Tokanui to host unique wāhine festival in 2026
The not-for-profit event is part of Shepherdess’ mission to foster community, build resilience and reduce the isolation often felt by women living rurally.
Get each Southland Tribune sent direct to your email inbox.
The Shepherdess Muster is returning in 2026 – and this time it’s heading to Southland.
From March 6 to 8, the small rural community of Tokanui will host a unique three-day festival for wāhine from across provincial New Zealand.
Led by the team behind Shepherdess magazine, The Shepherdess Muster is a weekend for women to connect, create, and celebrate – away from the daily juggle of home, farm, and work life.
Festival Director and Shepherdess Publisher Kristy McGregor says the event offers something rare in the rural calendar: “The Muster is a chance to leave the to-do list behind, immerse yourself in good company, have a laugh, make new connections and come away with new ideas, confidence and inspiration. It’s about giving rural women permission to take time for themselves – and discover a whole lot of joy along the way.”
The not-for-profit event is part of Shepherdess’ mission to foster community, build resilience and reduce the isolation often felt by women living rurally.
The 2026 event builds on the success of the inaugural Muster held in Mōtū, Te Tairāwhiti, in 2024.
The Muster features a programme designed to provide tools for personal development, health, creativity, and business.
The first gathering brought together more than 250 women to take part in everything from business planning and hatha yoga, to burlesque, gut health conversations, and floral crown-making.
Open and candid discussions addressed often-taboo topics like menopause, sex, and relationships.
An independent evaluation by Scarlatti found that 92% of attendees left the 2024 event feeling better equipped to deal with life’s challenges.
The research highlighted significant positive outcomes for participants across wellbeing, social connection, and resilience – with impacts “higher than would have been anticipated for a weekend event.”
“Bringing women together in a supportive environment allows for reflection, growth, and connection,” McGregor said.
“When women are well, their families, farms, and communities thrive.”
The Shepherdess Muster is designed around three key pillars: visual and performing arts, personal and business development, and health and wellbeing. Women can expect hands-on workshops, inspiring kōrero, entertainment, and the chance to truly unwind in a beautiful rural setting.
In 2024 the event transformed the small Mōtū School into a thriving festival space.
In 2026 the festival will be held at the Tokanui Rugby Club grounds.
A volunteer committee is supporting the planning of the event, providing local perspectives, connections and inputting into the programme.
Emma-Kate Rabbidge is one of the committee members. Rabbidge, who with her husband runs a shearing contracting business and a sheep and beef farm near Tokanui, while raising four young children, is excited for The Muster.
“Like many rural mums, I wear many hats in our community – President of our small local Playcentre, Treasurer and coach to our junior netball team, along with running music and movement sessions for pre-schoolers, playing bass guitar in a local band, and most recently helping with coaching swim lessons at the local pool for the school children.
“The Muster will bring an invaluable arts programme, encouraging, equipping and empowering for these rural women right here in the heart of it all, in a location that is familiar and friendly – our strong and iconic community-based rugby club,” Rabbidge said.
“Tokanui is a small town. We are isolated here, we don’t get access to events and services that other larger towns do. I am so thrilled to see The Muster coming to Tokanui, bringing together incredible wāhine to share, celebrate, and showcase our amazing community and the talented rural women within it.
“Being featured on the Shepherdess TV series formed a deep appreciation for Shepherdess and the women who drive and organise The Muster. Their passion, respect, and dedication to uplifting rural women is truly inspiring, and I’m proud to be able to put my hand up to support this special event.”
While the 2026 event is still a year away, planning is well underway – and tickets will go on sale this winter.
“We’ve seen the ripple effect of what a weekend like this can do,” McGregor said.
“Whether it's confidence, connection, or simply taking a breath – the impact of The Muster lasts long after the tents are packed away.”
“The Muster wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and funders. We’d especially like to acknowledge our Platinum sponsor, the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT), for their belief in the power of events like this to support rural communities.”