Country Life

Country Life hops in the cab of a stock truck moving cattle, joins a crew planting a food forest in Canterbury and takes a tour of the country's largest wool scouring factory. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 1:06 - Rural News Wrap 8:15 - Fleece flies again at Napier's WoolWorks 16:10 - Future-focussed food forests 32:04 - Ride along: 90 years of helping drive Hawke's Bay's economy With thanks to: Rosstan Mazey and Tony Cunningham Chrystal O'Connor, Jorie Knook, Hiraina Tangiora, and Harry Baitz John Robson, Bruce Stephenson, Todd Stephenson, and Kim McRae 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Gianina takes a drive through remote parts of Hawke's Bay with Stephenson Transport, a multi-generation family run business still going strong. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: John Robson, Bruce Stephenson, Todd Stephenson, and Kim McRae 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 RNZ Podcasts Discussion Facebook group where we share behind the scenes info about our series, and invite you to share feedback, recommendations and ask us questions. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A supermarket in forest form - Anisha joins researchers at Lincoln University to see how fruits, veggies and medicinal plants can coexist in a food forest. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Chrystal O'Connor, Jorie Knook, Hiraina Tangiora, and Harry Baitz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After devastating cyclone damage, WoolWorks' Napier plant is humming again, transforming fleece from hill country shearing sheds into the clean, dry, pressed, product ready for carpet makers and other manufacturers. Country Life takes a tour. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Rosstan Mazey and Tony Cunningham Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

Country Life checks in with the Electoral Commission about rural voting enrolments and turnout, gets stuck into a spring tidy of Gianina's garden, and visits pubs around the lower South Island to learn what makes a publican. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:58 - Rural News Wrap 6:38 - The state of the rural vote 14:23 - Garden Diaries: Spring has sprung (for the original story, see here) 29:55 - A conversation with Country Pubs With thanks to: Karl Le Quesne Hannah Zwartz Keith Fenwick, Donna Hall, Jim McDougall, Pravesh and Monika Kumar 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How are pubs across the central South Island faring in 2026 - and what do their futures look like? You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Keith Fenwick, Donna Hall, Jim McDougall, Pravesh and Monika Kumar 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 RNZ Podcasts Discussion Facebook group where we share behind the scenes info about our series, and invite you to share feedback, recommendations and ask us questions. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The warmer weather means it's time to turn my attention back to the garden, bringing in the crops ready for harvest and preparing my seedlings for the coming season too. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. You can find our first diary entry and details of the garden set up, here. With thanks to: Hannah Zwartz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Electoral Commision chief executive Karl Le Quesne chats about rural voters, and how they can turn out to the polls in October. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Karl Le Quesne Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

Country Life meets a New Zealander looking after rescue bears in rural Germany and visits an orchid farm in Taranaki. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:58 - Rural News Wrap 8:25 - The Kiwi among bears in Bavaria 16:32 - From the Archives: Striding out on Te Aratipi Station 35:25 - An Eye for an Orchid With thanks to: John Pickard Ro, Ed, Selby and Harry Palmer, Te Aratipi Station (for the original story, see here) Eric Lander, Wendy Holt, and Chris Garrett 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Eric Lander has grown cymbidium orchids for nearly half a century. His blooms can be found in vases from Dubai to New York, carefully bred and nurtured from large greenhouses on an old sheep and dairy farm in the lee of Mt Taranaki. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Eric Lander, Wendy Holt, and Chris Garrett 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 RNZ Podcasts Discussion Facebook group where we share behind the scenes info about our series, and invite you to share feedback, recommendations and ask us questions. Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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. For the original story, look here. You can find more about Te Aratipi Station, and their new venture The Bush Table, here. With thanks to: Ro, Ed, Selby and Harry Palmer Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

John Pickard chats to Country Life from the German countryside where the New Zealander has an unusual job helping rescued bears learn to hibernate and regain some of their freedom. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: John Pickard Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

This week Country Life gets some tips for the coming season from drought-hardened farmers, meets a flower grower turning blooms into bouquets and balms and heads to the Clash of the Colleges where students compete in ag events. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 1:09 - Rural News Wrap 9:33 - The Potion Room: 'Therapeutic flowers' 16:06 - A clash-course in agriculture 29:46 - Lessons from the dry years as El Niño gathers force With thanks to: Kelly Doyle, The Potion Room Daniel O'Regan, Tess Bamford, Maddi Ballinger, Evan McSherry, and Chris Adams Willie Falloon, Hannah French, John Booth, and Robert Hickson 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As farmers prepare for the impacts of the intense El Niño weather pattern, drought veterans, younger farmers and rural support specialists compare plans, share hard-earned lessons and discuss when to act before dry conditions arrive. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Willie Falloon, Hannah French, John Booth, and Robert Hickson Photo credit Selby Jowsey 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Motorbikes, fencing and gumboot throwing - the Canterbury Clash of the Colleges has it all. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Daniel O'Regan, Tess Bamford, Maddi Ballinger, Evan McSherry, and Chris Adams Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A Nūhaka teacher turns flowers and plants grown in her garden into budget bouquets, balms and healing treatments in her at home Potion Room. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Kelly Doyle, The Potion Room Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

This week Country Life is at a rural school in Wairarapa celebrating its sesquicentennial and visits a Taranaki piggery to hear how one farming family is adapting to major changes in New Zealand's pork industry. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:47 - On the Farm 7:58 - Good greens, small sprouts 14:33 - Room to oink 28:40 - 150 years of Tinui School With thanks to: Karen McGrath, Southern Alps Sprouts Karl Stanley Duncan Smith, Amanda Aitken, Jenny Balfour, Reverend Steve Thomson, Ian Perry, Phyllis French, and Caryl Forest 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

While pastoral farming saw the settlement of Tinui established over 150 years ago, things have changed as farmland's been converted to forestry and the school's roll has decreased. Earlier this month past pupils gathered to reflect on the school's sesquicentennial and its future. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. Learn more about Tinui School and its 150th celebrations, here. With thanks to: Duncan Smith, Amanda Aitken, Jenny Balfour, Reverend Steve Thomson, Ian Perry, Phyllis French, and Caryl Forest 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A Taranaki pig farmer is spending $2 million creating more space for pigs as welfare expectations change. Country Life visits Stanley Bros near Ōpunake to see what's involved. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Karl Stanley Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Southern Alps Sprouts owner Karen McGrath shares her business' journey. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Karen McGrath, Southern Alps Sprouts 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 looks back over the Ron Vine Collection of farming photos from the 1930s and 40s, gains insights into a King Country Māori-owned farm, and learns about on-farm biodiversity efforts in Banks Peninsula. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:59 - Rural News Wrap 7:29 - The farm photographer who captured a changing New Zealand 15:56 - 'Looking for an edge': Data driven decisions on a Māori owned farm 31:00 - 25 years of farmland conservation With thanks to: Malcolm Duffy Weo Maag, Aloma Shearer, Terry Head, and Darren McNae Maree Burnett, Tim Coop, James Wright, Josh Foster, Sarah Anderson and Ian Luxford 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Anisha joins the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust for a day to learn about on-farm native restoration. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Maree Burnett, Tim Coop, James Wright, Josh Foster, Sarah Anderson and Ian Luxford 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

At Pukepoto it's about using data to 'grow more grass, make more money' and set the farm up for future generations. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Weo Maag, Aloma Shearer, Terry Head, and Darren McNae, Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A collection of more than 1,400 photographs taken by pioneering agricultural journalist Ron Vine between 1934 and 1947 has been recognised for its unique record of New Zealand farming, land development and Māori communities during a period of profound change. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Malcom Duffy Walsh Memorial Library at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

This week Country Life is in Ōtaki finding out about the town's plans to become carbon neutral, and looks at the art of making tallow and the different qualities of raw milk. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:48 - Turing tallow into skincare 8:43 - Rural News Wrap 15:55 - A 24/7 milk machine: The Good Cow 28:38 - The small town growing a forest With thanks to: Di Buchan, Cam Butler, Drew Mackenzie, Rhian Salmon, Patsy Matheson, and Leigh Ramsay 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Can a small town plant its way towards carbon neutrality? In Ōtaki, landowners, school children, volunteers and community groups are creating a ring of native forest around the town. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. You can find more about the Ōtaki Carbon Forest Project, here. With thanks to: Di Buchan, Cam Butler, Drew Mackenzie, Rhian Salmon, Patsy Matheson, and Leigh Ramsay 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Anisha visits The Good Cow's milk vending station in North Canterbury. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Tammy Acton-Adams Interested in vending machine milk? Listen to Sally’s story on a stall near Wellington, here. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of the week's 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

Zoë Vaughan shares how Earth Glow converts butchery waste into balms and creams. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Zoë Vaughan Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life is food foraging around Christchurch, picking flowers for a floral fundraiser and finding out what it takes to become a top young winegrower. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:54 - Rural News Wrap 7:40 - Green fingers, golden flowers 14:13 - Tomorrow's vineyard leaders put to the test 27:36 - From red zone to restaurant With thanks to: The O’Boyle family, Marangai Sam Bain, Nicky Grandorge, Kris Godsall, Cyril Butler, Paul Fairweather, James Kenny, Alex Coombs Adam Harrison, Shannon Dwyer, Tussock Hill Restaurant Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Chef Adam Harrison forages produce around Christchurch for his Michelin-starred kitchen. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Adam Harrison and Shannon Dwyer 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's top young viticulturists put their technical knowledge, practical skills and leadership abilities to the test in the Young Viticulturist of the Year competition. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Sam Bain Nicky Grandorge Kris Godsall Cyril Butler Paul Fairweather James Kenny Alex Coombs Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

"Every corner of this farm she's touched something, planted something," says Pattie O'Boyle of the legacy left behind by Marangai's first farming family. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: The O’Boyle family, Marangai 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

This week Country Life is on a high tech beef farm and visits a training centre teaching how to handle rural health emergencies. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:57 - The Bird Nurse 7:27 - On the Farm 14:15 - Farming 101: Triple Trouble? 29:05 - Training the future of rural emergency care 31:57 - Techno grazing on an intergenerational family farm in Taranaki With thanks to: Averil Osborne Peter Crook Chris Hill, William Wu, Eleanor Dunn, and Paradise Lesatele George, Julia and Sue Hardwick-Smith 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Introducing virtual fencing and other technology has helped the Hardwick-Smith family double the profitability of some parts of their sheep and beef hill country farm. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: George, Julia and Sue Hardwick-Smith 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With lambing well underway, sheep grazier Peter Crook shares some down-to-earth advice on how to deal with triplet lambs. With thanks to: Peter Crook Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Rural Health Academic Centre, Ashburton, teaches young doctors and nurses how to handle rural emergencies. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Chris Hill, William Wu, Eleanor Dunn, and Paradise Lesatele Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Injured feathered patients find a safe and restful spot to recuperate in Averil Osborne's ward. With thanks to: Averil Osborne Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

This week Country Life is on farms looking for meteorites, and newborn calves, visits a herd home for cows and takes you into the world of a station cook preparing "smoko". You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:56 - Rural News Wrap 7:45 - What’s for Smoko? 14:38 - From the Archives: It's calving time 26:57 - Herd home: How a Taranaki dairy farm lifted its milk solids by 30,000 kilograms 36:58 - Great balls of fire, tiny rocks and a very big paddock With thanks to: Philippa Cameron, Claire Concannon Paul Kuriger, Crystal Rivers Steve Wyn-Harris, John Murray, Chris Garland 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Searching for a bit of space debris in a farm paddock is like looking for a needle in a haystack, except you're not quite sure where the haystack is. Country Life joins in the hunt for fragments of the fireball which shot over the lower North Island in late July. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Steve Wyn-Harris, John Murray, Chris Garland 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 at country@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Spending an extra half a million dollars building a herd home for his cows means Paul Kuriger can milk for an extra month while helping protect the many waterways on his farm, Crystal Rivers. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Paul Kuriger, Crystal Rivers Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Back in 2021 producer Sally Round got up before the birds to meet Carterton dairy farmer Jodie James and his team to find out what happens over calving. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details