Country Life

The clean-up continues for farmers whose land was flooded by the Mataura River in Southland. Jon Pemberton had 20 hectares of land under water at Brydone. When it receded he was left with a metre of gravel and sand. The detritus has since been cleared by diggers but it's going to take a while before the grass recovers.

New Zealand's premier shearing competition, The Golden Shears, is gearing up for its 60th birthday bash next week. Despite scepticism at the start and declining demand for wool, The Golden Shears is now one of the oldest volunteer-run events in the country. With help from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, Country Life looks back over its rich history.

It's nearing the end of veraison - a significant time in the vineyard when the berries start to change colour, developing flavour ready for harvest. We've been following John Douglas as he works his five hectare Te Hera vineyard east of Martinborough and earlier this month it was time to put the nets on.

Each week our Country Life reporters check out the latest from farms and orchards around the country.

South Waikato had thunder rolling around the district at the weekend but the rain was very choosy about where it fell. In Canterbury indications from arable farmers are that yields have been very good so far across cereals and small seeds.

Farmers in Southland continue mopping up after the Mataura River flooding, in the View from the Vines series grapes are ripening and birds need to be kept at bay and a look back at the Golden Shears which turns 60 this year.

"Hentertainment" is a way of keeping hens laying - and happy - at Henergy, an egg business on the outskirts of Masterton. Henergy founder Graeme Napier was the first egg producer to get the SPCA blue tick for his barn-raised eggs and with more producers piling into cage-free egg production under new regulations, they're trying to stay one step ahead.

Paul Tapper has lived and farmed in the Rangiora/North Canterbury region for many years and with retirement looming, the PGG rural real estate agent has fulfilled a dream to develop a traditional family orchard.

Around Pukekohe, warm dry days have continued and growers have maintained the costly task of irrigating outdoor crops. Harvest is progressing well in Canterbury but, despite the dry weather, it has been quite slow because of overcast cooler conditions.

Thats Hentertainment!, Native Nursery Supports Local Farmers, Easy Pickings at North Canterbury Orchard and the Regional Wrap.

A large nursery is flourishing in the old gardens at the back of the meeting house at Takutai o te Titi Marae at Colac Bay in Southland. It was established in 2017 by Riverton man Jade Maguire who works with the community to grow thousands of plants each year, which are then used in local restoration projects.