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Country Life

Country Life

RNZ 300 Episodes Jul 24, 2026

The Country Life team takes you all over New Zealand to hear the extraordinary stories of everyday rural life. From farming to community events, the podcast explores the unique challenges and joys of living in the countryside. Each episode features interviews with locals and insights into the agricultural heart of the nation.

Episodes

FULL SHOW: Country Life for 24 July 2026
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 24 July 2026 Jul 24, 2026 00:50:58 This week Country life talks to an American poultry farmer about her bird flu experience, visits a llama farmer and meets a family who've been farming celery for more than a century.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:59 - Rural news wrap5:45- What New Zealand can learn from a farmer who lived through H5N117:43 - Addicted to ya
Celery, butterflies and Travis the goat
Celery, butterflies and Travis the goat Jul 24, 2026 00:18:15 For 120 years, the Franklin family has farmed celery through changing markets, wild weather and six generations of family life. Alongside the celery fields, visitors now wander through sunflower patches, butterfly houses and a bustling farmyard where one cheeky goat has become a bit of a celebrity. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.You can fin
Addicted to yarn: Llama herd follows love of fibre
Addicted to yarn: Llama herd follows love of fibre Jul 24, 2026 00:13:43 It was the 1990s when many farms were looking to diversify. 'Why not llamas?', thought Southland spinner and farmer Janette Buckingham.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Janette Buckingham, Thickthorne LlamasGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
What New Zealand can learn from a farmer who lived through H5N1
What New Zealand can learn from a farmer who lived through H5N1 Jul 24, 2026 00:11:57 What happens when bird flu arrives on your farm? Delaware poultry farmer and educator Georgie Cartanza shares her first hand experience of an H5N1 outbreak, the loss of 148,000 birds, and the biosecurity lessons she believes every farmer should know.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Georgie Cartanza, University of DelawareGo to
Rural News Wrap for 24 July 2026
Rural News Wrap for 24 July 2026 Jul 24, 2026 00:04:35 A wrap of the week's news from RNZ's rural news team.You can find more from RNZ's rural news team, here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 17 July 2026
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 17 July 2026 Jul 17, 2026 00:50:53 This week on Country life, the team chat to Irish farmer and author John Connell and heads to East Timor to see how money earnt in New Zealand orchards is benefiting those back home.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:54 - Rural news wrap5:27 - Yarn on a farm: Sheep, beef and trees in South Otago12:32 - John Connell: Life lesso
A Ticket to a Better Life: Timor-Leste enters New Zealand's RSE programme
A Ticket to a Better Life: Timor-Leste enters New Zealand's RSE programme Jul 17, 2026 00:21:05 Thousands of Timorese have applied to join New Zealand's seasonal worker scheme, which opened to Timor Leste for the first time in 2026. Seven months of orchard work could earn them up to $40,000, considered a fortune in one of the world's poorest countries. Anna Thomas travelled to Timor Leste to meet some of the families benefiting from their remittances. You can find photos and read more about
John Connell: Life lessons from those who work on the land
John Connell: Life lessons from those who work on the land Jul 17, 2026 00:12:09 Irish writer and farmer John Connell latest book is The Wisdom of Farmers. He shares some of the pearls of wisdom he has learnt from a decade of farming with Country Life.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:John ConnellMake sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening.
Yarn on the Farm: Sheep, beef and trees in South Otago
Yarn on the Farm: Sheep, beef and trees in South Otago Jul 17, 2026 00:07:03 Anisha Satya speaks with farmer Nigel Woodhead about his "mosaic" farming system.With thanks to:Nigel WoodheadMake 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 country@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Rural News Wrap for 17 July 2026
Rural News Wrap for 17 July 2026 Jul 17, 2026 00:04:31 A wrap of news from RNZ's rural news deskGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
From the Archives: Sam Neill - finding balance among the vines
From the Archives: Sam Neill - finding balance among the vines Jul 14, 2026 00:18:24 The late Sir Sam Neill told Country Life he was excited by the "farming" side of wine, that and the beautiful Otago landscape where his Two Paddocks vineyard is set. We paid the actor and vintner a visit back in the spring of 2022.You can find photos and read more about our visit our webpage, here.With thanks to:The late Sir Sam NeillGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 10 July 2026
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 10 July 2026 Jul 10, 2026 00:48:42 This week Country Life takes you stargazing at a farm near Lake Tekapo, goes behind the scenes of a wool auction in Napier and is with some belching cows being measured for methane emissions at a giant barn in Waikato. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:54 - Rural News Wrap8:50 - Inside the 'animal Hilton': Pamu&#x27

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