Tickets are on sale now to The Shepherdess Muster - a three day festival for rural and regional wāhine to relax, create and have a laugh with friends, 17-19 February 2023, Motu, Te Tairāwhiti.
Much loved New Zealand comedian Michelle A’Court has been announced as part of the entertainment line-up as well as L’Amour - a burlesque studio based in Wellington, and local artist and weaver Fiona Collis is confirmed to lead a workshop in working with harakeke.
General attendee tickets are $449 per person and include delicious food throughout the three days, entertainment and workshops. There will be a cash bar onsite, and accommodation is BYO tent, camper van or horse float. There is also a set up tented accommodation option for $200 per person, twin share.
If you’re a Te Tairāwhiti, Wairoa or Ōpōtiki local, you have access to a special ticket price of $349 per person and corporate tickets are $649 per person.
Other programme highlights include well-known New Zealand sex therapist Jo Robertson, who will speak at the festival on all things sex, love and relationships. Jo has 15 years of experience working in sexual health, through education and counselling. Jo has a private therapeutic practice specialising in female sexual dysfunction and relationship breakdown due to infidelity/betrayal and did a TEDx talk in 2019 titled ‘Why we need to talk about porn’.
Talented mural artist Kelly Spencer (pictured) will be live painting a large-scale mural throughout The Muster. Kelly has a big love for Mother Earth and her creative style is characterised by bright and retro-fresh colour palettes and curvaceous forms.
Farmer Trudy Hales from Weber, 30 km East of Dannevirke will MC the event. Trudy was on the cover of the Shepherdess 2021 Spring Edition, and with her husband farms a 970ha sheep and beef property at Weber. The farm has been part of her husband’s family for four generations, and their two boys, Rocky and Alby, will be fifth generation on the land.
More workshops, live music and a series of speakers are set to be announced soon plus, market stalls and beauty providers and health services, so attendees can focus on themselves for the weekend, away from the juggle of rural life.
“Set in Motu village, an hour from Gisborne, the event is a chance for women to get away from it all and concentrate on themselves for three days,” says Kristy McGregor, founder of the inaugural event.
The Shepherdess Muster has a relaxing retreat feel with a festival vibe, and the programme works like a menu of activities where you can pick and choose which workshops, speakers, beauty therapists or health services you’d like to attend each day. Festival goers come together for meals each day.
Kristy explains the programme is designed to give women a chance to have a go at something they don’t usually have time for, to use their hands to create, get a massage and simply enjoy having delicious food made for you for three days.
What to expect at The Shepherdess Muster
- Friday night sees an official welcome of all festival goers, plus cocktails and canapés, a stand-up comedy show with Michele A’Court, live music, and - for those who’ve danced the night away - a late supper.
- ● Saturday starts with a light walk or workout and breakfast together before our keynote speaker takes to the stage, then heading off to your workshop of choice for the morning. Lunch brings everyone together again for a sit down meal and a speaker before everyone heads back to workshops, any scheduled beauty appointments, a drink at the bar or to browse the market stalls. Everyone comes together for a sit down, plated dinner and evening entertainment.
- After breakfast on Sunday morning, a panel on entrepreneurship will take place, followed by workshops and an early lunch before heading off home, refreshed and energised.
“The aim of the event is for festival goers to leave feeling refreshed, energised with a new stash of tools in the toolbox to take on life’s challenges,” says Kristy.
National organisations from across the rural sector have come onboard to support this much needed community event, including Platinum sponsors, The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT), Rabobank and the Ministry for Primary Industries and Gold Sponsor, Beef + Lamb NZ.
The event has been embraced by the local community as well who have come together to support the inaugural event including Trust Tairāwhiti and Lottery Bay of Plenty Gisborne Community Grants.
ALL tickets are available now at www.shepherdessmuster.co.nz, you can follow @theshepherdessmuster on Instagram and Facebook for festival updates. The Shepherdess Muster will be held at Motu, Te Tairāwhiti, from 17-19 February 2023.
