Country Life

John Earney finds the value in rare, sometimes almost forgotten breeds of animal. The president of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand says that's the key to ensuring their survival - be they farm animals or native species. With thanks to: John Earney Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Send us your feedb...

A wrap of the week's news from RNZ's rural news team. 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life digs into the arable world, meets the maker of the world's "supreme champion cheese" and learns about growing plants hydroponically in Horowhenua. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:58 - On the Farm 8:18 - The state of the arable industry - and it's future 15:04 - A world champion from a little t...

Husband and wife duo Tony and Lisa Dale-Low traded corporate life in the city for growing fresh herbs and salad greens. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Tony and Lisa Dale-Low, Waikawa Fresh 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...

In the heart of Taranaki dairy country, a large silver trophy has arrived from Europe. The team at Lactalis' Bridge Street plant in Eltham are the proud makers of a cheese judged Supreme Champion at the 2026 International Cheese and Dairy Awards in June. Sally Round went to meet master cheesemaker Cathy Lang. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here...

Scott Champion shares how the Foundation for Arable Research is working to rebuild confidence and stability in the cropping sector. With thanks to: Scott Champion, Foundation for Arable Research 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

This week Country life talks to an American poultry farmer about her bird flu experience, visits a llama farmer and meets a family who've been farming celery for more than a century. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:59 - Rural news wrap 5:45- What New Zealand can learn from a farmer who lived through H5N1 17:43 - Addicted...

For 120 years, the Franklin family has farmed celery through changing markets, wild weather and six generations of family life. Alongside the celery fields, visitors now wander through sunflower patches, butterfly houses and a bustling farmyard where one cheeky goat has become a bit of a celebrity. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can f...

It was the 1990s when many farms were looking to diversify. 'Why not llamas?', thought Southland spinner and farmer Janette Buckingham. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Janette Buckingham, Thickthorne Llamas Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

What happens when bird flu arrives on your farm? Delaware poultry farmer and educator Georgie Cartanza shares her first hand experience of an H5N1 outbreak, the loss of 148,000 birds, and the biosecurity lessons she believes every farmer should know. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Georgie Cartanza, University of Delaware G...

A wrap of the week's news from RNZ's rural news team. You can find more from RNZ's rural news team, here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week on Country life, the team chat to Irish farmer and author John Connell and heads to East Timor to see how money earnt in New Zealand orchards is benefiting those back home. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:54 - Rural news wrap 5:27 - Yarn on a farm: Sheep, beef and trees in South Otago 12:32 - John Connell: Life...

Thousands of Timorese have applied to join New Zealand's seasonal worker scheme, which opened to Timor Leste for the first time in 2026. Seven months of orchard work could earn them up to $40,000, considered a fortune in one of the world's poorest countries. Anna Thomas travelled to Timor Leste to meet some of the families benefiting from their remittances. You can find photos and read more about...

Irish writer and farmer John Connell latest book is The Wisdom of Farmers. He shares some of the pearls of wisdom he has learnt from a decade of farming with Country Life. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: John Connell Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday eve...

Anisha Satya speaks with farmer Nigel Woodhead about his "mosaic" farming system. With thanks to: Nigel Woodhead 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 at country@rnz.co.nz 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

The late Sir Sam Neill told Country Life he was excited by the "farming" side of wine, that and the beautiful Otago landscape where his Two Paddocks vineyard is set. We paid the actor and vintner a visit back in the spring of 2022. You can find photos and read more about our visit our webpage, here . With thanks to: The late Sir Sam Neill Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life takes you stargazing at a farm near Lake Tekapo, goes behind the scenes of a wool auction in Napier and is with some belching cows being measured for methane emissions at a giant barn in Waikato. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:00 - Rural News Wrap 0:00 - Inside the 'animal Hilton': Pamu&...

Gianina gives an update on her suburban vege garden. She's preparing to plant garlic as the stars align around Matariki. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can see photos and hear more about the garden set up from our previous episode, here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Anisha learns about Matariki, lightyears, and farm diversification on a starry night in Lake Tekapo. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Sam Blair and Steve Berge 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 Podcas...

Country Life steps ringside for the "verbal boxing match" of a wool auction in Napier. Richard Kells of Kells Wool traces his experience of the wool industry from the era of skinny sheep in the 1980s to the reviving industry of present day. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Richard Kells, Holly Tarrant, Jess Williams, Ken Tun...

A giant barn in Waikato features 10 feeder bins for cows to graze from freely allowing their burps to be measured for methane emissions. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Diane Karaitiana Bryant, Pāmu Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of the week's news from RNZ's rural news team. You can find more from RNZ's rural news team, here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sally Round chats to Otago farmer Becks Smith about her ventures, and Braden Crosby of the Bragato Institute. Anisha Satya eats deep-friend locusts, and Mark Leishman checks out the drones fighting wilding pines in South Canterbury. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:48 - Rural news wrap 6:06 - Becks Smith 13:34 - Lunching...