Rural
Regional economy showing green shoots of recovery
Farmers are beginning to spend and cash registers are ringing in rural Taranaki with the two-speed economy showing green shoots for some. Robin Martin reports. Audio
Avocado growers count losses after wild wind damage
Strong winds battered Bay of Plenty and Coromandel orchards, with growers left mulching trees and salvaging fruit.
Dairy farmer rewarded for environmental efforts on Canterbury plains
It's all go in the calving shed, but with tech doing the heavy lifting, dairy farmer Dan Schat has time for a yarn about the cold, the costs, and the season so far.
Treading Lightly - shoelaces made from sheep and salad
Meet Jacob Smith, the 21-year-old turning wool and veggie scraps into fashion-forward biodegradable shoelaces.
A cosmic farewell to the man who makes rural radio sing
For nearly two decades, RNZ producer Cosmo Kentish-Barnes has been roaming the South Island countryside on the trail of stories for Country Life.
Tracks Well-Travelled A farewell to Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
After seventeen years of giving voice to rural New Zealand, Country Life's South Island producer is signing off from RNZ. Cosmo's farewell feature is a rich tapestry of voices and stories, woven from… Audio
Flat out calving but the robots are on the job
It's all go in the calving shed, but with tech doing the heavy lifting, dairy farmer Dan Schat has time for a yarn about the cold, the costs, and the season so far. Audio
Treading Lightly - shoelaces made from sheep and salad
Meet Jacob Smith, the 21-year-old turning wool and veggie scraps into fashion-forward biodegradable shoelaces. It started as a university project and has turned into a commercial venture sourcing wool… Audio
Full Episode for Friday 12 September 2025
This week Country Life bids farewell to long-time producer Cosmo Kentish-Barnes who shares some of the magic moments he's had covering the South Island beat over nearly two decades. The team's also in… Audio
Agriculture educator shocked by govt's curriculum changes
Kerry Allen says removing agribusiness and horticulture science from 2028 narrows pathways into NZ's primary sector. Audio
Morning Rural News for 12 September 2025
There've been huge advances in artificial intelligence in recent years, and it's prompted Lincoln University to launch a new Master of Artificial Intelligence for Land Use. Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Thursday 11th September 2025
In today's episode, the Christ Church Cathedral rebuild is back on after creating a new restoration plan and halving a massive funding shortfall; U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk… Audio
Cyclone Gabrielle casting long shadow over HB: Orchardist
A Hawke's Bay orchardist says Cyclone Gabrielle still casts its long shadow over a region struggling with the country's sluggish economy. The Yummy Fruit Company chief executive Paul Paynter spoke to… Audio
Rural areas feeling the economic pinch
A business leader says rural communities are still keeping their wallets in their pockets despite faring better than urban centres through the economic downturn. Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce… Audio
NZ's biggest farmer looking for investors in their farm
New Zealand's biggest pastoral farmer is keen to coax the next generation into business with the chance to buy into the management of a rambling east coast property, that's actually owned by all of… Audio
Midday Rural News for Wednesday 10 September 2025
Midday Rural News with Stephanie Ockhuysen Audio
'Magic of Molesworth' tipped to lure hunters for Canada geese cull
The tough environment, weather conditions or proving their guile against the cunning geese all add to the occasion for hunters, the organiser says.
