Country Life

Stu Bracegirdle loves possums and has made his living from them for over 40 years. He keeps plastic bags in his motorhome for picking up 'roadies' and has a pet possum at home aptly named 'Lucky'. Read more Audio

Ian Whitakker has been called a walking encyclopaedia on Mokau's history. He's lived there for 59 years. Read more Audio

The North Island has warmed up this week as the southerly died away and the sun appeared. In the South Island it was similar with plenty of sunshine and fruit trees in blossom. Read more Audio

On Country Life this week Mananui Ramsden is Environment Canterbury's cultural land management advisor and is helping farmers on land near Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere to understand and implement new… Read more Audio

Canterbury school kids are learning how to grow and care for trees with the Orchards in Schools programme. The Canterbury Horticultural Society supplies schools with apple, pear and plum trees… Read more Audio, Gallery

What makes the tiny coastal community of Mokau tick? It's a tiny town of 75 permanent residents famous for its museum, friendly butcher and whitebait fritters. Read more Audio, Gallery

South Canterbury isn't famous for its premium apples, but one unfamiliar variety loves Timaru's cool climate and thrives there - the Honeycrisp. It's a sweet, firm apple grown exclusively for… Read more Audio

A cold southerly has been ripping through the North Island, and despite the southerly blast in Canterbury, lambing and calving have gone very well and farmers are in good spirits. Read more Audio

Each year dairy goat farmer Robyn Averill has to come up with hundreds of names for newborn kids. It's no easy task. Read more Audio

On country Life....an eighty hectare orchard in South Canterbury grows apples for the off-season American market, the Canterbury Horticultural Society supplies apple, pear and plum trees as well as… Read more Audio

The busy calving season is in full swing at Mark and Debbie Van Beek's dairy farm near Hokitika on the West Coast. The 50/50 sharemilkers, who run 500 cows, were finalists for in this year's Ahuwhenua… Read more Audio

Kiwis have developed a hearty appetite for hot sauces, says Clint Meyer, who grows New Zealand's hottest chillies near Waimamaku for his award-winning Fire Dragon Chillies sauces. Read more Audio