Wool
From mother to daughter - A smooth transition
Best of 2020 - After single-handedly running Rees Valley Station for nearly 20 years, Iris Scott was more than happy to hand over the reins to her daughter Kate. Audio
Getting to the bottom of it
Scotty Newman and his team clean out woolsheds - not inside - but underneath. They dig out decades worth of compacted sheep manure. Video, Audio
Bank opts for woollen carpet
Rabobank is relocating its HQ to Waikato and its CEO insisted the new premises be fitted out with woollen carpet - even if it meant using a crane to lift the rolls onto the fourth floor. Audio
Small feet stay warm thanks to Amuri Basin entrepreneur
Tracey Topp started making merino socks for children sixteen years ago. It all began when she struggled to find woollen socks for her two boys. Now her Cosy Toes brand has expanded to adult socks as… Audio
Farming at Marble Point a dream come true for hard-working couple
Matt Black says it felt like winning lotto when he and his wife Sarah were selected to became equity partners at Marble Point Station, a scenic 2400 hectare sheep and beef property between Culverdon… Audio
Summer Series - Clifton Station moves into the 21st century
Hawke's Bay's long established Clifton Station made its early fortunes off the sheep's back. But with the crash in wool prices, diversification has been the key to its survival into the 21st century… Video, Audio
Farmers hear from scientists on self-shedding sheep breed
Farmers flocked to a farm in Masterton to hear from scientists studying a sheep breed that sheds its own wool.
This comes as depressed strong wool prices have left farmers feeling fleeced.
Here's… Audio
A 25-year-old's mission to revolutionise the wool industry
Logan Williams is a scientist, a serial inventor, the Director of Technology and Innovation at the New Zealand Merino Company, and could be the saviour to the wool industry... and he's only 25 years… Audio
Honest Wolf - accessories from the Turakina Valley
Sophie and Sam Hurley are turning some of their wool clip into bags, caps, wallets and laptop sleeves. They've been in business less than a year but orders are flying out the door - or rather rumbling… Audio
Honest Wolf: three bags full
Sam and Sophie Hurley are third generation sheep farmers, at Papanui Estate half an hour out of Hunterville in the Rangitikei. Their wool used to be rolled out for carpets, but with the recent… Audio
Wool brands push for regenerative farming
Four major wool brands are banding together to try and reduce the environmental impact of sheep farming in Aoteaora. The New Zealand Merino Company, Icebreaker, Allbirds and Smartwool have announced… Audio
Ag Envoy says NZ farmers are up to challenges 2021 might bring.
In January Tararua farmer Mel Poulton took over as New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy. She'd typically be advocating for New Zealand's farmers and products overseas - but she's had to do… Audio
Is the wool clip increasingly unviable?
There are grave concerns among sheep farmers as demand for wool drops, prices are low and there aren't enough experienced shearers available. Federated Farmers and the Shearing Contractions… Audio
Making wool great again
A West Otago couple were so sick of seeing so much synthetic clothing around they decided to do something about it. Waitahuna West sheep and beef farmers Murray and Julie Hellewell are making jerseys… Audio
NZ wool industry facing challenges
The chair of the National Council of New Zealand Wool Interests, Craig Smith, speaks to The Panel about the challenges facing the wool industry. Audio
Artist Daegan Wells reminds us of our debt to Wool
Southland artist Daegan Wells aims to remind people about the place of wool in New Zealand's history - social, economic and political. He has a mentor teaching him spinning and weaving skills, which… Audio, Gallery
Keeping the lustre alive
Ravenswood Stud has a long history breeding the hardy English Leicester whose long curly wool has been likened to Bob Marley's dreadlocks. Fiona and John Robinson are continuing the tradition, finding… Audio
Wool being developed to replace petroleum-based hygiene textiles
A mother and daughter duo are behind innovative technology to turn wool into a textile which can replace petroleum based materials used in hygiene products. Woolchemy's CEO Derelee Potroz-Smith… Audio
Rock bottom crossbred wool prices pose dilemma for farmers
Crossbred wool prices have plummeted to new record low levels in the wake of Covid-19, with some farmers receiving less than a dollar a kilogram for their wool.
Country Life catches up with advocate for wool, Steve Knudsen
In 2008, Country Life met farmer Steve Knudsen on an extremely steep Taranaki farm he called Vertigo Station. Steve's since bought and now lives on another much more friendly farm. He's still farming… Audio