Real Women Raw Stories
"Stories that aren't often shared but deserve to be told"
These women will share their deeply personal stories. To help inspire and encourage you to live life to your full potential.
Many people face difficult life challenges, and hearing real personal stories can be a powerful way to promote healing, build resilience, and improve lives.
Even if you haven’t experienced these challenges yourself, listening to the journeys of others can help you better understand and support someone close to you who may be going through a difficult time.
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The Highs and Lows of a Whanau Business
From Darkness to Hope:
What 20 Years Fighting Human Trafficking Has Taught Me
Keela Atkinson‑Cranwell is the Managing Director of Mauriora Kombucha, working alongside founder Tamara Kirwan (her māmā ) and her brother Julian to grow their whānau ed, kaupapa driven enterprise.
Tamara dreamt of working with her whānau, the development of Mauriora has been guided by whanaungatanga, manaakitanga & rangatiratanga, attributes that were instilled in her growing up within the Haahi Rātana movement by her whānau.
Grounded in whakapapa and committed to empowering whānau and indigenous entrepreneurship, Keela helps ensure Mauriora remains more than a beverage it is a celebration of culture, connection, and hauora.
Mauriora Kombucha is a hands-on Whānau operation in the business of nurturing living cultures
Sarah Scott Webb has spent more than 20 years working to combat human trafficking and exploitation in New Zealand and around the world. Her work has taken her into some of the darkest places imaginable - supporting anti-trafficking initiatives, training frontline workers, and helping communities respond to trauma with dignity, compassion, and hope.
Sarah has worked across 18 countries, advised international networks and spoken at the United Nations on human trafficking and survivor response. She is passionate about helping people understand that even in the face of overwhelming problems, change is possible and every person has the power to make a difference.
In her talk, From Darkness to Hope: What 20 Years Fighting Human Trafficking Has Taught Me, Sarah will share what two decades in anti-trafficking work has taught her about courage, humanity, and why hope still matters.
Violence and Healing:
A journey to reclamation and empowerment.
Maybe You’re Not Broken: Rethinking Symptoms, Hormones, and the Female Body
Simonne co-wrote her award-nominated memoir "Double-Edged Sword: The Simonne Butler Story", sharing her powerful journey through abuse and healing.
She made medical history as the first person in the world to undergo successful bilateral replantation surgery after her ex-partner severed her hands with a sword. Her recovery journey also led her to explore the transformative power of shamanic healing, natural medicine, and flower essence therapy in trauma recovery.
Simonne has also hosted four seasons of the award-nominated domestic violence web series Breaking Silence, amplifying survivor voices and survivor-led solutions. She is deeply passionate about using her lived experience as a tool for education, social change, and personal transformation.
Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and bestselling author who has spent nearly 30 years helping women make sense of their hormones and health.
Known for her clear, compassionate approach, she brings together science, clinical experience, and real women’s stories to offer a more grounded way to understand the body. She is based in Christchurch.