The Shepherdess Muster is a not-for-profit event led by Shepherdess, a social enterprise with the mission of making rural folk feel connected through community building, storytelling, and events.
Our events are planned by a core project team with a local volunteer committee providing guidance and advice. Women from across the community, agriculture and Māori agribusiness sectors, and representatives from outside the region are all involved.
2028 Wairapa Event Committee Members
-
Lynley describes herself quite simply as a shepherdess. She works full-time alongside her husband Matt on Spring Valley, their 2400-hectare sheep and beef farm beneath the Tararua Range. Born and raised on a Wairarapa farm, Lynley is the fifth generation connected to her original family farm, and she and Matt have two sons beginning their own journeys in agriculture. Fourteen years ago, Lynley co-founded Wairarapa Rural Women Inc to create opportunities for rural wāhine to learn, connect and support one another, and chaired the organisation for several years. She is also a long-time judge for the Zanda McDonald Award and has been involved with numerous school and community committees. She loves seeing women thrive and is excited about what the Muster can bring to the Wairarapa.
-
Sarah is a farmer, registered nurse, mum of four and energetic community volunteer who lives with her husband George and their family at Matariki, their coastal sheep and beef farm at Homewood, east of Masterton. Sarah is the Rural Support Trust’s registered nurse for the Wairarapa, supporting rural people through health checks, home visits, adverse weather events and community initiatives. She also established the Rural Māmā Collective and is involved with Little Bundles, which provides clothing and essentials for Wairarapa babies and tamariki. She’s excited to help create a Muster that celebrates the Wairarapa and strengthens connections between rural women.
-
Lara is a shepherd and animal lover who lives and works in the Bideford area of the Wairarapa. She works full-time as a 2IC on a sheep, beef and deer farm and, when she’s not working, you’ll likely find her tending to her garden or her collection of chickens, lambs, calves, horse, dogs and cats. Lara volunteers with the Kāpiti–West Coast sheep dog trials, has helped out at local horse sports and is quick to lend a hand on neighbouring farms when extra help is needed. After missing the first two Shepherdess Musters, Lara had already decided she was getting to the next one – so having it come to her own region gives her the chance to roll up her sleeves and help make it happen too.
-
Rachael is a mum of two young children and lives with her family in Masterton. She grew up in rural Wairarapa and Central Otago and currently helps her husband, Sean, widely known as Shanks, with his work as a livestock agent alongside being a full-time mum. Rachael has previously been involved with the Wairarapa Young Professionals and Gladstone Netball committees, helping organise, promote and run events and fundraisers. Having seen rural communities she cares about face serious farm accidents and the effects of adverse weather, Rachael is passionate about creating opportunities for rural women to get off-farm, take some time for themselves and connect with others. She’s excited to help bring the Muster to her home region.
-
Lesley lives on a 350-hectare sheep and beef farm near Eketāhuna, which she runs alongside her husband, Nick. In her role as Extension Manager for Beef + Lamb New Zealand across Wairarapa and Tararua, she is passionate about helping rural people connect, learn and grow. Beyond her professional role, Lesley is involved in a range of initiatives focused on creating opportunities that celebrate, support and inspire women in agriculture. A strong advocate for empowering wāhine o te whenua, she finds joy in fostering connection, strengthening communities and spending time with family. Lesley has been involved in The Muster since the early days of planning in 2021.
-
Heather is a farmer, facilitator, rural advocate, mum of three and ‘Granna’ to three grandsons. She and her family farmed in south Wairarapa for thirty-four years, developing a mixed pastoral farming business that has been certified organic since 1990 and is now operated by one of her daughters. Her working life has spanned health, agriculture and community development, including twelve years facilitating across the primary sector. Today, through Within Works, she helps rural agribusinesses and communities collaborate and turn ideas into action. Heather has also co-founded and led several community and environmental initiatives. A long-time advocate for rural women, she sees the Muster as a chance to build connections and celebrate the hardworking women of the Wairarapa.
Project Team
Kristy McGregor
Festival Director
Kristy has led numerous community projects and events across both Australia and New Zealand. With a professional background in community engagement and policy, in 2012 she co-founded the Channel Country Ladies Day in Australia, on which The Shepherdess Muster is based. Since moving to Aotearoa in 2014 she has founded multiple events, including the Horowhenua Taste Trail working with local producers, and a community hall evening with live music.
Kristy is passionate about community engagement and working with communities to bring out positive narratives, and she believes events contribute to community change and vibrancy. Kristy is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Shepherdess magazine and Executive Producer of the new Shepherdess TV Series. Kristy lives on her partner’s family dairy and beef farm in the Horowhenua, with her partner and their four children – two at primary school and two toddlers.
As Festival Director, Kristy is responsible for project management, managing funding relationships, and guiding the Project Team.
Arpége Taratoa-Rangikura
Programme Manager
After programming and guiding our first two Musters, Arpége Taratoa-Rangikura (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rārua) has decided to step back from her role as Programme & Cultural Engagement Manager. We are currently recruiting for her successor, who will work alongside the Committee, local wāhine Māori and iwi to help shape a programme that weaves te ao Māori throughout The Muster
Christina Halverson
Logistics Manager
Christina has spent ten years working on some of the largest music and film festivals in the United States, including Sundance Film Festival in Utah, and Northwest Folklife Festival in Washington. She has experience in logistics, venue and volunteer management. Christina is thrilled to be a part of the Shepherdess team and help facilitate a memorable, inclusive experience at The Shepherdess Muster.
As Logistics Manager, Christina manages all of the site logistics and supplier relationships – a feat when setting up in such rural and remote locations – and co-ordinates the stallholders, beauty and health service providers.
Julia Brown
Partnerships Manager
With a background in event management, sponsorship and communications, Julia has spent twenty-plus years working in the not-for-profit sector; at Mary Potter Hospice, Blind and Low Vision NZ, and more recently as Marketing Manager at Garden Marlborough–Marlborough’s iconic four-day annual festival. Julia lives in Blenheim, with her wine-maker husband and twin girls, Alice and Isabelle and son James.
In her role as Partnerships Manager at Shepherdess, Julia manages all partner relationships across the magazine and The Shepherdess Muster event, and is the main point of contact for all sponsorship enquiries.
Felicity Connell
Communications & Marketing Manager
Felicity is a writer and communications specialist who has worked across the arts, local government, the public sector and kaupapa Māori organisations. Since 2022, she has been a freelance writer for Shepherdess and part of the magazine’s editorial team, helping bring each edition together through research, editing and behind-the-scenes support. She also worked on the Shepherdess and RNZ podcast, Far From Town. Felicity lives in Whakatū Nelson with her partner.
As Marketing and Communications Manager Felicity leads event communications, media relations and promotion, helping tell The Muster’s story and recognise its sponsors and supporters.
Greer Paterson
Stall, Health & Beauty Co-ordinator
Greer lives on Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Islands with her two young children. A true jack of all trades, she is a mum, teacher, business owner, freelance writer, fencer, knitter and seamstress, and fencer. Greer manages accounts and advertising for Shepherdess, and also writes a regular column for the magazine, Chat on the Chathams.
She is excited to be part of The Shepherdess Muster. As the first point of contact for all stallholders, health and beauty providers, Greer enjoys working with a wide range of talented wāhine to bring this part of the event to life. She is also sister to Zoë Paterson, a member of the Muster Committee, and together they are proud to contribute to the kaupapa of The Muster.