New Zealand’s great outdoors are a playground for adventure, but when it comes to boating, fishing and hunting, women often find themselves in the back seat. Isabell Zitzelsberger’s on a mission to change the narrative, proving these activities are for everyone – not just the boys.
“Fishing and hunting are signature sports in New Zealand. But they’re so heavily male-dominated, it can be intimidating for women,” explains Isabell. “We often tag along but don’t try things like handling a boat or shooting a rifle. When I realised there wasn’t a space for like-minded women to get together and learn these skills, I knew something had to change.”
Enter Wild Chix, Isabell’s empowering educational seminars, designed to help women step outside their comfort zones and master all kinds of skills, from operating a boat and baiting hooks, to filleting fish and even hunting their own food.
“A woman who learned to back a trailer at one of our seminars said everyone was watching her first time on the boat ramp,” beams Isabell. “But instead of feeling stressed, she thought, ‘Watch me!’ I love seeing the women’s growth and confidence.”
When German-born Isabell, 39, arrived in New Zealand in 2012 with her partner Sascha Haag, she never expected to become an outdoors trailblazer. The rugged bush and open seas that now define her days are a far cry from her previous life, she admits with a smile.
“Outdoor adventures were never part of my world in Germany,” she reveals. “I hadn’t been near a fishing rod or firearm before moving here. Now we live and breathe the Kiwi lifestyle!”
It was Sascha’s passion for fishing, sparked by childhood trips to Hungarian lakes, which introduced Isabell to Aotearoa’s coastal waters. The couple soon bought a small boat, but in the beginning, Isabell played a more passive role.
“Sascha did everything –driving the boat, baiting my hooks, backing the trailer,” she laughs. “It was so easy to just go along with him for the ride!”
That all changed in 2018, when Isabell landed a job selling boats in Tauranga. Her lack of hands-on boating experience became a turning point.
She explains, “One day, my boss asked me to bring in Sascha’s and my boat. I had to admit I’d never towed or backed a trailer before. It felt strange to say that and from then on, I felt determined to learn everything. Thankfully, I had great mentors at work who taught me all the skills.”
Her work also opened Isabell’s eyes to other ways people are overlooking women.
“I’d always end up talking to the men when I was selling a boat,” she recalls. “And it was often their ‘baby’, even if it was a shared investment. I rarely saw women at the boat ramp or heading out for a fish together either.”
Determined to address the imbalance, Isabell began hosting small, women-only boating, fishing and hunting seminars under the Wild Chix banner. Through them, she passes on the skills she’s learned over more than a decade of adventures. It soon became evident the seminars were about so much more than just tying knots or shooting a rifle.
“They help women build confidence and show them they’re capable of things they’ve never tried before,” she enthuses.
Over the past four years, Isabell’s been honing her hunting skills. She joined the local Deerstalkers Association branch, despite having never hunted before.
“It’s been great learning from the older hunters,” she tells. “I absolutely love getting out there. As well as sourcing food, hunting’s about being present in nature, slowing down and gaining a deep understanding of where your food comes from. I love passing these experiences onto others.”
The response to the Wild Chix seminars and workshops has been overwhelming.
“Women from all walks of life and nationalities come along,” says Isabell. “Some are newly single or widowed women who feel determined to continue fishing or boating on their own. Others are mothers keen to take their children on adventures. Some women want to gain skills so they can work alongside their husband, or partner on the boat or in the bush.”
Isabell’s friend Shanel Honore – who “lives and breathes the ocean as a marine scientist, skipper, marine mammal medic, open-water scuba instructor and incredible mum of three” – teaches some of the Wild Chix seminars.
“I’d love more passionate women to join the team as we continue to grow,” she admits.
National organisations like the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, Coastguard New Zealand and Maritime New Zealand are championing Isabell’s initiative for its emphasis on skill-building and safety. She’s taught several workshops in Auckland and others outside Tauranga. Now she’s left her marine industry job to focus on Wild Chix full- time, there are plans for South Island events this year too.
Isabell says her mum back in Germany can’t quite believe her daughter, “who goes 180 kilometres an hour”, has the patience for hunting and fishing.
“I can sit for hours surrounded by nature, the bush or water,” she beams. “It really calms me down and has massive mental health benefits. We see it all the time on the workshops too. When women become disconnected from their regular lives, it’s amazing how much they let go, be themselves and share.”
For women who are considering stepping into the wild but feel unsure or intimidated, Isabell has a favourite quote: “You’re stronger than you think. Find comfort in your discomfort. That’s where growth happens.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
