Rural
Community concerned about wellbeing of Waiau River
A dispute between the Waiau Rivercare Group in Southland and Meridian Energy over the health and flow levels in the Waiau River has been at a low ebb, but both parties are keen to bridge the gap. Audio
Adrian Worsley: The man behind the metal
Adrian Worsley designs and constructs unique one-off sculptures from recycling scrap metal, tools and farm implements. Audio
Arthur Anae - from politics to farming chooks
Arthur Anae sleeps four hours a night and wakes in plenty of time to get his free range eggs to market in person. The former politician never thought as a young boy from Samoa he would end up with two… Audio
Country Life Friday May 12 2023
The banks are closing in over a troubled river, from scrap to sculpture, Arthur Anae - from politics to farming chooks and the Rural News Wrap. Audio
Spark to boost investment in rural networks as part of mobile spectrum deal
The telecommunications company says it plans to expand 5G connectivity to all towns with a population of more than 1,500 people by the end of June 2026.
Volunteers dig in for local community garden in Canterbury
Country Life visits the Kaiapoi Community Garden in Canterbury where a dozen or so volunteers turn up to do a bit of everything, digging in at a place that's become a sanctuary of sorts for the… Audio
Remembering Ken the chicken champion
Country Life turns back the clock ten years to our visit with the late Far North farmer Ken Vincent. Back in 2013, he'd been breeding chooks for 70 years. Audio
A year on the farm: A tractor on crutches and a Wi-Fi drenching gun
The replacement heifer calves are drenched and weighed, mating gets underway in the sheep paddocks and the tractor needs urgent repairs. Audio
Future still uncertain for apple grower post Gabrielle
Lesley Wilson lost her home and most of the apple crop just before harvest when floodwaters filled with logs and other debris swept through the orchard in Puketapu. Nearly three months on, the… Audio
On the Farm - a wrap of conditions on farms around the country
Autumn in Manawatu has been one out of the box. As a result, farmers are taking a fair bit of feed into winter. There won't be much work being done on farms in Southland this weekend - duck shooting… Audio
Country Life for Friday May 5 - 2023
Chicken Champion, A Year on the Farm - Part six, Future still uncertain for apple grower post Gabrielle, Community gets behind organic garden and a wrap of the week's ag news. Audio
Volunteers dig in at community garden
Green-fingered locals in the Canterbury town of Kaiapoi love mucking in at their community garden. Audio
Biosecurity risks - and opportunities - identified in two-year 'megatrends' report
There will be an increased risk of plant-destroying insects, weeds and diseases entering the country as the climate changes.
Midday Rural News for 4 May 2023
There's solid support for a new coastal shipping route between Napier and Gisborne.
Sally Murphy has the rural news. Audio
$70 million given to growers 'won't touch the sides'
Hawke's Bay growers are relieved the government is putting $172 million into cleaning up silt and debris from Cyclone Gabrielle. $102 million will go towards clearing up residential properties… Audio
Game birds aplenty ahead of hunting season
Fish & Game is expecting thousands to turn out for what is anticipated to be one of the best seasons in years.
A natural ferment - it's the yeast we can do
The winemaking process starts in the middle of the vineyard at Greystone Wines in the Waipara Valley. Juicy pinot noir grapes are poured into a large vessel among the vines and exposed to wild yeasts… Audio
Composting loo and eating insects because "why wouldn't you"
Melissa and Aaron Jacobson are trying to live as sustainably as possible on their small property perching ontop a hill outside of Eltham, Taranaki and plan to turn their way of life into a full-time… Audio
