Farming
Stud owner brings new meaning to 'a bull in a china shop'
Collecting fine china is an unusual hobby for a bull breeder, but Tony Thompson is a man of many passions including breeding top quality cattle, pioneering embryo work and mentoring the next…
A Life of Legacy: Tony Thompson and the Glen Anthony Stud
At 80 years old, Tony Thompson shows no sign of slowing down. With five decades of breeding behind him, his passion for cattle - particularly the Simmental breed - remains as strong as ever. Audio
Heights Farms built on family
Tucked under the Tararua Range, fifth generation sheep and beef farmers, the Robinsons, have added a diverse range of income streams to the family farm including finding new purposes for the old… Audio
Organic vege business mushrooms under green fingered growers
They started growing vegetables in a paddock for lockdown vege boxes. Five years on, Penny Platt, her brother Ollie and Issac Green grow over 40 crops on 24 hectares of chemical free farmland. Audio
Country Life Friday 25 April 2025
This week Country Life meets Hawke's bay stud owner Tony Thompson who's been breeding cattle for half a century. The team also find out about an organic vege growing business in Canterbury and chat to… Audio
Rural News Wrap for 25 April 2025
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Audio
Medicinal cannabis producers veer away from local market for export
New Zealand's medicinal cannabis sector is warning that "onerous" regulations around production are restricting the local sector, while international players flood the market.
Autumn gardening with Jules Matthews
Expert gardener Jules Matthews joins Paddy to talk through her top tips for Autumn. Audio
Wairarapa farmer's DIY lake brings 'peace of mind'
Len French wanted a lake to help with water security on his eastern Wairarapa farm. What he's built, Lake Braemore, is now a community asset that can be enjoyed by all.
Rural News Wrap for 18 April 2025
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Audio
A garden to munch on
Landscape designer and market gardener Cath Goodrick enjoys showing how people to incorporate kai into their gardens. Audio
Full Episode for Friday 18 April 2025
This week on Country Life we check out an artificially constructed lake on Braemore Farm that's built for water storage and fun... and farming with a toddler in tow. Anna and Mitch Munro are out on… Audio
Farming with a toddler: 'He would sleep in a cot in the truck'
20-month-old Charlie Munro already knows some dog calls and how to open gates. His Mum, Anna, also grew up at Cravendale, a hill country farm near Mount Somers.
Fonterra pursue dual-track process in sale of Mainland Group
The dairy co-operative will undertake both a trade sale and public offering.
Solving the World's Problems
Steve Wynn-Harris, rural commentator, Hawke's Bay farmer and sometimes meteorite hunter talks about what he's learned from working in farm forestry. Audio
Feijoas comfort homesick New Zealanders in Australia
For many New Zealanders, Autumn means one thing - feijoa seaon. All over the country, staffrooms and office whare kai are filled with the little green fruit. But spare a thought for New Zealanders… Audio
Modern homesteading in Central Otago
Born and raised in Edinburgh, Gillian Swinton now calls herself a homesteader- living off the land in rural Central Otago.
Audio
Bremworth's new chair: we are at a crucial crossroads
The carpet maker Bremworth has been in business six decades, and is at a crucial crossroads, according to its new chairman. Audio
