Country Life

Country Life speaks to farmers and growers around NZ to find out about growing conditions over the past month. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life visits a Taranaki conservationist on the family farm, learns more about a Canterbury family making cosy coffins from their farms wool to provide a comfortable send off, and we take a dive into the archives to learn about the importance of rural broadcasting as RNZ celebrates 100 years. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here ....

As well as selling top quality wool to buyers around the world, Polly and Ross McGuckin's Yaldhurst Wools business also provides funeral homes with biodegradable caskets and ash urns made from New Zealand wool. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Exquisite Wools, here . With thanks to: Polly and Ross McGuckin Go to this episode on rn...

Informing, entertaining and connecting isolated farmers was a prime goal of the Radio Broadcasting Company, officially incorporated in August 1925 and a forerunner to RNZ. As RNZ celebrates the centenary, Country Life dips back into the archives to bring you some of the well-loved voices and shows from the rural team over the decades. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our web...

Wairarapa dog triallist Chris Shaw breaks down the difference between heading dogs and Huntaway, like young pup Miley, and what they each do on farm. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can also find more about Rural Edge Contracting and Dog Training, here . You can catch more of Chris and Miley, including the first time we met them, here . With thanks t...

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

Former South-Taranaki mayor Ross Dunlop has led the way with conservation efforts on his family farm. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Ross Dunlop Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life heads to the saleyards in Canterbury, meets a Taranaki woman weaving locally-grown wool into blankets and finds out what it's like to be a rural midwife working in a very remote part of the Coromandel Peninsula. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:40 - Rural News Wrap 6:02 - Lambs are flying out of the...

Rural midwife Sheryl Wright drives a winding dangerous road and even fords rivers to get to pregnant and new mothers in northwest Coromandel. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:08 - A day in the life of Sheryl Wright 3:00 - The only midwife in remote Coromandel 5:58 - At the Thames birthing clinic 8:50 - Home visits and home births 17:43...

Taranaki weaver Alison Ross is trying to bring back woollen-blankets made from locally-grown wool to highlight the fibre's benefits. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about The Taranaki Blanket here . With thanks to: Alison Ross Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Many Waitaha farmers are moving away from the traditional system of running ewes and finishing their own lambs. Now they're in the market to buy in and finish other's lambs. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to guests: Tim Kyle, Grant Nordstrom, and Brent McCauley 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

There are two sorts of harvest on Country Life this week - muttonbirds on the tītī islands and walnuts at one of Canterbury's biggest walnut orchards. Also, a trip into the past to visit an historic farm on the Coromandel peninsula, linked to immigrants from Dalmatia. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:42 - Rural News Wrap...

The tree shaker and nut gatherer are cracking through Clive Marsh and Heather North's picturesque nuttery near Lincoln. By harvest's end, over 30 tonnes of walnuts will have been turned into premium products at a local walnut processing facility. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:55 - Lightfoot Walnuts 3:01 - Why walnuts 8:15 - The nut s...

The story of a pioneering family of Dalmatian immigrants is kept alive through a cluster of rustic sheds on an historic farm near Thames. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can read more about Devcich Historic Farmstead, here . With thanks to: Lorenza Devcich Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Dan Tarrant's ancestors have been harvesting muttonbirds or tītī for 500 years. The autumn harvest is a family affair and a chance to pass down skills and traditions. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Daniel Tarrant 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

This week Country Life is at a pumpkin farm in Whanganui, finding out about seed growing and meets a photographer from South Auckland who's spending time at one of New Zealand's iconic hill country stations. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:40 - On the farm 8:32 - Farming 101: Grapevine pruning 11:48 - South Auckland arti...

Whanganui farming couple Clare and Grant Adkins are growing plant protein alongside their animals proteins. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Summer Hill Seeds, here . If you want to hear from the Welches back in 2019, you can catch the previous episode, here . In this episode: 0:14 - Meet Clare and Grant 2:50 - A different kind of...

Raymond Sagapolutele was not sure what to expect when he arrived at Castle Hill Station for a Creative NZ residency. The photographer hadn't spent time on a farm before. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Raymond Sagapoutele Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Winter's coming up and that means pruning time in the vineyard. How do you prune a grapevine and why? You can learn more about 144 Islands, here . With thanks to: Jake Dromgool Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round-up of conditions on farms and orchards around the country. You can find photos from around the country on our webpage, here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Country Life meets Hawke's bay stud owner Tony Thompson who's been breeding cattle for half a century. The team also find out about an organic vege growing business in Canterbury and chat to a sheep and beef farming family about diversifying their business. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:40 - Rural News Wrap 6:40 - Orga...

Collecting fine china is one of the passions of long-time Simmental cattle breeder Tony Thompson, bringing new meaning to the saying "like a bull in a china shop". You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Glen Anthony Super Simmentals, here . In this episode: 0:12 - The origins of the Glen Anthony stud 2:56 - Shaping the stud 4:30 - Meet...

Tucked under the Tararua Range, fifth generation sheep and beef farmers, the Robinsons, have added a diverse range of income streams to the family farm including finding new purposes for the old woolshed. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Heights Farms, here . Or for the Heights Experience, see here . With thanks to: Anna and Blair...