Deer

Country Life visits Pamu's deer milking operation near Taupo, learns about farming by the Maori lunar calendar - maramataka - and hears about the potential for banana-growing on the West Coast. Audio

The era of live deer capture had an aura of glamour to it. But the reality for those involved was very different.  Audio

The success of live capture and the skyrocketing prices inevitably encourage poaching. Audio

By the mid 70’s things were about to change dramatically. The hunters had become so efficient they were shooting themselves out of a job. Audio

The mid 1960’s are the golden years for aerial hunters. Venison prices are high, fuel costs low and there seems no end to the deer. But something has to change. Audio

Shooting from choppers is a game changer but teams are learning from scratch, working at break-neck pace in such dangerous terrain that an accident is always on the cards. Audio

The arrival of helicopters turns the culling business on its head. Hunters shoot deer from the air and with big money to be made, venison recovery will never be the same. Audio

Suddenly everyone wants to be a culler but who will make the cut? Audio

The elimination strategy hasn't worked. In 20 years, the cullers have shot perhaps 10% of the deer. It’s time to up the ante. Audio

Red deer run rampant across the high country in New Zealand, causing extensive environmental damage. A 50-year effort to control the invasive animal gets underway. Audio

Deer Wars tells the story of the 50-year struggle to control New Zealand's red deer population. Lives were lost and fortunes made. Audio

By Kate Evans: With each generation, predators and prey refine their aggressive weapons and defensive armour. Audio

Hinds at Pāmu's Aratiatia deer milking unit are finishing up providing rich creamy milk for the season. Country Life is there at milking time to see how it's done. Video, Audio

Cyclone damage and fickle ferry crossings are just some of the challenges facing deer hunters as they count down to this year roar, that peaks at Easter weekend.

The breeding season runs from late… Video, Audio

Roger Lentle can tell a lot from a hoofprint. He's spent half a century hunting, tracking and studying deer. and has just published Tracking and Finding Deer in New Zealand. Deer are known to cause… Audio

This new segment looks at some of the major agricultural news of the week with RNZ's rural news team. Reporter Maja Burry chats about dragonfruit, deer milk, rural support for flood-stricken farmers… Audio

A new mountain bike park has the run of the hills at Rick and Julia King's farm at Clarence near Kaikōura. It's the brainchild of their daughter Genevieve and has replaced the Merino sheep and cattle… Audio