​Our lives as wahine on the island can be hard, thankless, and sometimes isolated. So we invite you to take a weekend (or part of it) just for you – away from the day to day of your life. Come and learn, share, strengthen and be strengthened by spending time with other Barrier women, remembering none of us are in it alone, and most of all, being inspired!

Shelly Davies is a descendent of Ngātiwai whose grandparents Gordon and Rene Davies grew up at Kawa, and she has a home there now. When she’s not on the island she’s running her business ShellyDavies.com – Writing, Joy & Badassery – where she trains government and corporates how to communicate more effectively through writing. Late last year she toured the country with Dairy Women’s Network, speaking to women in 5 rural centres about how to find more joy and power in their lives. She’s real, she’s down to earth, she swears like a sailor, and she’s counting down the days to come home!

You could choose just to attend the talk on Friday night, or any of the Saturday workshops – as much or as little as you can. The workshops will be full on and interactive – lots of internal work for you to do in writing or small groups – but you definitely won’t just be sitting and listening all day! You could stay at the marae or return home to your own bed. Sunday will be a really special time – nothing planned, just time, space, and a chance to work on your thoughts from Saturday, spend more intimate time with Shelly or just rest and get the quiet time we so desperately need in our busy lives.

Note: This is a wāhine space. We have men’s workshops planned – more info coming soon!

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