Tickets Open For The Shepherdess Muster – A Unique Three-Day Festival

From 6–8 March 2026, the small Murihiku Southland community of Tokanui will host The Shepherdess Muster – a three-day festival designed to give women a moment away from the daily juggle of home, farm and work life. Held at the Tokanui Rugby Club grounds, the Muster weekend is a mix of entertainment, workshops and guest speakers, with plenty of time in between to connect and relax.

This year’s line-up includes much-loved comedian Michèle A’Court, sex and relationship therapist Jo Robertson, as well as PledgeMe co-founder Anna Guenther. Southlanders on the programme include pelvic floor physiotherapist Anna Thompson, Sheila Smith leading Zumba classes, Sharne Parkinson running workshops based on traditional Māori instruments such as taonga pūoro and hue, and South Pole Dance dazzling with entertainment and dance workshops.

“The event is designed to give women a chance to take a pause from the everyday demands of family, home and work responsibilities, and to just come and focus on yourself for a weekend. Not you in your roles as a mother, partner, or at work, but your own interests and ideas,” says Kristy McGregor, Festival Director and publisher of Shepherdess magazine, which is working closely with a local committee to deliver the event.

“Rural life can be tough and isolating and The Muster is a chance for women living in provincial Aotearoa to get together for three days with no obligations except to have a bloody great time. The Muster is all about creating connections,” Kristy says.

A big part of what makes The Muster unique is that everyone stays onsite together for the three days, no matter where they’ve come from. “After the 2024 Muster we had so much feedback from women who were surprised by how powerful it was to all stay onsite together. It created the space for unexpected but real connections – and many told us it was life-changing. We’re still hearing about the ripple effects: from finding others to support their mahi, to new friendships, to reconnecting with old friends. That’s the impact of The Muster – those connections continue well beyond the weekend,” Kristy says.

Festival MC Jemma Robertson returns after hosting the inaugural Muster in Mōtū, Te Tairāwhiti, bringing warmth, humour and her own experience of juggling farm life with raising a young family.

“It was a real privilege to emcee the inaugural Shepherdess Muster in Mōtū, Gisborne, and I’m so excited to be involved in this next event in Tokanui Murihiku Southland,” says Jemma. “The Muster is a one-of-a-kind event and experience. It’s a chance to connect, reflect, learn, and laugh alongside like-minded women who are passionate about living and working in provincial New Zealand. We share many of the same challenges that come with living rurally, and it’s incredibly inspiring to meet women from around the country who use their creativity, skills, determination, and hard work to build businesses and lives they love on the farm.”

It may not be until March, but local shearing contractor and farmer Emma-Kate Rabbidge is already buzzing about The Muster coming to Tokanui. Emma-Kate farms near Tokanui with her husband while raising four children and running a shearing gang, and she’s also on the committee organising the event.

“We don’t often get big events coming to Tokanui, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Emma-Kate says. “It’s a chance to showcase local talent, bring new experiences to town, and for women here to feel part of something special. The Muster will bring an arts programme, encouraging, equipping and empowering for 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.”

The Shepherdess Muster has the spirit of a retreat with the vibe of a festival – the programme works like a menu where you can choose from over 30 workshops, panels and creative sessions that suit you, with everyone coming together for meals each day. Tickets cover all meals and every activity on the programme: from morning fitness sessions and hands-on workshops, to speakers, entertainment and the Artsbreak creative space. Alongside this there are stalls, beauty providers offering appointments, and health and wellbeing services.

“The aim is for festival-goers to leave feeling refreshed and energised, with practical tools they can take back to their lives, communities and work,” Kristy says. Kristy is grateful for the support from the local Tokanui committee – from the volunteers on the committee helping programme and promote The Muster, to the Tokanui Rugby Club who will be hosting the event.

“I’m not sure the rugby club will have seen anything like it before – but The Shepherdess Muster and the rugby club aren’t such an unlikely duo when you think about it. The Muster is a community event, all about the wellbeing of rural and rural-at-heart women. Rural rugby clubs have always been more than just places to play sport. They’re gathering spaces – where stories are shared, friendships formed, and communities strengthened. The Muster builds on that same spirit of connection, bringing women together for a weekend that’s all about wellbeing, inspiration and care.”

“Although rural communities often have strong networks, many women are still facing the challenges of being stretched too thin, and of physical and social isolation. That’s exactly why we need events like The Muster. Because when women feel strong and supported, families and communities thrive too,” Kristy says.

The Shepherdess Muster is a not-for-profit event run by the team behind Shepherdess magazine, working in partnership with a local Committee. The 2026 Muster is supported by Principal Partner ANZCO Foods, Platinum Sponsor AGMARDT, along with other funders, local businesses and supporters, including Southland District Council’s District Initiatives Fund.

To buy tickets, and for updates, FAQs, and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.shepherdessmuster.co.nz or follow @theshepherdessmuster on Instagram and Facebook.

About The Shepherdess Muster

The Shepherdess Muster is a not-for-profit three-day festival for rural and rural-at-heart women to relax, create and connect with workshops, kōrero, entertainment and good kai. The Muster was first held in March 2024 in Mōtū, Te Tairāwhiti. That event gained national recognition as a finalist for the Best Community or Not-for-Profit Event (under 3000 category) at the 2024 New Zealand Event Awards.

About Shepherdess

Shepherdess is a social enterprise with a mission to make rural folk feel connected through community building, storytelling and events. The purpose of Shepherdess is to build vibrant rural communities. We curate a quarterly print magazine, Shepherdess, led by a small part-time team based across provincial Aotearoa. Alongside the magazine we have found other platforms for storytelling, including our digital channels, producing a documentary television series which premiered on Sky Open and is available via Sky Go, and now screening in Australia on SBS; and running community arts projects.

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