Country Life

By RNZSociety & Culture

Country Life episodes

March 06Permaculture power in Poukawa
The Duff family's focus is working with nature when it comes to their permaculture farm and organic nursery, Kahikatea Farm.
You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.
You can find more information about Kahikatea Farm, here.
With thanks to:
Jo Duff

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14 min
March 06 Young kiwi pilot helps map and fight Victoria's devastating bushfires
Kiwi pilot Henry Phelps has gone from wilderness flying to helping combat Australia's bushfires, flying planes with special technology which provide photos to assist in the tracking and fighting of fires on the ground. He's not the only Phelps in the air over the fires. Sometimes his brother is flying over the same area in a helicopter, also on a similar mission. Henry chats to Country Life about his job and working alongside his brother as fires rage below.
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7 min
March 06 Weird, wacky wildfood
From wild deer to huhu grubs - the Wildfoods Festival in Hokitika celebrates all foods foraged and feral. Anisha Satya talks to vender coordinator Cary Lancaster.
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9 min
March 06 On the Farm for 6 March 2026
A wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country.
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8 min
February 27FULL SHOW: Country Life for 27 February 2026
Country Life is with blade shearers from around the world in a woolshed in Tinui and immersed in the many attractions of the tiny community of Duntroon. Sir Charles Godfray is the show's guest talking about how food systems will have to change in the face of global warming.
You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.
In this episode:
0:30 - Rural News Wrap
6:38 - 'Fetishisation of protein': An Oxford Professor on the future of food and food production
15:58 - Sharpening their edge for the Golden Shears
28:37 - Duntroon: The biggest little town in the valley
With thanks to:
Sir Charles Godfray
Rewarewa Station
Duntroon Heritage Trail
Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening.
Send us your feedback or get in touch at [email protected]
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
52 min
February 27 Duntroon - the biggest little town in the valley
For a town of only 100 people, Duntroon has more than its share of attractions, with a blacksmiths, a master saddler, the intriguing Vanished World Heritage Centre with its fossils, and a Heritage Trail.
You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
22 min
February 27 Sharpening their edge for the Golden Shears
Blade shearers from around the world have been sharpening their tools and their eye before the Golden Shears in Masterton under the tutelage of Allan Oldfield, a world champion blade shearer, at a woolshed in Tinui.
You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.

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13 min
February 27An Oxford professor on the future of food and food production
Sir Charles Godfray has told the Riddet Institute's Agrifood Summit our food systems will have to change in order to limit the impacts of global warming.
You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.
With thanks to:
Sir Charles Godfray
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10 min
February 27 Rural News Wrap
A round-up of the week's rural news
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6 min
February 20FULL SHOW: Country Life for 20 February 2026
Country Life heads to Waipara for the Underground Festival, looks at the tradition of whiskey making in Southland and meets a biochar-maker north of Wellington.
You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.
In this episode:
0:41 - A festival for farmers
7:50 - Rural News Wrap
14:50 - Moonshine matriarch: Southland's tradition of distilling Scottish whisky
28:13 - Turning brewery gunk and forest junk into something good for the soil
With thanks to:
Fran Bailey, Underground Festival
Jim Geddes, Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Distillery
Matthew Welton and Tania Paio
Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening.
Send us your feedback or get in touch at [email protected]
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
50 min