Country Life

Ingka Investments, the parent company of furniture giant Ikea, now owns 30,000 hectares of forestry in Aotearoa. It's first purchase saw the conversion of Wisp Hill Station in southern Otago from farmland to timber production forestry. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Josh Cairns, Southern Forests Go to this episode on rnz.c...

Agritourism NZ's Marijke Dunselman outlines how farmers and growers can take advantage of growing global demand for authentic experiences on the farm. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Marijke Dunselman, Agritourism NZ 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

Country Life heads to an arboretum where dozens of different types of trees are grown, including a few for Christmas. We travel up the Whanganui River on the rural mail run, delivering a few early Christmas presents and go behind the scenes of a family-run berry orchard in King Country to see what it takes to bring summer berries from the orchard to the Christmas dinner table. Go to this episode o...

The Roy family all pitch in getting berries from orchard to Christmas plate over the festive season. They have been growing berries in Piopio for more than three decades, and nearly all are sold from the farmgate. We go behind the scenes of the Christmas berry rush. 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 d...

Rural postie Tracy Marshall takes visitors along her mail delivery route which winds along the Whanganui River. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Tracy Marshall, Original Mail Tour Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

"You can come here and see nearly every type of forestry system that can be applied," Blair Jamieson says of Tāmata Hauhā's demonstration farm near Palmerston North. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Blair Jamieson, Tāmata Hauhā 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

Country Life this week visits Cornwall Park Farm, the farm within New Zealand's largest city, and heads to the Bay of Plenty to meet animal trainer Bex Tasker who helps teens train animals which in turn provide them valuable skills for life. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:39 - Rural News Wrap 6:009- Cornwall Park: The f...

Chickens play football and sheep wave their hooves at Bex Tasker's place. She used to be a dog handler with customs and now uses her expertise in animal training and positive reinforcement methods to help kids learn new skills. You can find photos and read more about this story on our webpage, here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Cornwall Park farm is something of a hidden gem in the heart of Auckland City. But being a farm in the city comes with specific challenges. 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

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

There's a lot of hand-wringing but few answers when it comes to culling New Zealand's rapidly expanding deer population. Our friends over at The Detail took a look at the issue. In a war between hunters and conservationists over the control of one of our most damaging pests, only the deer are winning Guests: Richard Dawkins - Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Jill Herron - Newsroom journalist...

This week Country Life is at the Wayleggo Cup, a trans Tasman sheep dog trial, meets a record-breaking Angus bull-breeder and opens the door on an unusual business finding opportunity and bringing thrills to a rural main street. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . And you can find our previous story with the late Angus Gordon of Clifton Statio...

How do sheepdogs and handling techniques vary between New Zealand and Australia? The best teams battle it out at a Trans-Tasman dog trial contest. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . And you can find our previous story with the late Angus Gordon of Clifton Station in Hawke's Bay, here . With thanks to: Ben Millar, Michael Millar, Leo Jece...

Tangihau Angus near Gisborne has a habit of breaking records. Last year it set the top price for New Zealand bulls at $135,000. This year it's done it again setting a new record price of $161,000. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can find more about Tangihau Angus, here . With thanks to: Dean McHardy Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for...

How an unusual business selling adult toys has found opportunity on the main street of Eketāhuna You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Ian Turner Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

Country Life visits two farms embracing agritourism - a Bay of Plenty avocado grower and a Hawke's Bay hill country station offering farm walks. The team also steps into an enviro-friendly greenhouse growing year-round lettuces at scale. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:30 - Rural News Wrap 7:10 - Keeping salad greens on...

Set on the coast of Hawke's Bay, Te Aratipi Station offers walkers on the farm views across the bay, from the Māhia Peninsula right around to Mt Ruapehu on a clear day. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . You can find more about Te Aratipi Station, here . With thanks to: Ro, Ed, Selby and Harry Palmer Make sure you’re following us on your favo...

Tour groups gather under the huge avocado trees belonging to orchardists Tim Rosamond and Michele Ricou to learn about the fruit and how its grown. The IT pros are relatively new growers and see agritourism as an important part of the venture. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Tim Rosamond and Michele Ricou Go to this episode...

Since officially opening last April, Leaderbrand's Future Farms facility has allowed them to grow salad greens all year round. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Billy Stackhouse, Leaderbrand 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's Country Life is all about tech and science - from cutting edge ag drone, to collecting sheep poo samples to be processed in the lab as part of a national study, and the team helping breed the kiwifruit of tomorrow. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . In this episode: 0:46 - Rural News Wrap 5:52 - Farmers' ag drone venture take...

It takes years to perfect cultivars and to keep New Zealand's kiwifruit industry ahead of the game. Country Life takes a tour of the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre in Te Puke and meets those helping create the fruit of the future. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Matt Glenn, Amardeep Nath, Megan Wood, and Thomas Paterson Make sur...