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Country Life

911 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago -

Country Life takes you down country roads to meet ordinary people achieving their dreams.

We live in a beautiful country and we'd love to show it. Have you got a great photo? Drop us an email below.

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Episodes

Dig your own veges: Bring a fork, bucket and gumboots

December 16, 2023 22:05 - 9 minutes - 17.7 MB

Cam Booker is hoping a good crowd will turn up on Christmas eve to dig their own spuds and pick peas at his market garden in Sefton.

'Welcome to the top of the world' at Blue Duck Station

December 16, 2023 00:40 - 16 minutes - 30.2 MB

Country Life goes on the trail of the elusive whio at Blue Duck Station while learning about the efforts to conserve the history and preserve biodiversity.

Country Life for 15 December 2023

December 15, 2023 06:06 - 50 minutes - 92.2 MB

This week Country Life heads to a chicken trailer in the middle of a paddock which is producing eggs and helping the soil and goes on the trail of the elusive whio at Blue Duck Station.

'I was given a cow and taught how to make a shed'

December 09, 2023 20:35 - 24 minutes - 44.1 MB

A dairy programme in Sri Lanka is lifting rural communities out of poverty. Selina Prem Kumar and charity Tearfund set the programme up in 2009 and with support from Kiwi farmers, it's grown from helping eight farmers to five-thousand.

Pest control creates balance for Northland farmer

December 08, 2023 06:20 - 13 minutes - 23.9 MB

When Geoff Crawford started trapping for pests on his farms, he was catching 70 possums a week. Now he's lucky if he gets seven...and the community have jumped on board too.

Yarn on the Farm

December 08, 2023 06:13 - 6 minutes - 11.3 MB

A visit to the dairy shed to find out about AI and how to keep cows cool during El Nino.

Country Life for 8 December 2023

December 08, 2023 06:06 - 50 minutes - 91.9 MB

This week on Country Life; A dairy programme in Sri Lanka is lifting rural communities out of poverty. Selina Prem Kumar and charity Tearfund set the programme up in 2009 and with help from Kiwi farmers, it's grown from helping eight farmers to five-thousand. Selina's been travelling around Aotearoa thanking the farmers for thier support.

Building a wetland on farm

December 02, 2023 00:31 - 17 minutes - 31.1 MB

A wetland at the bottom of a dairy farm in South Wairarapa is reducing most of the nitrates being drained from the paddocks. The project at Kaiwaiwai Dairies is nearly a decade old and one of the owners takes us on a tour.

Working horses adjust to new life off the track

December 01, 2023 06:30 - 10 minutes - 19.5 MB

Chanelle Dickie has taken dozens of retired racehorses under her wing. She's part of a rehoming and re-educating programme that cares for standardbreds that have fallen off the pace.

Finding Frank - a true deer hunting legend

December 01, 2023 06:20 - 6 minutes - 11.3 MB

Frank Erceg was victim of New Zealand's first helicopter hunting accident, but now his story, and that of the deer culling industry has come to life through his niece, Louise Maich.

A show stopper for Christmas cake lovers

December 01, 2023 06:13 - 7 minutes - 14.3 MB

Cake convener Christine Beaton has a tip for fruitcake bakers at the New Zealand Agricultural Show, "you don't really cook a Christmas cake, you dry it out."

On the Farm - a wrap of conditions around the country

December 01, 2023 06:07 - 6 minutes - 12.1 MB

Changeable weather has prevailed in Pukekohe. Farmers in Otago are busy marking lambs and bulls are going out to the cows

Country Life for Friday 1 December 2023

December 01, 2023 06:07 - 50 minutes - 91.7 MB

Christmas cakes, a deer hunting legend, rehoming racehorses and building a wetland on farm

Shout from the rooftops, says farmers' markets rep

November 25, 2023 20:13 - 7 minutes - 13.2 MB

Jono Walker, chair of Farmers' Markets New Zealand, is Country Life's guest this week. He's been in Rome mingling with other farmers' market representatives from around the world.

'It's the most sustainable fibre in the world'

November 25, 2023 04:38 - 22 minutes - 41.1 MB

Sheep farming and wool innovation took centre stage at the New Zealand Agricultural Show. The new Wool Zone section showcased the versatility of sheep and educated visitors on the myriad uses for wool.

'Good to have a family business' says master cutler of Svord

November 24, 2023 06:30 - 13 minutes - 23.8 MB

Bryan Baker has been making knives for over 40 years in Waiuku - and now the legacy keeps growing as the next generation comes through.

Country Life for Friday 24 November 2023

November 24, 2023 06:07 - 51 minutes - 93.5 MB

Wool's versatility showcased, knives out in Waiuku and a chat with farmers' market rep Jono Walker.

Rare horses relax at show

November 18, 2023 00:13 - 7 minutes - 13.5 MB

Eleven rare equine breeds, including the only black Percheron in the country, are on display in a quiet and sunny corner of the Canterbury A&P Showgrounds.

Mangaweka Asparagus - from fire to feast

November 17, 2023 06:40 - 21 minutes - 38.9 MB

George and Diana Turney went from tragedy to starting Mangaweka Asparagus three decades ago. After the community came to their aid, they have enjoyed giving back and helping others gain a living from the land.

Working hard to achieve the rural dream

November 17, 2023 06:30 - 14 minutes - 25.7 MB

Pigs, cattle, fruit and honey processing are all part of a sustainable farming business plan for first-time Motukarara farmers, Stacey and Ode Gielen.

Country Life for Friday November 17 2023

November 17, 2023 06:07 - 50 minutes - 93.3 MB

Country Life is at an asparagus harvest near Mangaweka and meets some of the harvesters from Vanuatu. The team checks out some rare horse breeds at the Canterbury show and meets a Banks Peninsula farming couple.

'Rural, rustic and exploiting my mother's talents'

November 11, 2023 20:13 - 4 minutes - 8.81 MB

A vintage photo of a little girl called Molly Mabel sits above racks of pint-sized traditional woollen jumpers, booties and beanies in a Hunterville shop. Who was Molly and how is she helping to warm up desire for wool?

A doctor, an island and oil: The olive journey of Peter Crelinsten

November 11, 2023 01:18 - 15 minutes - 28.6 MB

Twenty-five years ago on a Mediterranean island a retired doctor learnt about olives. Now he's brought that knowledge, and the pursuit of their health benefits, to Kerikeri at Puketi Olive Farm.

'The first thing I did was collect seeds'

November 10, 2023 06:40 - 20 minutes - 37.6 MB

89-year-old Fraser Ross has been restoring a podocarp forest remnant for nearly half a century. Arowhenua Bush near Temuka was damaged after a severe norwesterly gale struck the district in 1975.

Country Life for Friday 10 November 2023

November 10, 2023 06:07 - 50 minutes - 92 MB

Country Life meets 89-year-old Fraser Ross, who has been lovingly restoring a podocarp forest remnant for nearly 50 years. Arowhenua Bush near Temuka was damaged after a severe norwesterly gale struck the district in 1975.

Bees make a buzz at mid-Canterbury show

November 05, 2023 00:18 - 10 minutes - 19.3 MB

Bees, bugs and butterflies were the main theme at this year's Ashburton A&P Show. 

Soldiering on: 'There's no way that farm could have run without her'

November 04, 2023 22:00 - 20 minutes - 37.1 MB

Rhoda McWhannell ran her Waikato farm almost single-handedly when her husband went to war during WWII. She wrote a journal of her daily struggles, weaving in her wry observations about war and love of the natural world. 

From the Archives: Growing food without sight

November 03, 2023 06:13 - 10 minutes - 19.3 MB

How do you garden when you are blind? One of Taranaki's pioneering environmentalists shows his ingenious method using ropes to help the visually impaired continue to enjoy growing things. This story was first aired in February 2022.

Country Life for Friday 3 November 2023

November 03, 2023 06:07 - 49 minutes - 91.1 MB

The story of a woman left to farm alone when her husband went to war, Ashburton's A & P show, gardening for the blind and the monthly wrap of conditions on the land.

On the Farm

November 03, 2023 06:07 - 6 minutes - 12.1 MB

Cattle prices have peaked and it's hard work selling sheep at spring fairs in Northland. In the Nelson region the late chill of August has set hops up well for strong growth.

From sea to land: The kingfish farm of the future

October 29, 2023 00:18 - 14 minutes - 27 MB

For over 20 years NIWA scientists have been researching the feasibility of growing fish on land - now they believe it's ready for commercial uptake.

Addicts find hands in the earth help journey to recovery - 'It grounds us'

October 27, 2023 19:08 - 23 minutes - 43.1 MB

A rural addiction rehabilitation facility near Christchurch runs a farm-focused social enterprise that connects its residents with planting, growing and sharing.

Motupipi farm brings degraded wetland back to life

October 27, 2023 06:13 - 6 minutes - 11.7 MB

After being encouraged to drain wetlands on their farm in the 80s a Golden Bay couple are already seeing the benefits of transforming the land back to its natural state.

Country Life for Friday October 27 2023

October 27, 2023 06:07 - 50 minutes - 93.2 MB

Kingfish farming, returning paddock to wetland, and drug rehabilitation through farming  

School leavers grow into hardy shepherds on high-country cadet farm

October 21, 2023 20:38 - 23 minutes - 43.7 MB

A two-year farm cadet programme is turning fresh-faced school leavers in hardy, no-nonsense shepherds on a high-country station in Canterbury.

Sheep and Beef Farmer Bayden Anderson - It's as good as it gets

October 20, 2023 06:31 - 6 minutes - 12.2 MB

Porangahau farmer Bayden Andersen shares the unique challenges and triumphs of managing an estate like its his own, while raising a family in the Central Hawkes Bay.

Why rural schools rule

October 20, 2023 06:17 - 9 minutes - 17.6 MB

Take a trip with Country Life to Auckland's northernmost school, Tomarata School, where kids are found tending to chickens and planting fruit trees.

'Wouldn't want to do anything else' says head shepherd at Otapawa Station

October 20, 2023 06:10 - 5 minutes - 10.2 MB

A young man who switched from working in insurance to working the land was one of the finalists for Beef and Lambs emerging leaders award.

Country Life for 20 October 2023

October 20, 2023 06:07 - 50 minutes - 92.6 MB

Country Life takes you back to school this week, where rural students plant fruit trees and tend to chickens. We also meet James Robbie who switched from working in insurance to working the land and a two-year farm cadet programme is turning fresh-faced school leavers in hardy, no-nonsense shepherds on a high-country station in Canterbury.

From water to wine: The story of Dancing Petrel

October 14, 2023 04:13 - 11 minutes - 21.6 MB

An idyllic lifestyle change for Kim and Graham Gilkison from Taranaki to the Far North saw them also purchase a languishing vineyard. Five years later, they're producing award winning wines.

A year on the farm: Lambing is in full swing on the Bird's hill block

October 13, 2023 06:35 - 10 minutes - 18.9 MB

The newborn lambs hide amongst gorse to escape the chilly winds and Alistair plants poplar poles on erosion-prone hill country.

'I don't expect perfection' says farm dog trainer

October 13, 2023 06:21 - 22 minutes - 40.3 MB

From the Country Life archives - we meet former shepherd Anna Holland who trains people to train dogs.

Country Life for 13 October 2023

October 13, 2023 06:07 - 51 minutes - 94 MB

A year on the farm: Lambing is in full swing on the Bird's hill block, Canine Control, a feature from the Country Life archives by Carol Stiles, From water to wine: The story of Dancing Petrel and the Rural News Wrap.

Dog trialling is in the blood

October 07, 2023 03:18 - 13 minutes - 25 MB

Champion dog trialler Clark Chrystal fosters his daughters love for the sport.

'Vegetables have something to do with it' says centenarian

October 06, 2023 23:14 - 8 minutes - 15 MB

Alan Wilcox of Pukekohe celebrated his 100th birthday. He walks down a lifetime and legacy of growing with Country Life.

Piglets go back to the same teat, says free-range pig farmer

October 06, 2023 08:37 - 22 minutes - 41.3 MB

Sows lounge in the sun as their piglets play, while others feed their litters in the privacy of their own cozy shelter at Hamish and Angela Cottle's free range pig farm near Timaru.

Country Life Friday October 6 2023

October 06, 2023 06:07 - 50 minutes - 92.1 MB

This week on Country Life it's farrowing time when Cosmo visits a free-range pig farm near Timaru, Leah meets a horticultural legend and proud centenarian, and a dad and daughter dog-trialling duo chat with Maggie Tweedie.

Barker's of Geraldine thriving after linking up with French jam maker

September 29, 2023 22:37 - 15 minutes - 28.7 MB

The fruit preserving business was founded in the late sixties by Anthony and Gillian Barker as a way of supplementing their farm income. Now it employs over 250 people and produces about 800 finished goods.

From the archives: A visit to Sam Neill's Central Otago vineyard

September 29, 2023 06:19 - 18 minutes - 34.5 MB

Veteran New Zealand actor Sir Sam Neill takes Country Life on a tour of his Central Otago vineyard just before the 2023 season got underway.

'Keep eating it' - Kumara growers need help to leave dismal season behind

September 29, 2023 06:14 - 5 minutes - 10.9 MB

Ruawai kumara grower Warwick Simpson hopes seed contingency schemes will bring hope to the paddocks.