Country Life

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

Country Life is with blade shearers from around the world in a woolshed in Tinui and immersed in the many attractions of the tiny community of Duntroon. Sir Charles Godfray is the show's guest talking about how food systems will have to change in the face of global warming. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:30 - Rural News...

For a town of only 100 people, Duntroon has more than its share of attractions, with a blacksmiths, a master saddler, the intriguing Vanished World Heritage Centre with its fossils, and a Heritage Trail. 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

Blade shearers from around the world have been sharpening their tools and their eye before the Golden Shears in Masterton under the tutelage of Allan Oldfield, a world champion blade shearer, at a woolshed in Tinui. 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

Sir Charles Godfray has told the Riddet Institute's Agrifood Summit our food systems will have to change in order to limit the impacts of global warming. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Sir Charles Godfray 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

Country Life heads to Waipara for the Underground Festival, looks at the tradition of whiskey making in Southland and meets a biochar-maker north of Wellington. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:41 - A festival for farmers 7:50 - Rural News Wrap 14:50 - Moonshine matriarch: Southland's tradition of distilling Scottish...

Hops from a Wellington brewery, cotton offcuts from a fashion label and forestry slash has turned Matt Welton into a bit of a Heath Robinson. His first job was collecting scrap metal in London's East End and after careers as a prison officer and cartographer, he has come full circle, this time turning the organic waste he collects into biochar for farmers and growers on his Akatarawa property. You...

A look inside the Hokonui Moonshine Museum where the manufacture of this legendary spirit continues in the modern day. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about the Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Distillery, here . With thanks to: Jim Geddes Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A round up of 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

Underground Festival organiser Fran Bailey chats with Anisha Satya about the idea, the execution, and what makes it different from other farming forums. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Fran Bailey, Underground Festival Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Too many grapes, international headwinds and a dramatic drop in drinkers is proving problematic for our wine producers. Perfect growing conditions for grapes at a time when demand for wine is dropping is likely to result in more fruit left on the vine again this harvest Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ   Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Country Life gets the latest on the beef market and cherry harvest, learns how pairing solar and horticulture could help with growing and joins one of Pāmu’s young apprentices on a King Country farm. Follow Country Life on your favourite podcast platform or listen on the RNZ website. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:41 -...

A look at how Clyde Orchard's recent cherry and stonefruit harvest has gone and a tour of a new purpose built accommodation for its RSE workers. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can learn more about Clyde Orchards, here . With thanks to: Kris Robb and Mike Mangau Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t...

Archie's 17 and an apprentice to Micky, champion shearer and Pāmu farm manager on King Country sheep and beef farm Te Wharua. We head out mustering and Archie shows how he's working with his whistle and his dogs. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Archie Davidson and Alan MacDonald, Pāmu Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for mor...

Growing crops alongside solar farming is a new field for New Zealand, so researchers here have been analysing studies of these sorts of systems around the world. Dr Pieter-Willem Hendriks from the research team at Lincoln University spoke to Sally Round. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Pieter-Willem Hendriks Go to this epis...

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

A little bit of luck as well as good management is behind our guest's entry into the roaring beef market. Craig Pickens has been farming in King Country since 2005 and his present farm, Waimiha, has gone through some changes, lately the move to finishing beef cattle. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Craig Pickens Go to this...

This week the Country Life team takes you riverside to find out about an unusual ferry which has been running for 130 years, they delve into the science of insect vibrations which may be a way of protecting crops, and getting a taste of Americana at Burkes Pass. 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 favourit...

Producer Mark Leishman goes on a personal journey to Burkes Pass, a place with deep family ties. A fire in the 1990s destroyed most of the Burkes Pass Hotel run by his grandparents and has been replaced by a replica 1950s Americana village complete with its own "Pin Up Queen". 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...

Researchers from the Bioeconomy Science Institute are investigating whether they can apply the vibrations of insects to disrupt pests in the greenhouse. Our Changing World's Claire Concannon heads along to the tomato growing greenhouse where they're trialling the use of biotremology. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . Go to this episode on rn...

The southern hemisphere's only still operational river ferry celebrates 130 years. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can find more about the punt, here . With thanks to: Tom Jones Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

Country Life is back for 2026 with a classic tale of the bush, bullocks and camp ovens at an old woolshed in King Country. The team check in on a forest growing wood into products for Ikea and find out how farmers can make the most of the demand from international tourists for a taste of life on the farm. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In...

Old-timer Lew Pickens' passions hark back to his days clearing land in Northland - camp oven cooking and driving bullock teams. He has a woolshed full of early tools and farming machines on the farm now run by son Craig. He is keenly aware that his stories, culture, traditions and old ways will be lost when he, and a few like him, are gone. You can find photos and read more about the stories in th...