Country Life

Northland skin care brand Nudi Point is named after the swimming hole where Blair Coates spent many happy summers. The former banker who suffered bad skin as a teen makes moisturisers and serums in the converted cow shed. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Blair Coates 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

Anisha sits down with a country musician, Gianina joins a Waikato farmer on a deer hunt, and Sally visits the Carb Club, a shared food-growing initiative. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:42 - Conditions Wrap 9:19 - Country music chats 15:53 - We hunt at dawn 29:35 - The Carb Club With thanks to: Molly Harrison Allen Juno...

It takes a grower, a gatherer - of people - and a plot of land to create a "carb club". The idea is to make it easier for people to grow staple crops which might need more than your average-sized backyard vegetable garden. About 20 families have been pooling their labour to produce enough potatoes and pumpkins to see them through the year, and have a lot of fun besides. You can find photos and rea...

A chat about New Zealand's country music scene with Ashburton-based artist, Molly Harrison. With thanks to Molly Harrison Listen to her music, From the Hillside, on all streaming platforms. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Gianina Schwanecke heads for the hills of Waikato to learn more about the art of deer stalking during the roar. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Allen and Sophie Juno Tune in next week to learn more about the Pureora Hunting Competition . 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

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