Country Life

A garage in Te Horo is buzzing as backyard builders make traps for a predator-free zone from the beach to the hills. 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

This week on Country Life, Kiwi and Aussie dairy farmers gather in Leeston to explore regenerative, low-input farming methods aimed at improving sustainability and profitability, and a look at the ancient skill of using a scythe with a Coromandel woman who's encouraging others to take up the sharp-bladed tools. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, her...

More than 70 farmers, researchers and advisors from New Zealand and Australia gathered in Leeston, to share lessons on low-input, regenerative dairy practices - swapping science, stories and solutions for farming's future. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can find more about the symposium, here . With thanks to: Chloë Dear, Sue Cuberwor...

Beth Pearsall wants to revive the ancient skill of scything. She loves swishing the sharp-bladed tool through her own garden and holds workshops to teach others about the scythe and its uses. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Bryan Innes, Beth and Joanna Pearsall Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney and brewers at Young Henrys are using algae to remove carbon dioxide from the brewing process, which can then be fed to livestock to help cut down methane emissions. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Peter Ralph, University of Technology Sydney Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz...

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

This week Country Life learns more about a dairy alternative made from barley and how farm life influences a Waitaki illustrator's work. The team also revisits a Cambridge farming family using regenerative agriculture to finish sheep and cattle they process for their butchery, Wholly Cow. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:...

The Andrews family has gone from selling farm-raised meats at the Cambridge Farmers' Market to running their own butchery, adding a micro-abattoir, tannery and tallow production to complete the whole. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can also listen back to when we first met the family here . In this episode: 0:20 - Luke takes us round Wholly Cow 4:41...

Emma Nowell transforms life on the land into art, children's stories and games, while keeping the farm and family at the heart of it all. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to guests: Emma Nowell, EJV Design Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

A new barley, bred for high fibre and low waste, is being turned into milk and yoghurt - a sustainable alternative with benefits for farmers and big potential in the global dairy-free market. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to guests: Dr Gert-Jan Moggré, Plant and Food Research Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life learns more about a woman trialling growing rice at her home in Nelson, we check in with dog trainer Chris and his young star Miley one last time and we take a look back through the archives to revisit the battle for the West Coast's top rugby prize, the Woodham Shield. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode...

A trip to the archives where tradition meets passion as four South Westland teams compete for the region's foremost rugby prize, the Woodham Shield. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can find photos from the day, here . Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening. Want...

For the past year, Country Life has been in the yards or out in the paddock watching Wairarapa dog triallist Chris Shaw train up his latest working dog, Miley - a young Huntaway that's got that "X-factor". You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . Revisit our first meeting with Chris and Miley to see what progress she has made. You can also find pre...

Pretty much the last place you'd think you'd find a rice paddy growing is on a hill in Nelson, but Yuki Fukuda is doing just that. You can find photos and more information from this story, here . Or take a listen, here . Here Now is another of RNZ's podcasts meeting people from all over the world who've made New Zealand home, bringing their music, sport, traditions and food with them Wit...

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

This week Country Life takes a look at efforts to save soil on farms at both ends of the country and takes you to taste some traditional kai in the Bay of Plenty. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:36- 'Planning key' to getting winter grazing right 10:00 - Rural News Wrap 15:52 - The Soil Hacker - one farmer'...

Producer Justine Murray flexes her tastebuds on traditional kai cooked up at Otawhiwhi Marae where food and stories came together as part of this year's Flavours of Plenty Festival. It's the first time a marae has taken part in the Bay of Plenty's annual foodie event. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Reon Tuanau and Oscar Na...

Kaipara farmer Stephen Newman is intent on improving soils and pasture in low cost, natural ways. He's now helping others too and hopes these methods will become even more useful as the country experiences more and more intense weather events like flooding, heavy rainfall and drought. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can find our previo...

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

The gloom and wet of winter is especially challenging for Southland's farms where pasture can go for nearly a third of the year without growth. Country Life heads south to find out how to keep paddocks and stock in good nick. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Karl Erikson and Brad Thomas, Environment Southland Go to this epis...

This week Country Life takes you to a dairy farm with a difference, supplying milk direct to the customer, and the team checks in at a lab where work is underway to stop a tiny pest munching through grapevines. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:43- One year, one hospital, one community 8:01 - On the Farm: a wrap of conditi...

It's a busy time of year for Stacey Faith, calving 300-plus cows, rearing their calves and keeping the Faith Farm's roadside milk dispensing outlet going, providing locals with milk fresh from the cows over the fence - with the cream on top. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:16 - Faith Farm Fresh 3:44 - Raw milk direct to...

Are some grapevines better that others at naturally defending themselves from a disease-spreading pest? Michelle Thompson is running trials at Plant & Food Research in Lincoln to find out. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Michelle Thompson, Plant and Food Research Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With rural health care under the spotlight, our guest this week sheds some light on working in a small country hospital. Sophia Zohrab is among 12 med students on Auckland University's rural medicine immersion programme, sprinkled around North Island towns. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Sophia Zohrab Go to this episode on...