The supreme winner of the Rural New Zealand Enterprising Women Award 2010 was awarded to Tineke Verkade along with her Waikato based business, Homeopathic Farm Support Ltd.
Runner up and South Island winner was awarded to Tracey Robinson of Rotherham, North Canterbury along with her business Cosy Toes ltd, who set up her online merino wool sock business after experiencing frustration that wool socks were not available for her two preschoolers. She set up her business in the rural township of Rotherham with a population of approximately 300 using the internet to supply a niche, high quality product using innovative marketing, including social networking sites.
The award recognises an outstanding rural businesswoman running her own enterprise and celebrates the success of all rural women entrepreneurs.
Rural Women New Zealand national president, Margaret Chapman said rural businesswomen often have to overcome additional geographical and technological challenges in running their businesses.
The award ceremony was held at the Rural Women New Zealand national conference in Oamaru last week.
Tracey Robinson feels very honoured to be named the South Island winner but unfortunately could not travel to the awards ceremony because of flooding which closed the road north of Oamaru on that day with no diversions. “It was a very big build up of approximately two months looking forward to the ceremony and when we heard the road was closed with no diversions – I didn’t know what to think! My presentation was emailed down to Oamaru so they could read it out on my behalf and then I spent a very quiet, rainy night in Christchurch with my partner waiting by the phone for the results.”
“Entering these awards has been really good for me personally as it has reminded me that what I am achieving is great and sometimes that can be taken for granted when you are in the middle of it all. Rural Women New Zealand managed the awards very well and I really enjoyed meeting with Theresa Gattung at my interview held in Wellington in April.”
Tracey adds “I did not get to meet Tineke at the awards ceremony as planned but we have talked over the phone in the past couple of days. She is a very lovely and a motivated woman who has come up against some massive hurdles along the way and now employs six homeopaths. It’s amazing what she is doing in her business and I congratulate her and wish her every success.”
Rural Women New Zealand thanks their award sponsors, Ballance and Access, and award judges, Theresa Gattung and Doug Langford.
