Country Life

Gianina chats with an Otago taxidermist during the roar; Sally visits Halcombe, a community remembering its Home Guard this ANZAC weekend, and Anisha heads to Geraldine High School to learn about a farming pathways course. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:40 - Roar Ready 4:41 - Rural News Wrap 11:08 - From Farm to Front L...

Anisha heads to Geraldine High School to learn about their farming skills course, the Primary Industries Academy. Learn more about Geraldine High School's Primary Industries Academy here . You can find photos here . With thanks to: Sarah Foley-Smith Dan Douglass Struan Moore Students of Geraldine High School Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Many small towns in New Zealand had their own "Dad's Army" during the second world war. But far from feeble and fumbling like those in the well-known TV series, the volunteers were highly trained and ingenious but had few resources, according to research. Country Life is in Halcombe which remembers their own Home Guard this year. You can find photos, here . With thanks to: Alex Short Wayne Short T...

"Once the reds start roaring, it really, really gets busy," Oliver Garland of All Over Taxidermy says. You can find photos, here . With thanks to: Oliver Garland, All Over Taxidermy Jordan Hamilton-Bicknell, Wild Game Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of the week's rural news. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week on Country Life Gianina meets a worm farmer in Hawke's Bay, while Sally drops in on a Kerikeri orchard growing dragon fruit and Anisha is with some Canterbury grain farmers. Amid punishing weather and high costs, they're making the switch to dairying. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:47 - Rural News Wrap 6:30 -...

A trial of the striking and exotic dragon fruit is hitting its straps in Northland. Could the new sweet varieties grown under cover be a viable crop in New Zealand amid a changing climate? You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . And you can find Sally's other story from Northland Te Tai Tokerau about the Land family, here . With thanks to: Sa...

Canterbury is an arable powerhouse, but in recent years, many have started moving into dairying. What's behind the change? You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . And you can find that other story we mentioned about the Wairarapa Grains Collective, here . With thanks to: David Clark, Rod May, and David Birkett Make sure you’re following us on your...

Trevor Hellyer made the move from one mud loving animal to another - changing from pig farming to worm farming just outside Havelock North. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of news from RNZ's rural news desk Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Country Life visits New Zealand's only cranberry farm, finds out about the origins and passion for the trusty ute and meets Laura Watson of Monowai Station You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Send us your feedback or get in touch a...

Anisha Satya visits New Zealand's only cranberry farm - and samples the produce. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Kevin MacGregor and Kate Buckley Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Want to chat to us or find out more about RNZ Podcasts? Join the...

While Americans have their pick-ups, Kiwis and Aussies have the ute. Mark Leishman finds out about the ubiquitous farmers' and tradies' vehicle at the Methven A & P Show's Ute Muster You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Laura Watson is a the fourth generation of her family to run Monowai Station. She's not only helping restore wetlands and pockets of native bush on her family farm but across wider Te Tairāwhiti. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Laura Watson, Monowai Station Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of the week's rural news. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life meets some pioneer egg producers and a farmer growing and harvesting an ancient grain. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:38 - Answering the roar - hunting venison for people in need 6:34 - Rural News Wrap 13:19 - Four farmers, one forgotten grain and the pasta-maker bringing it to the plate 28:57 - P...

From moving to cage-free farming in the 90's, becoming SPCA animal welfare accredited and launching a liquid egg processing plant - the Bennik family has never been afraid to try something new and ruffle a few feathers. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Bennik's Eggs, here , or the NZ Egg Group, here . With than...

Amid a growing eat local movement, durum wheat is being grown and turned into pasta by an artisan food producer and a group of Wairarapa farmers. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . Find out more about the Wairarapa Grains Collective here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of the week's rural news. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

For a few years now Lisa Daunton has been stocking food banks in Te Tai Rāwhiti with wild venison which she harvests with fellow hunters. With thanks to Lisa Daunton For more on the story, click here To find out more about Kaiwhakangau and Kai Connect, click here Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Country Life meets a family using bullock-power instead of diesel to grow their own food, and gets a taste of the tomatoes grown by some of Wellington's Italian community. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:47 - Conditions wrap 7:04- Standing up for migrant farmers 14:45 - Roots that run deep - Capri tomatoes 26:24 - Off-gr...

Bullocks and horses power the Land's farm in the Hokianga where three generations live off-grid, growing practically all their own food without the need for fossil fuels. Country Life spent a morning with the families whose way of life echoes more traditional modes of farming last century. With thanks to: The Land family Head here for photos and more information Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for...

From Italy to Wellington's south coast, growing and eating great food is central to the Cuccurullo family maintaining its cultural heritage. For the past 60 years, they've kept the tradition of growing tomatoes from seeds first sourced in Capri in the 1960s. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Island Bay's Italian...

Anisha Satya chats with Kristine Asuncion, Filipina dairy farmer and advocate. With thanks to: Kristine Asuncion Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details