News

WoTF NZ Annual Report 2025 – 2026

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Introduction Women on the Fly NZ (WoTF NZ) continues to grow as a national grassroots initiative supporting women in fly fishing through community, partnerships, mentoring, storytelling, and advocacy. What began in 2021 as a way to encourage more women into the Kapiti Fly Fishing Club has grown into a nationwide network connecting women anglers across Aotearoa. This year has seen continued growth in community engagement, partnerships with clubs and Fish & Game regions, and increasing recognition of WoTF NZ as a constructive and respected voice for women who fly fish. We are also seeing encouraging growth in female membership across a number of fly fishing clubs around the country. Regional Growth and Community Partnerships One particularly successful example of this growth has been the partnership model developing in Nelson, where collaboration between local women anglers, clubs, and Fish & Game has created strong momentum and increased participation opportunities for women entering the sport. The success of this regional approach demonstrates the value of clubs, volunteers, and regional organisations working together to create welcoming pathways into fly fishing for women. We are also seeing encouraging momentum in Canterbury through the Reel Women group, which continues to provide opportunities for women to … Read more

Opening the Door to Fly Fishing for Women in Dunedin

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For many women, the idea of fly fishing has always been there — sitting quietly on a “one day” list. Not because of a lack of interest, but because of a lack of access. That’s exactly what Women on the Fly NZ is working to change — and on March 29 in Dunedin, that mission came to life through a powerful collaboration. Partnering with the Otago Anglers Association, Women on the Fly co-hosted an Introduction to Fly Fishing workshop designed to create a clear, supported pathway into the sport. 23 women. One shared starting point. The event brought together 23 women, the majority being absolute beginners or novices to fly fishing. What they shared wasn’t experience — it was curiosity. Many arrived with the same thought: “I’ve always wanted to try this… I just didn’t know how.” By creating a space specifically for women, the day removed a number of barriers — including where to begin, access to equipment, and finding others to fish with. By the end of the workshop, that uncertainty had shifted into confidence, connection, and momentum. A collaboration with purpose This event reflects a key goal of Women on the Fly NZ — working alongside local … Read more

Learning the Little Things with Tony Entwistle

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Jill Holdgate and Tony Entwistle

Women on the Fly NZ encourages women to build confidence on the water through shared learning, mentoring, and time spent fishing together. Occasionally an opportunity comes along for someone to spend time with an experienced guide and accelerate that learning even further. Jill Holdgate recently spent three days fishing and learning with Nelson guide Tony Entwistle of Fly Fishing with Tony. The conditions were far from ideal, but as Jill discovered, challenging days on the water often produce the biggest learning moments. Jill’s Story Spending three days with Tony Entwistle in January 2026 was the highlight of my summer. The fishing was challenging and trout were scarce, but there was something new to learn every minute. Fairly new to getting out on the water, I arrived ready to learn. Tony soon put me at ease, and the learning began almost immediately as we drove around the Nelson region searching for fishable water. Our first stop was St Arnaud, where we paused to visit the eels in the crystal-clear water. Tony told me how his guiding career began there while teaching at an outdoor school. It was a place that helped launch the path that eventually led to Fly Fishing with … Read more

From One Evening to Real Change: Growing Women’s Fly Fishing in Nelson

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Over the past two years, something has been steadily building in Nelson. More women are getting involved in fly fishing. They are attending club days, joining the Nelson Trout Fishing Club, and organising time on the water together. What was once a small presence is now becoming a regular and visible part of the local fishing community. This growth has not happened by accident. That progress can be traced back to April 2024, when Women on the Fly NZ travelled to Nelson to deliver an evening event at the Nelson Marlborough Fish & Game rooms, led by Leigh Johnson, National Coordinator, with Corina Jordan, CEO of Fish & Game NZ, also presenting. With the support of the Nelson Trout Fishing Club and Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game, 26 women attended from across the Top of the South. There was a strong turnout. More importantly, it became a starting point for a shared commitment that has led to tangible growth in women’s participation. Turning Interest into Action Since that first event, Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game and the Nelson Trout Fishing Club have continued the momentum. During the 2024/25 season, two practical Women on the Fly events were hosted. The first, at Saxton … Read more

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

Family Licence Upgrade Welcomed

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From the 2025/26 season, both adults on a Fish & Game family licence will have equal rights — a change that directly benefits women, who are most often the second adult on the licence. That means each adult now has their own licence, can fish independently, and can vote or stand in Fish & Game elections. From 2026/27, both will also receive Fish & Game communications. The push for change Since 2022, Women on the Fly has raised the family licence issue repeatedly with Fish & Game. The University of Otago’s Women Anglers in Aotearoa survey in 2022–23 also highlighted the problem. Women said they wanted the same rights as the “primary” holder on a family licence. It was a simple request, and one that made sense. What’s changed Fish & Game has now listened and acted. Both adults are recognised equally. The key changes are: Looking ahead While 13% of individual licence holders are women, this rises to around 30% when considering women listed as the secondary adult on a family licence. If women angled at the same rate as men, we could see up to 60,000 more enjoying our rivers and lakes. This change is positive for women, … Read more