Named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 places in the world to learn to cook local cuisine, the Akaroa Cooking School provides the perfect location to learn cooking tips and entertaining secrets in a small group setting, using the best of fresh seasonal produce and matching this with award winning local wines.   

The Real Dog Equipment Company in Ranfurly, that arose from making equipment for the owners' pets, has won the 2012 RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award. When Rose Voice went on maternity leave about 11 years ago, from her job as an anaesthetic technician, she  thought she would make a few bits and pieces for the couple's own Alaskan malamute sled dogs. Then people started asking about gear and the business started growing.  

After social media marketing, more than 70% of their income comes from online orders. Sled-dog equipment now accounts for about 10% of their sales. The rest is gear for all sorts of dogs, horses and even alpacas and llamas.

"The company even exports sled-dog equipment to Alaska, the home of sled-dog racing."  

The judges were impressed by her commitment to producing high quality products with good growth potential.  

Rose also took out the inaugural Fly Buys Online Business category as a lot of her company's sales were through the internet.

It's all too easy to curl up on the couch on a cold winter's day, but winter can be a great time to get a head start on that training for your summer outdoor activities and walking is an easy and inexpensive winter workout, there are just a few things you should keep in mind.

• Be safe be seen-always wear reflective gear, a hi-vis vest over your walking jacket or even some reflective material around arms and legs will help you stand out to passing traffic on a dark day.

• Watch your step-roads and paths may be slippery or icy, keep to an easy walk pace to minimise your risk of slipping, especially when warming up as muscles will still be stiff and easily overstretched. It can be handy to have a walking pole for balance.

• Winter woollies-cotton clothing such as jeans or t shirts will not retain warmth if they get wet, keep the warmth in by wearing poly-pro or wool next to your skin (merino is perfect for this as it's lightweight) and don't forget your head and hands, a good pair of gloves and a hat are an essential as up to 70% of our body heat can be lost through our head.

• Re-hydrate- when it's cold outside you don't have the usual triggers associated with thirst as you do on a hot summer's day but if you are exercising you will still need to keep those fluid levels up, make sure you keep drinking plenty of water, ideally room temperature and not fridge -cold!