Farming
'It's just barren': Veteran farmer reckons Tasman's drought worst ever
Alf Kinzett has been feeding out since Christmas and will need to buy more feed for winter.
NZ's fruit wins in competitive Vietnamese produce market
NZ apple exporters are trying to capitalise on the increasingly wealthy Vietnamese consumer, while elbowing out global competition. Audio
Apple exporters look to Vietnam as economy grows
New Zealand apple exporters are hustling to capitalise on the increasingly wealthy Vietnamese consumer, while elbowing out global competition. Rural News journalist Monique Steele has more. Audio
Farmers in Tasman use winter supplies as drought takes hold
Many farmers in the Tasman District are having to use winter supplies to feed their stock, as the drought continues across part of the top of the South Island. Samantha Gee has more. Audio
Minister closes inner Hauraki Gulf to fishing of rock lobster
Shane Jones says the closure, starting from April 1, is to allow the lobster population to restore itself.
From sporting honours to King Country shepherdess
Before Grace Watson left primary school, she could already drive a tractor and a manual ute - now she's a finalist for Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year.
Palm kernel supply chain tainted by connections to deforestation, Greenpeace says
Two major exporters of palm kernel to New Zealand have been found to source kernel from illegal operations in Indonesia's Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve in Sumatra.
High-country high fashion
Eden Hore held one of one of the most significant high fashion collections of its kind in Australasia in a tractor shed on his high-country farm in the Māniatoto. Audio, Gallery
Good times, tough times and everything in between
Farming in the wake of the Mount Tarawera eruption has tested the Ford family for nearly a century.
Drought in the Central North Island
A drought has been declared in the Northland, Waikato, Horizons, Marlborough-Tasman, and Taranaki regions. Our reporter Alexa Cook has been out and about in the central North Island. Audio
Sheep to chic with cosy crossbred wool
Sometimes it takes an outsider to come in and give a dyed-in-the-wool farmer a wee nudge. This is where Southland entrepreneur Laura Todd comes in.
Deep dive: See the potential that is seaweed
As part of Aotearoa's first seaweed festival, Pacific Harvest hosted a seaweed tasting event where people could sample various red, green and brown dried seaweeds.
Rural News Wrap for 21 March 2025
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Audio
Full Episode for Friday 21 March 2025
This week on Country Life the team catch up with some sheep farmers busy with docking and crutching on the land, and then a taste of the sea, as they sample different seaweeds. Audio
New Zealand wine sales in US increase, for 16th year in a row
Sales of New Zealand wine have increased in the US - "a bright spot in an otherwise declining import sector", the New Zealand Winegrowers industry body says. Audio