Country Life

Mount Eliza Cheese, Max Suckling and the BMSB, regional wrap, frost fighting on a Wairarapa vineyard and NZ organic produce in China.

Energy consultant Phil Stevens wanted to reduce his carbon footprint so on his Manawatu lifestyle block he's experimenting taking old logs and tree trimmings and turning them into a special ingredient to sequester carbon and enhance soil and water.

Steve and Phil Brown have set up their King Country home and farm as a sanctuary for children with disabilities and their families. Their rescued animals are on the staff and help entertain and comfort visitors.

Thirty-two graduate vets will receive $55,000 over five years from the Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians to help ease the shortage of veterinarians working with sheep, cows and working dogs.

This week unsettled spring weather included damaging hail in Hawkes Bay, hard frosts in Marlborough and it's been wetter than wet on the West Coast.

Children with autism get to hang out with rescued animals at a King Country sanctuary, a lifestyle block owner experimenting with burning green waste to reduce his carbon footprint and a plan to reduce the shortage of vets.

When Steve Coxhead heads out into the forest with his team of Siberian huskies he never knows what is going to happen. "There's the element of danger I guess and that's what keeps it exciting. We've had wild pigs run out in front of us. We've seen deer. We often have hares leap out in front of us and take off up the track which gives you a pretty thrilling ride." Steve has New Zealand's largest kennels of racing Siberian huskies and is based at Broadlands near Taupo. He chose the location because in winter it's cold and "that's what they (the dogs) enjoy." Steve has recently set up a tourism venture where people can come to see the dogs in action.

After the devastating 2011 Japan earthquake Kohei Koyama re-evaluated his life. The former investment banker came to New Zealand to make wine. Nine months ago he took another step, moving to Urlar vineyard near Gladstone in Wairarapa to help its new sake-maker Japanese owners realise their dream.

Joe Ngan was born in 1932 in a small village near Canton (Guangzhou) China. When he was two, his mother died while giving birth to his sister. That meant Joe and elder brother Sun, were virtual orphans as their father owned a green grocer shop in Fielding New Zealand. He was brought up by his grandfather until the Sino Japanese war started in 1937. They made plans to escape to New Zealand but Grandad Ngan was hit with shrapnel, leaving the two young boys to travel to New Zealand alone. Joe Ngan's had a varied and interesting life and now lives near his two kiwifruit orchards in Kerikeri, Northland.

Blustery winds, spring chills, a touch of frost and for some a little too much rain. It's been a mixed bag, in other words typical spring weather, around the country this week.