Rnz: Country Life

Country Life gets the latest on the beef market and cherry harvest, learns how pairing solar and horticulture could help with growing and joins one of Pāmu’s young apprentices on a King Country farm. Follow Country Life on your favourite podcast platform or listen on the RNZ website. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:41 - A yarn on the farm with beef farmer Craig Pickens7:23 - Rural News Wrap12:12 - New study into growing crops under solar panels18:33 - Growing a farmer - Archie's life as a Pāmu apprentice34:22 - Central Otago a fruitgrower's cherry pickWith thanks to:Craig PickensPieter-Willem HendriksArchie Davidson and Alan MacDonald, PāmuKris Robb and Mike Mangau, Clyde OrchardsMake 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

A look at how Clyde Orchard's recent cherry and stonefruit harvest has gone and a tour of a new purpose built accommodation for its RSE workers.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.You can learn more about Clyde Orchards, here.With thanks to:Kris Robb and Mike MangauMake sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening.Want to chat to us or find out more about RNZ Podcasts? Join the RNZ Podcasts Discussion Facebook group where we share behind the scenes info about our series, and invite you to share feedback, recommendations and ask us questions.Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Archie's 17 and an apprentice to Micky, champion shearer and Pāmu farm manager on King Country sheep and beef farm Te Wharua. We head out mustering and Archie shows how he's working with his whistle and his dogs. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Archie Davidson and Alan MacDonald, PāmuGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Growing crops alongside solar farming is a new field for New Zealand, so researchers here have been analysing studies of these sorts of systems around the world. Dr Pieter-Willem Hendriks from the research team at Lincoln University spoke to Sally Round. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Pieter-Willem HendriksGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of the week's news from the primary sector.You can find more from RNZ's rural news team, here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A little bit of luck as well as good management is behind our guest's entry into the roaring beef market. Craig Pickens has been farming in King Country since 2005 and his present farm, Waimiha, has gone through some changes, lately the move to finishing beef cattle.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Craig PickensGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week the Country Life team takes you riverside to find out about an unusual ferry which has been running for 130 years, they delve into the science of insect vibrations which may be a way of protecting crops, and getting a taste of Americana at Burkes Pass. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.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 country@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Producer Mark Leishman goes on a personal journey to Burkes Pass, a place with deep family ties. A fire in the 1990s destroyed most of the Burkes Pass Hotel run by his grandparents and has been replaced by a replica 1950s Americana village complete with its own "Pin Up Queen". 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

Researchers from the Bioeconomy Science Institute are investigating whether they can apply the vibrations of insects to disrupt pests in the greenhouse. Our Changing World's Claire Concannon heads along to the tomato growing greenhouse where they're trialling the use of biotremology. 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

The southern hemisphere's only still operational river ferry celebrates 130 years.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.You can find more about the punt, here.With thanks to:Tom JonesGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of the week's news from the primary sector.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Country Life is back for 2026 with a classic tale of the bush, bullocks and camp ovens at an old woolshed in King Country. The team check in on a forest growing wood into products for Ikea and find out how farmers can make the most of the demand from international tourists for a taste of life on the farm. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:44 - On The Farm8:25 - Growing demand for on-farm fun from international tourists18:09 - Ikea owner's first New Zealand forest: 'Timber production first and foremost'31:00 - Camp ovens, bullockies and other tales from the bushWith thanks to:Marijke Dunselman, Agritourism NZJosh Cairns, Southern ForestsLew, Julie and Craig Pickens, and Julie TannneauMake 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

Old-timer Lew Pickens' passions hark back to his days clearing land in Northland - camp oven cooking and driving bullock teams. He has a woolshed full of early tools and farming machines on the farm now run by son Craig. He is keenly aware that his stories, culture, traditions and old ways will be lost when he, and a few like him, are gone. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Lew, Julie and Craig Pickens, and Julie TannneauGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Ingka Investments, the parent company of furniture giant Ikea, now owns 30,000 hectares of forestry in Aotearoa. It's first purchase saw the conversion of Wisp Hill Station in southern Otago from farmland to timber production forestry. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Josh Cairns, Southern ForestsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Agritourism NZ's Marijke Dunselman outlines how farmers and growers can take advantage of growing global demand for authentic experiences on the farm.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Marijke Dunselman, Agritourism NZGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Country Life heads to an arboretum where dozens of different types of trees are grown, including a few for Christmas. We travel up the Whanganui River on the rural mail run, delivering a few early Christmas presents and go behind the scenes of a family-run berry orchard in King Country to see what it takes to bring summer berries from the orchard to the Christmas dinner table. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Roy family all pitch in getting berries from orchard to Christmas plate over the festive season. They have been growing berries in Piopio for more than three decades, and nearly all are sold from the farmgate. We go behind the scenes of the Christmas berry rush. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Rural postie Tracy Marshall takes visitors along her mail delivery route which winds along the Whanganui River. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Tracy Marshall, Original Mail TourGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

"You can come here and see nearly every type of forestry system that can be applied," Blair Jamieson says of Tāmata Hauhā's demonstration farm near Palmerston North.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Blair Jamieson, Tāmata HauhāGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details