Country Life

Episodes

• 
  FULL SHOW: Country Life for 24 July 2026 24.07.2026 50m

  This week Country life talks to an American poultry farmer about her bird flu experience, visits a llama farmer and meets a family who've been farming celery for more than a century.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:59 - Rural news wrap5:45- What New Zealand can learn from a farmer who lived through H5N117:43 - Addicted to yarn: Llama herd follows love of fibre31:36 - Celery, butterflies and Travis the goatWith thanks to:Georgie Cartanza, University of DelawareJanette Buckingham, Thickthorne LlamasGraham Franklin, Lucy Franklin, Alan Franklin, Monique Franklin, Jasmine Franklin, Luke Franklin, Brian King, and Solola Manulele, Franklin FarmMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Celery, butterflies and Travis the goat 24.07.2026 18m

  For 120 years, the Franklin family has farmed celery through changing markets, wild weather and six generations of family life. Alongside the celery fields, visitors now wander through sunflower patches, butterfly houses and a bustling farmyard where one cheeky goat has become a bit of a celebrity. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.You can find more about Franklin Farm, here.With thanks to:Graham Franklin, Lucy Franklin, Alan Franklin, Monique Franklin, Jasmine Franklin, Luke Franklin, Brian King, and Solokiala ManuleleMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Addicted to yarn: Llama herd follows love of fibre 24.07.2026 13m

  It was the 1990s when many farms were looking to diversify. 'Why not llamas?', thought Southland spinner and farmer Janette Buckingham.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Janette Buckingham, Thickthorne LlamasGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  What New Zealand can learn from a farmer who lived through H5N1 24.07.2026 11m

  What happens when bird flu arrives on your farm? Delaware poultry farmer and educator Georgie Cartanza shares her first hand experience of an H5N1 outbreak, the loss of 148,000 birds, and the biosecurity lessons she believes every farmer should know.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Georgie Cartanza, University of DelawareGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Rural News Wrap for 24 July 2026 24.07.2026 4m

  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
• 
  FULL SHOW: Country Life for 17 July 2026 17.07.2026 50m

  This week on Country life, the team chat to Irish farmer and author John Connell and heads to East Timor to see how money earnt in New Zealand orchards is benefiting those back home.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:54 - Rural news wrap5:27 - Yarn on a farm: Sheep, beef and trees in South Otago12:32 - John Connell: Life lessons from those who work on the land24:53 - A Ticket to a Better Life: Timor-Leste enters New Zealand's RSE programme45:59 - A word from the late Sam NeillWith thanks to:Nigel WoodheadJohn ConnellLoua Ward, José Ramos-Horta, Cherie Drummond, Marcos Dias and family, Pedro Suarez and Anna ThomasThe late Sir Sam Neill - you can find our preview interview with him hereProducer Anna Thomas travelled to Timor-Leste with assistance from the Asia New Zealand FoundationMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  A Ticket to a Better Life: Timor-Leste enters New Zealand's RSE programme 17.07.2026 21m

  Thousands of Timorese have applied to join New Zealand's seasonal worker scheme, which opened to Timor Leste for the first time in 2026. Seven months of orchard work could earn them up to $40,000, considered a fortune in one of the world's poorest countries. Anna Thomas travelled to Timor Leste to meet some of the families benefiting from their remittances. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Loua Ward, José Ramos-Horta, Cherie Drummond, Marcos Dias and family, Pedro Suarez, the Asia New Zealand FoundationProducer Anna Thomas travelled to Timor-Leste with assistance from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  John Connell: Life lessons from those who work on the land 17.07.2026 12m

  Irish writer and farmer John Connell latest book is The Wisdom of Farmers. He shares some of the pearls of wisdom he has learnt from a decade of farming with Country Life.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:John ConnellMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Yarn on the Farm: Sheep, beef and trees in South Otago 17.07.2026 7m

  Anisha Satya speaks with farmer Nigel Woodhead about his "mosaic" farming system.With thanks to:Nigel WoodheadMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Rural News Wrap for 17 July 2026 17.07.2026 4m

  A wrap of news from RNZ's rural news deskGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  From the Archives: Sam Neill - finding balance among the vines 14.07.2026 18m

  The late Sir Sam Neill told Country Life he was excited by the "farming" side of wine, that and the beautiful Otago landscape where his Two Paddocks vineyard is set. We paid the actor and vintner a visit back in the spring of 2022.You can find photos and read more about our visit our webpage, here.With thanks to:The late Sir Sam NeillGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  FULL SHOW: Country Life for 10 July 2026 10.07.2026 48m

  This week Country Life takes you stargazing at a farm near Lake Tekapo, goes behind the scenes of a wool auction in Napier and is with some belching cows being measured for methane emissions at a giant barn in Waikato. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:54 - Rural News Wrap8:50 - Inside the 'animal Hilton': Pamu's methane measurement barn15:08 - Wool for sale - inside a Kells Wool auction27:22 - Stars on the farm46:10 - Garden diaries: Beneath the starsWith thanks to:Diane Karaitiana Bryant, PāmuRichard Kells, Holly Tarrant, Jess Williams, Ken Tunnicliff, Kim Asquith and Alexa CookSam Blair and Steve BergeMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Garden diaries: Beneath the stars 10.07.2026 1m

  Gianina gives an update on her suburban vege garden. She's preparing to plant garlic as the stars align around Matariki. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.You can see photos and hear more about the garden set up from our previous episode, here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Stars on the farm 10.07.2026 18m

  Anisha learns about Matariki, lightyears, and farm diversification on a starry night in Lake Tekapo. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Sam Blair and Steve BergeMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Wool for sale - inside a Kells Wool auction 10.07.2026 11m

  Country Life steps ringside for the "verbal boxing match" of a wool auction in Napier. Richard Kells of Kells Wool traces his experience of the wool industry from the era of skinny sheep in the 1980s to the reviving industry of present day.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Richard Kells, Holly Tarrant, Jess Williams, Ken Tunnicliff, Kim Alquist and Alexa CookGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Inside the 'Animal Hilton': Pamu's methane measurement barn 10.07.2026 6m

  A giant barn in Waikato features 10 feeder bins for cows to graze from freely allowing their burps to be measured for methane emissions.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Diane Karaitiana Bryant, PāmuGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Rural News Wrap for 10 July 2026 10.07.2026 7m

  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
• 
  FULL SHOW: Country Life for 3 July 2026 03.07.2026 50m

  Sally Round chats to Otago farmer Becks Smith about her ventures, and Braden Crosby of the Bragato Institute. Anisha Satya eats deep-friend locusts, and Mark Leishman checks out the drones fighting wilding pines in South Canterbury. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:48 - Rural news wrap6:06 - Becks Smith13:34 - Lunching on locusts25.:3 - Braden Crosby of the Bragato Institute32:12 - Drilling down into dronesWith thanks to:Becks SmithMalcolm DiackBraden CrosbyRowland SommerMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Drilling down into drones on farm 03.07.2026 17m

  Mark Leishman heads to a South Canterbury farm to join a drone pilot extinguishing weeds and finds out about the potential of the technology on farm.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Rowland SommerSPS AutomationMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
• 
  Should you mothball your vineyard - and how do you do it? 03.07.2026 6m

  French grape growers are being paid to pull out vines in order to rebalance supply and demand, while those in Australia have taken out millions and turned to other crops. In New Zealand, with our Sauvignon Blanc still in demand, growers are being offered a tool to help them decide whether to mothball vines until the market improves. Braden Crosby of the Marlborough-based Bragato Research Institute explains. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Braden CrosbyTo find the mothballing decision-making tool, go to bri.co.nzMake 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.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details