Country Life
Episodes
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 3 April 2026
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Poultry 'pioneers': Three generations of Bennik's behind an egg empire
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Four farmers, one forgotten grain and the pasta-maker bringing it to the plate
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Rural News Wrap for 3 April 202
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's rural news.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Answering the roar - hunting venison for people in need
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For a few years now Lisa Daunton has been stocking food banks in Te Tai Rāwhiti with wild venison which she harvests with fellow hunters. With thanks...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 27 March 2026
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Country Life meets a family using bullock-power instead of diesel to grow their own food, and gets a taste of the tomatoes grown by some of Wellington...
Off-grid, thriving and feeding whānau without fossil fuels
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Bullocks and horses power the Land's farm in the Hokianga where three generations live off-grid, growing practically all their own food without the ne...
Roots that run deep - Capri tomatoes
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From Italy to Wellington's south coast, growing and eating great food is central to the Cuccurullo family maintaining its cultural heritage. For the p...
Standing up for migrant farmers
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Anisha Satya chats with Kristine Asuncion, Filipina dairy farmer and advocate.With thanks to:Kristine AsuncionGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more...
On the Farm for 27 March 2026
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 20 March 2026
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Country Life visits a mosque in remote Southland, the sheep of the future in Northland, and traverses Mid Canterbury's rivers and shorelines with pest...
A trap down the river: Pest control along Mid Canterbury's waterways
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Farmers, tradies and 4x4 enthusiasts are doing their bit to protect Mid Canterbury's rivers and oceans.You can find photos and read more about the sto...
Meaty, eco-friendly, good-looking but not so woolly - the making of NZ's future flock
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change, increasing costs, fussier consumers and changing rules have researchers and breeders working hard to develop a sheep that will not onl...
The future role of meat and dairy in feeding humans
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Chicago-based Global Dairy Platform's executive director Donald Moore on the importance of addressing emissions reductions with a 'global mass' approa...
Rural News Wrap for 20 March 2026
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's rural news.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
The Masjid that's made a home in Mataura
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Mataura Masjid provides a place of community for those from as far as Roxborough and Tapanui to Wyndham.You can find photos and read more about th...
What to Listen to Next: Far From Town
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After her time at the Shepherdess muster, Country Life presenter Gianina Schwanecke shares the latest podcast from RNZ made in collaboration with the ...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 13 March 2026
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Country Life is helping with the grape harvest, taking you line-dancing and meeting rural women at the Shepherdess Muster.You can find photo...
Making memories at the Shepherdess Muster
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A weekend retreat filled with crafts, relaxation, learning, fun and connection in the remote rural community of Tokanui in Southland.You can find phot...
Let's go line dancing
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The rurally-rooted dance style has had a resurgence across New Zealand. Country Life attends a class to learn why. You can find photos and read more a...
Pick and be merry - harvest time at Big Sky Wines
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Harvest time at Big Sky Wines, established by Kath Jacobs and Jeremy Corban, begins or ends with friends and neighbours in the vineyard helping to bri...
Rural News Wrap for 13 March 2026
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's rural news.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Dairy payouts and Kiwisaver changes with Steve Hayidakis
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ANZ's general manager for business and agri discusses how the Fonterra consumer brands sale will impact rural towns and supermarket shelves.Go to this...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 6 March 2026
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Country Life visits the Duff family's permaculture farm in the Hawke's Bay, a farming festival in North Canterbury, chats to young Kiwi pilot Henry Ph...
A walk through Aotearoa's farming festival
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Underground Festival brings rural folk from across the motu together to learn about regenerative agriculture, and share kai from the land. Anisha ...
Permaculture power in Poukawa
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Duff family's focus is working with nature when it comes to their permaculture farm and organic nursery, Kahikatea Farm. You can find photos and r...
Young kiwi pilot helps map and fight Victoria's devastating bushfires
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kiwi pilot Henry Phelps has gone from wilderness flying to helping combat Australia's bushfires, flying planes with special technology which provide p...
Weird, wacky wildfood
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From wild deer to huhu grubs - the Wildfoods Festival in Hokitika celebrates all foods foraged and feral. Anisha Satya talks to vender coordinator Car...
On the Farm for 6 March 2026
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 27 February 2026
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 Duntroo...
Duntroon - the biggest little town in the valley
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 He...
Sharpening their edge for the Golden Shears
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
An Oxford professor on the future of food and food production
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 warmi...
Rural News Wrap
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's rural news Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 20 February 2026
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 W...
Turning brewery gunk and forest junk into something good for the soil
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 firs...
Moonshine matriarch: Southland's tradition of distilling Scottish whisky
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 mor...
Rural News Wrap for 20 February 2026
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A round up of news from RNZ's rural news teamYou can find more from RNZ's rural news team, here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
A festival for farmers
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Underground Festival organiser Fran Bailey chats with Anisha Satya about the idea, the execution, and what makes it different from other farming forum...
BONUS: The Detail - The wine industry headache
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Too many grapes, international headwinds and a dramatic drop in drinkers is proving problematic for our wine producers.Perfect growing conditions for ...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 13 February 2026
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ruby jewels of Otago a Lunar New Year treat
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ca...
Growing a farmer - Archie's life as a Pāmu apprentice
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
New study into growing crops under solar panels
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Rural News Wrap for 13 February 2026
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 det...
A yarn on the farm with beef farmer Craig Pickens
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 Count...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 6 February 2026
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 scien...
A Little Route 66 on State Highway 8
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Shaking it all up in a greenhouse trial
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers from the Bioeconomy Science Institute are investigating whether they can apply the vibrations of insects to disrupt pests in the greenhous...
130 years: Take a punt on the Tuapeka Mouth Ferry
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Rural News Wrap for 6 February 2026
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A wrap of the week's news from the primary sector.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 30 January 2026
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 fore...
Camp ovens, bullockies and other tales from the bush
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ikea owner's first New Zealand forest: 'Timber production first and foremost'
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ingka Investments, the parent company of furniture giant Ikea, now owns 30,000 hectares of forestry in Aotearoa. It's first purchase saw the conversio...
Growing demand for on-farm fun from international tourists
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Agritourism NZ's Marijke Dunselman outlines how farmers and growers can take advantage of growing global demand for authentic experiences on the farm....
On the Farm for 30 January 2025
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 19 December 2025
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Life's a strawberry patch with the Roys of Piopio
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
RD6: Life along the Whanganui River
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rural postie Tracy Marshall takes visitors along her mail delivery route which winds along the Whanganui River. You can find photos and read more abou...
How planting exotic trees can enable native trees to grow
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"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 ...
Rural News Wrap for 19 December 2025
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 12 December 2025
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Be...
The trainer turning animal tricks into teen confidence
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 anim...
Cornwall Park: The farm within the heart of a city
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Rural News Wrap for 12 December 2025
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A wrap of the week's news from the primary sectorGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
BONUS: The Detail - Calls for urgent action over deer control
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Detai...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 5 December 2025
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 unu...
The Wayleggo Cup - a Trans-Tasman sheepdog test
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. Go ...
Cash cow: Tangihau Angus' record-breaking bulls
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Risqué and Rural
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
On the Farm for 5 December 2025
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A round up of conditions on farms and orchards around the countryGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 28 November 2025
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Hawke's Bay farm's agritourism 'terroir'
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Ruap...
Spreading the word about avocados
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. Th...
Keeping salad greens on the shelves, 52 weeks of the year
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Rural News Wrap for 28 November 2025
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 21 November 2025
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 par...
Inside New Zealand's Kiwifruit Breeding Centre
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Breedin...
'Poo hunter': In the name of science
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wairarapa sheep farmer Paul Crick is one of hundreds out collecting poo samples from his flock as part of a national study testing for the presence of...
Farmers' ag drone venture takes flight
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two King Country farmers have trained up as drone operators to offer on-farm drone spraying services, a side hustle alongside their traditional farmin...
Rural News Wrap for 21 November 2025
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 14 November 2025
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Country Life gets up close and personal with some of the animals at Massey University's teaching farm and heads to a high country station ne...
Living the High Country Life
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's a romance attached to living in the Mackenzie High Country, but does it still exist? For Simon Williamson it is the only life he knows. He gr...
Massey University's 'outdoor farm classroom' celebrates 30 years
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Set on 40-hectares near the university's Palmertston North campus, the Large Animal Teaching Unit, is home to a menagerie of animals for veterinary s...
Rural News Wrap for 14 November 2025
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Jefferson Fellow Kate Green on the future of food security
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
RNZ reporter Kate Green has recently returned from parts of Southeast Asia as part of a Jefferson Fellowship exploring food security issues across the...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 7 November 2025
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Country Life meets Berwick Settle who's worked on huge dairy farms in Russia and China, joins a shearing gang for a day and finds out about the world ...
From the Archive: Sheep on the board
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this story for the long-running programme Spectrum, first broadcast in 1972, Jack Perkins joins a Wairarapa shearing gang, on a farm near Masterton...
Rural News Wrap for 7 November 2025
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Saving seeds, saving stories
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's a story to many of the heritage seedlings which Jemma Ostenfeld grows on a patch of borrowed land in the eastern Bay of Plenty. You can find p...
A kiwi's life in the world's largest dairy farms
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Twenty years ago Berwick Settle was a Southland sharemilker. Since then he's worked in some of the biggest dairy farms in the world, helping set up fa...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 31 October 2025
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Country Life learns more about LIC's project to breed bulls which emit less methane, while a Waikato sheep farmer does the same, using genet...
Eketāhuna Museum - keeper of the community's stories
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Volunteers at the Eketāhuna Museum are getting ready to reopen. This treasure chest of curiosities shines a light on the small town's Scandinavian he...
Breeding the 'wagyu of lamb' for an every-changing farm environment
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alastair Reeves has followed in his father's footsteps, using genetics to help farmers solve problems on farm by breeding sheep that make for good eat...
A 'numbers game': LIC's quest to breed low methane emitting bulls
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The team of scientists at LIC, the Livestock Improvement Corporation, hope to know by late next year if they can offer farmers more methane-friendly b...
On the Farm for 31 October 2025
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 24 October 2025
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Country Life meets some characterful Clydesdale horses, finds out about the Waimate Trail, explores rural life through objects via a new boo...
Clydesdales - the gentle giants of the horse world
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
They used to be a regular sight on New Zealand's roads and paddocks - the plodding but magnificent Clydesdales. The horses with the hobbit hooves are ...
Battling off-roaders and pests at Thornton Lagoon
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Banks is trying to protect the fragile dunes, wildlife and vegetation at a coastal lagoon near Whakatāne. Volunteering his time, he and his famil...
Kiwi Country: New book explores rural New Zealand through 100 objects
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Husband and wife duo Te Radar and Ruth Spencer have recently partnered together on a new book 'Kiwi Country: Rural New Zealand in 100 Objects'. You ca...