheep, beef, deer and dairy farms before training as a vet nurse and building a farming life of her own. She's the founder of Farming Mums NZ, an online community that's grown to support around 20,000 women living on farms across the country, and she went on to launch Borage + Bee Meadery, a honey-based mead business built on sustainable, small-batch production. She is also Kellogg Rural Leaders scholar and now co-founder of Groundshift; working alongside farmers to build biology-led systems that improve profitability, soil health and long-term resilience - and Rich Planet, which tells the stories of the people, companies and research institutes doing so.

Chanelle describes herself as a "multipotentialite." Someone who thrives on juggling big ideas rather than sticking to just one lane. Whether she's talking farming, community-building or entrepreneurship, she brings warmth, practical experience and a genuine passion for supporting rural women, and we're thrilled to have her join us in October.

Dinner Options:

There will be 3 dinner options available on the night. You will select your option and list dietary requirements

To keep it easy, please contact RWNZ on the below email address, not the venue, if you have any questions.

1. Oven baked Salmon with cauliflower rosti, salad and hollandaise

   (Gluten free and can be dairy free with no sauce)

1. Smoked Chicken, Cream Cheese and Apricot Sauce Filo with salad and fries

   (Contains gluten, dairy, onion & garlic. Vegetarian option)

1. Lamb Shank with mash potato, roast vege and gravy

   (Gluten free, can be onion, garlic, dairy free)

Cost Per Person:

$45.00 for a RWNZ Member - including a drink on arrival (Beer, house wine or non-alcoholic) + booking fee

$50.00 for a Non-Member - including a drink on arrival (Beer, house wine or non-alcoholic) + booking fee

Register before noon on Friday 9th October by 12 noon (for catering purposes). Unfortunately, we cannot take late registrations.

For more information email lowersouthisland@ruralwomennz.nz

If you're not already a member of Rural Women NZ, membership is only $50 per year!

You can find out more about becoming a member and what we offer here.