Kate Tomlinson: ‘Husband-finding’ chat has echoes of 1921

Knee-deep in powdery snow, my friend and I gazed at the golden glow spreading across the southern Alps before us. Mountain upon mountain rose and fell, the blue sky transforming into pink and orange hues.

We’d carved our way from the peak through untouched, glistening snow, and on our descent, spotted a gentleman below. Hearing our British accents, he asked what had brought us to New Zealand. “Agriculture,” we replied.

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A knowing smile spread across the man’s face. “Ah,” he said. “You’re here to find a husband, then.”

I have many goals in life. I strive for purposeful work which makes positive, practical changes.

I want to work with innovative, interesting people, solving solutions by giving farmers tools to work smarter, not harder.

I want to support an agricultural industry that prioritises mental health, be a great friend and keep making new friends.

I want to learn – speak Spanish, run a marathon, write a book, ride a horse into the Mongolian wilderness.

Never in my 27 years have I pinned a photo to a pinboard of a man with a thick tash and wavy mullet, sporting Canterbury shorts and a Bushbuck jacket, holding a trout or stag’s head, drawn love hearts around his face and added “Find a Kiwi” to the top of my “purpose in life” list. 

My friend and I looked at each other. Had we been transported back to1921?

Perhaps I should check my dad hadn’t exchanged me for some nice Angus cattle?

Or maybe we should bow, and with our 18th-century accents proclaim: “Why yes, sir! We’re spinsters, and our parents despair at our lack of a husband”. 

This wasn’t our first rodeo. We politely informed the man that, no, our sole purpose in New Zealand wasn’t, in fact, to find a partner (male or female) and that this idea was as close to Marie Curie ditching science to start a matchmaking agency.

“Well, best of luck, girls,” the man said, turning to go.

At a safe distance, he looked back and shouted: “And with finding a husband!”