Some of our popular stories this year were from rural New Zealand and 'the cutest sheep in the world' was one of our most loved yarns of the year.
Farming with the future in mind
Fourth-generation Canterbury dairy farmer John Legg is embracing regenerative agriculture.
Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Life in Nuhaka
The tiny northern Hawkes Bay settlement of Nuhaka has chess champions, a large Latter-day Saints congregation and a large apple & kiwifruit orchard. It's also been a centre for Māori language revival.
Photo: RNZ/Susan Murray
Southland dairy farmer and spiritual leader Reza-Abdul Jabbar
Reza-Abdul Jabbar believes he is the only Muslim dairy farm owner in New Zealand. He is also the Imam at the Southland Mosque.
Photo: RNZ/Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Cute as buttons: black-nosed Swiss Valais sheep
Often referred to as the "cutest sheep in the world" this distinctive breed originate in the mountains of the Valais area of Switzerland.
Photo: Supplied
Off like a Rockit
New Zealand's tiny Rockit apples are proving a real hit with both consumers and growers.
Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
The Siberian huskies who call NZ home
Siberian huskies are beautiful to look at, but they're natural athletes rather than pets, says sled dog racer Steve Coxhead.
Photo: Carol Stiles RNZ
A helping hand from hemp
What can you do with hemp? A better question is what can't you do with it, says Dave Jordan from Hemp Farm NZ.
Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
Steve the Seaweed Man
Steve Matthews runs a small business foraging and selling seaweed off the wild Wairarapa coast.
Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
From Canton to Kerikeri: the varied life of Joe Ngan
Joe Ngan was born in 1932 in a small village near Guangzhou in southern China. He's now 87 and lives near his two kiwifruit orchards in Kerikeri, Northland.
Photo: Susan Murray RNZ
A tale of three shepherds
Shepherding is more a lifestyle than a job for Kate White, Lesley Pollock and Kacey Johnson. They're among the youngest team of women shepherds in the country.
Lesley Pollock, Kate White and Kacey Johnson Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
