Out from behind my keyboard

I'm going to be honest, I hesitated writing this because it felt a bit self promoty. It's very LinkedIn to be excited to announce work you're about to do. At the same time though, I currently have a full dance card so these extracurriculars each represent something I have opted into cause they offer something beyond a pay cheque. Because of this, I thought they may be events that interest you.

Shepherdess Muster - 6-8 March, Southland

First up, next weekend I'm heading down to the part of the country where my parents grew up. I am a cliche of a townie but until me and my siblings came along, my people here in Aotearoa were primarily farmers. My mum can tell you stories of finding piglets in the hot water cupboard. I've visited the land my Dad's family have farmed since it was no doubt bought in a dodgy land deal back in the day.

It's a weekend for rural women and I find that a very intriguing group to place myself amongst. They represent a life I could have ended up living if my parents hadn't decided to leave the south. But perhaps, most importantly, I am going there because WOMEN'S RUGBY!

My mate Arpége Taratoa invited me to give a speech and the thing that sealed the deal was the opportunity to interview Black Fern #16, Carol Hayes. Carol was a prop for the Black Ferns in their first match of the modern era but in 1989. She actually traveled to the first World Cup in 1991 and featured in the warm up matches.

I've been asking around the old girls network about her and apparently "Our Carol" impressed with her ability to steamroll up the park, play guitar as well as smoke, drink and talk at the same time. What I'm most interested in though is finding out more about the Southland team she was a part of.

Southland have long stuck out as a sizeable province without a team in the Farah Palmer Cup. It's not a population issue as last I checked they have more registered senior women than Manawatū and Hawkes' Bay. So I want to learn more about the team that once was. The team that used to beat Otago and rumble with Canterbury. I want to learn about them so we can try and learn how we can get the maroon and gold back on the paddock.

I will let you know how this yarn goes and may bring you a write up from Carol on the subject.

No Tears on the Field - 11 March, Lighthouse Petone

I wrote about this doco when I saw it as part of the film festival last year.

"I am weary of people walking in our space. I have seen even the best intentioned folk, make clumsy missteps. Trampling on the heart of the thing to default to cliche. Women’s rugby is very precious to me. It’s not just a sport, it’s my community.

I’m so pleased to tell you that this doco felt like us. A full display of the beautiful complexity of the women that choose to play such an unforgiving sport. There is a lot of hurt in the lives lived off paddock. So it stands to reason that there is comfort to be found in the release on it."

Great news is it's coming to your screens in March. I've been invited to moderate a discussion with the director and one of the featured players on 11 March in Petone. I was tied up on the 12 March but roped in my friend, Black Fern #113 and current New Zealand Rugby Vice President, Erin Rush, to moderate the following day at the Penthouse in Brooklyn.

I am super interested to chat with the player given what has happened to Taranaki women's rugby since this documentary came out. They have been chopped from the reworked Farah Palmer Cup competition, now only able to play against neighbouring provinces development teams. I have my views on this but I am more keen to understand the impact of this change on someone who is living it. So get amongst whānau!

Not Just A Game - 25 March, online kōrero

Finally, a good faith based discussion on women's sport and inclusion. I am so looking forward to connecting with former Waimatematā and College Rifles winger, Stacey Morrison. To catching up with Kate Weatherly, who I interviewed for my women's sports podcast back in 2024. And to learn from Mere Rangihuna and Professor Camille Nahkid who I haven't yet had the privilege of overlapping with.

A big mihi to Te Wāhi Wāhine o Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland Women's Centre, for putting this on. We are almost never given platforms like this without also inviting the worst people in the world to give their opinions.

Our kōrero will cover:
- Why don’t we hear more about women’s sport?
- Why are coaches mostly men and why doesn’t women’s sport get the funding it deserves?
- What are the tactics of chauvinist and racist “blazeratti” – administrators and officials – to stop sports’ inclusive feminists?
- What is the fallout of the transphobic government’s attacks on Ihi Aotearoa Sport NZ’s trans-inclusive guidelines?
- What part does the media have to play?
- What’s at stake, what’s next?

It's quite a lot to cover in an hour and a half but I'm game!

You can join us from all over as this will be an online conversation. You just need to buy your ticket and it's a sliding scale of pay what you can from $10.

If you can make it along to any of this, it offers a rare opportunity to catch me out from behind my keyboard. If not, you'll no doubt be hearing from me about how it all went. These adventures and discussions always trigger my best writing.

So, see you there?

With you,
Alice