Country Life

Cosmo Kentish-Barnes speaks to a pig farmer known as Lord Havoc about his free range pig farm in South Canterbury and Sally Round finds out how highly-prized Japanese style table grapes are grown in Hawke's Bay. The Japanese market loves them picture-perfect so each bunch has a little umbrella to protect it harvest time.

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. Owners Angus Gordon and son Tom run a Wiltshire self-shedding sheep breeding programme, do carbon farming, produce organic maize and have a cafe and glamping operation. Angus is also a keen documenter of local farming history and Clifton features in his latest book.

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. Owners Angus Gordon and son Tom run a Wiltshire self-shedding sheep breeding programme, do carbon farming, produce organic maize and have a cafe and glamping operation. Angus is also a keen documenter of local farming history and Clifton features in his latest book.

Wee newborns are popping out right, left and centre on James Hills' dairy goat farm. His farm sign says "Jebel 5, only the best for our goats." In Afrikaans Jebel means joyous and he says if you can't be joyful when you visit, then don't come. Even the very young boy goats which do end up going to the meat works have their own playground and lots of milk and hay. Some of James' goats are into their 10th milking year. He says they're more like pets and it's good to have longevity as it costs $500 to rear a goat.

Wee newborns are popping out right, left and centre on James Hills' dairy goat farm. His farm sign says "Jebel 5, only the best for our goats." In Afrikaans Jebel means joyous and he says if you can't be joyful when you visit, then don't come. Even the very young boy goats which do end up going to the meat works have their own playground and lots of milk and hay. Some of James' goats are into their 10th milking year. He says they're more like pets and it's good to have longevity as it costs $500 to rear a goat.

Orange growers in the Gisborne region are getting good returns and the clean-up continues on inundated farms and vineyards in the South Island.

Orange growers in the Gisborne region are getting good returns and the clean-up continues on inundated farms and vineyards in the South Island.

Our guest this week is Stuart Weston, chief executive of the kiwifruit grower and packhouse operator Apata. The company is on the hunt for land around Whanganui.

Our guest this week is Stuart Weston, chief executive of the kiwifruit grower and packhouse operator Apata. The company is on the hunt for land around Whanganui.

Hawkes Bay's Clifton Station has plenty going on to keep its owners busy. The Gordon family are working hard to keep the historic farm viable into the 21st century with carbon farming, a new breed of sheep and glamping on the land. The Country Life team also visit a dairy goat farm in Waikato.