We spoke to some characters this year; a passionate farmer, an academic turned pole dancer, a barber making a real difference and a Wairarapa cricket farmer among them.
Tangaroa Walker: Dairy Farmer 4 Life
Southland contract milker and vlogger Tangaroa Walker is evangelical about the joys of rural life.
Photo: RNZ/Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Glynn Owens, retired professor and one of NZ's best pole dancers
In 2018, Glynn – who's known as 'The Prince' by his fellow pole dancers – was one of the top five male pole dancers in the country.
Photo: Supplied / Scott Marks
Megan Whelan: the art of taking selfies
RNZ's resident expert has tips on lighting, angles and facial expressions.
Megan Whelan the art of selfies Photo: Supplied \ Megan Whelan
John Hart: farming crickets in the Wairarapa
Wairarapa farmer John Hart was considering crickets as a food source for chickens when he realised they were much too expensive and would be better food for humans.
John Hart Photo: Twitter
Patrick Gower on cannabis and legalisation
Newshub journalist Patrick Gower reckons he now knows more about marijuana than anyone else in New Zealand.
Photo: Mediaworks
Matt Brown: A haircut and a friendly ear
Matt Brown is a barber - but he does much more than cut hair. After the Christchurch earthquakes, he set up a barbershop - in a shed in his backyard.
Photo: Supplied
David Downs: 'My favourite thing [about having cancer] was if a mosquito bit me, they would die'
Comedian and author David Downs was given an 80 percent chance of recovery after his cancer diagnosis. He’s now in remission and his weekly blog has become the book A Mild Touch of the Cancer.
David Downs Photo: Supplied
Young woman tells her own story of sleeping rough in new book
Taylor Banks was just 17 when she ended up living on the street, after escaping family trouble. She's proud to be studying social work soon, but misses some of her 'streetie' friends.
Taylor Banks Photo: supplied by Street, an intiative of the Lifewise Trust
Graeme Atkins: Ruatoria's guardian of NZ's rarest plants
"Future generations are not going to have the luxury of things that we probably take for granted now."
DOC botanist Graeme Atkins with native puha, Sonchus kirkii. Photo: RNZ / Alison Ballance
Kristine Crabb on closing down her fashion label Miss Crabb
Her designs have been worn by Lorde and Jacinda Ardern, but after 15 years in business, Kristine Crabb feels glad to be free of the fashion game.
Kristine Crabb Photo: Supplied
