Events

Turangi Turned It On – Highlights from the 2025 Women on the Fly Workshop

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The 2025 Women on the Fly NZ workshop in Turangi (7–9 November) brought together 40 participants and 28 mentors and volunteers for a weekend full of energy, learning, and connection. Now in its fourth year, this workshop has become a key anchor in the growth of Women on the Fly NZ and was once again quickly oversubscribed. It’s a clear sign of the demand, momentum, and community spirit that continue to drive this kaupapa forward. Friday evening welcome The weekend began with a relaxed Friday night meet-and-greet at TALTAC. Our Build-a-Burger dinner helped everyone settle in, make connections, and ease into the weekend ahead. Throughout the weekend, participants were well looked after by the hardworking team of TALTAC volunteers who ran the kitchen with warmth and generosity. Their nourishing, home-style meals played a big part in creating the supportive atmosphere we’re known for. Workshop sessions and support Saturday was a full day of hands-on learning. About half the participants were beginners or novices, and they rotated through four core workshops: The Developing Angler stream offered six electives: This two-stream model ensures every angler, regardless of experience, gets the right level of challenge and support. To make the workshop as accessible … Read more

Rotorua Weekend Workshop, May 2025

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Eastern F&G HQ

Kia ora!We’re excited to share highlights from our recent workshop in Rotorua, part of our ongoing effort to connect and support women in fly fishing across Aotearoa. Event Overview On 24–25 May 2025, Women on the Fly NZ held a weekend workshop in collaboration with Eastern Fish & Game at the Paradise Valley hatchery in Ngongotahā, Rotorua. The event was coordinated by Jill Sweeney, WoTF’s Bay of Plenty Regional Coordinator, and supported by volunteer mentors from the Tauranga and Rotorua Anglers Clubs. Twenty-four women — mostly from the Rotorua and Tauranga area — attended. What Happened on the Day Over the weekend, participants were introduced to: Saturday evening included a social event at the Rotorua Anglers Club, where Colin Cox gave a fly-tying demonstration that was met with much interest. Most of the women attending were brand new to fly fishing, so the sessions focused on building confidence and understanding the basics. What Women Said “It has opened up a whole new dimension. I had no idea this course would cover so much — from trout hatching and feeding habits to casting and choosing flies.” “Having never held a rod before, I found the two-day event to be so much … Read more