"It was not in the plan, not that there really was a plan," Mrs Hayman, who retired last week as a Wanaka-based partner of law firm Galloway Cook Allan, said.
Having a law degree meant the ability to work rurally, whether that was while living in the Hakataramea Valley as a newlywed, or at Tarras, where she and husband Michael now live.
"It’s a job you don’t have to be in a big city to do," she said.
Mrs Hayman, who was Wanaka’s first female solicitor, lived in London until she was 23. Her father was English and her mother a New Zealander.
After leaving school, she came to New Zealand for a look around and then returned to university in the UK and completed her law degree with honours.
Her godfather was a lawyer, which sparked an interest in pursuing law as a career.
Her parents decided to emigrate and she came, too.
She worked in Auckland and Wellington for large legal firm Russell McVeagh before moving to the South Island, having met her farmer future husband.
Initially, she commuted an hour each way from the Hakataramea Valley to Oamaru for about 18 months, working for Rowley Pasley and Dean (now Dean and Coleman Law).
Being a city girl, that also eased her into country life — "having been a townie, ending up in the Haka Valley was a bit different" — but she stopped working when the couple started a family.
She did not work for nine years while their three daughters were young.
The family moved to a farm at Tarras at the end of 1999 and Mrs Hayman approached lawyer Ray Blake who had a small office in Wanaka.
Back then, it was a "quiet little town" and he was not sure if there was enough work for two.
She started working for Mr Blake part-time in 2000 and it very soon became more like a full-time job.
Blake Law later became Blake Horder, then Blake Horder Gowing and it is now part of Gallaway Cook Allan, which has large headquarters in Dunedin.
Specialising in property law, with a particular interest in development and subdivision, Mrs Hayman had been involved in "lots of interesting things" that had happened in the area.
Not all her work was in Wanaka; technology meant she had clients around the country.
Law was challenging whether one worked in a big city or a small town, she said.
"Whether you’ve dealing a multimillion-dollar commercial development or buying someone’s first house, for that person it’s a big deal. Whatever level of work you’re doing, it’s important for your client, you want to make sure you’re getting it right."
She would miss the interaction with others; she had had many great colleagues and learned a lot from various people.
She enjoyed the diversity of people at Gallaway Cook Allan, which had about a 50:50 split of male and female partners, which was "great to see".
Mrs Hayman had decided it was time for a break, although there was no master plan as to what would lie ahead.
"Just at my age and stage, I just want a bit of time and space to do other things and not always be rushing and driving in and out of Wanaka," she said.
"It’s a hard job, an all-encompassing job, you never quite leave it alone, especially with technology you’re always available," she said.
She was involved in community activities and was sure other things would arise, but in the meantime she was "just looking forward to enjoying this part of the world [and] enjoying summer".
