Kaharoa's Wendy McGowan has been elected as the new national president of Rural Women New Zealand.

Her success was announced at the organisation's AGM held in Wellington on Monday, attended by 80 members from around the country.

Mrs McGowan previously served a three-year term as national vice-president, and had been the national councillor for Bay of Plenty/Coromandel for the past eight years, taking a special interest in land-use issues, bio-security and food safety.

She and her husband Rusty farm a 260 hectare dairy support unit in Kaharoa. She is also an enrolled nurse and works as a casual play specialist at Rotorua Hospital's Children's Unit.

Mrs McGowan said as national president she would build on the organisation's goals and aspirations to be dynamic, vibrant, leading, innovative and visible at all levels.

"Rural Women NZ's interest in land, health, education and community issues need our attention and advocacy, just as they did in the 1920s. As then, encouraging women living in rural communities to voice their concerns and support for one another is what we do well."

She has appointed Kerry Maw, the Rural Women national councillor for Canterbury, as her vice-president.

Mrs McGowan said it was exciting to be taking a leading role in plans to celebrate the UN International Year of Family Farming in 2014.

The organisation is planning a series of events in March and April around the country to highlight the important role of family farms in provincial economic prosperity. "It's also an opportunity to strengthen links and understanding between rural and urban."

Wendy McGowan and husband Rusty farm a 260ha dairy support unit in Kaharoa, Bay of Plenty. She is also a nurse and works as a casual play specialist at Rotorua Hospital's Children's Unit.