Country Life

After 17 years Country Life's South Island producer is signing off from RNZ. Cosmo Kentish-Barnes' farewell feature is a rich tapestry of voices and stories, woven from some of the 600 recordings he's captured, edited and shared with listeners over the years. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With best wishes and huge thanks to: Cosmo Kentis...

It's all go in the calving shed, but with tech doing the heavy lifting, dairy farmer Dan Schat has time for a yarn about the cold, the costs, and the season so far. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here . With thanks to: Dan Schat Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Meet Jacob Smith, the 21-year-old turning wool and veggie scraps into fashion-forward biodegradable shoelaces. It started as a university project and has turned into a commercial venture sourcing wool directly from New Zealand farmers and using vegetable-based dyes. With strong wool struggling to find a market, his mission is to add real value to the product. You can find photos and read more abou...

This week Country Life is on a nighttime nature walk in the Bay of Plenty alongside a young conservationist with a passion for bugs, meets Te Horo's backyard builders on a fledgling trapping project and revisits a North Canterbury farm where native trees are making a comeback, all in celebration of Conservation Week. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpag...

After a lifetime of working to clear land, Chris Bolderston is rewilding parts of his sheep and beef farm in North Canterbury. This story was first broadcast in September 2024. You can find photos and read more about this story here . Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Showing off bugs under torchlight is just one of Jack Karetai-Barret's extra curricular activities. The 15-year-old takes Country Life on a night walk through the bush on the trail of wildlife, showing what it's like to be a volunteer on Whakatāne's kiwi conservation project. 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...

A wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country 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 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...