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This week Country Life digs into land uses on the East Coast, visits an old rural school turned communal village and checks out the action at the Methven Rodeo. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:47 - On the Farm8:03 - The making of Te Tairāwhiti: Getting land use 'wrong' and where to from here15:42 - It takes a village30:38 - Right time for a rodeoWith thanks to: Hilton Collier, Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable TrustDrew MackenzieBert Elstob, Rosa Dekkar, Felicity Montgomery, Angus SmithMake 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

Anisha experiences the Methven Rodeo, and meets the people behind it. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Bert ElstobRosa DekkarFelicity MontgomeryAngus SmithCurious about the proposed changes to the Code of Welfare for rodeos? Find them here. Make 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 [email protected] Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

On the site of an old school south of Ōtaki, Makahuri is becoming a village of homes, gardens, chickens, cows and neighbours who look out for one another. Sally Round visits a co-housing community discovering village life takes plenty of work, compromise and conversation. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Drew MackenzieGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Māori agribusiness consultant Hilton Collier on Te Tairāwhiti's changing land uses. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Hilton Collier, Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

Country Life hops in the cab of a stock truck moving cattle, joins a crew planting a food forest in Canterbury and takes a tour of the country's largest wool scouring factory. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 1:06 - Rural News Wrap8:15 - Fleece flies again at Napier's WoolWorks16:10 - Future-focussed food forests32:04 - Ride along: 90 years of helping drive Hawke's Bay's economyWith thanks to: Rosstan Mazey and Tony CunninghamChrystal O'Connor, Jorie Knook, Hiraina Tangiora, and Harry BaitzJohn Robson, Bruce Stephenson, Todd Stephenson, and Kim McRaeMake 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

Gianina takes a drive through remote parts of Hawke's Bay with Stephenson Transport, a multi-generation family run business still going strong. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: John Robson, Bruce Stephenson, Todd Stephenson, and Kim McRaeMake 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 [email protected] Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A supermarket in forest form - Anisha joins researchers at Lincoln University to see how fruits, veggies and medicinal plants can coexist in a food forest. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Chrystal O'Connor, Jorie Knook, Hiraina Tangiora, and Harry Baitz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After devastating cyclone damage, WoolWorks' Napier plant is humming again, transforming fleece from hill country shearing sheds into the clean, dry, pressed, product ready for carpet makers and other manufacturers. Country Life takes a tour. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Rosstan Mazey and Tony CunninghamGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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

Country Life checks in with the Electoral Commission about rural voting enrolments and turnout, gets stuck into a spring tidy of Gianina's garden, and visits pubs around the lower South Island to learn what makes a publican. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. In this episode: 0:58 - Rural News Wrap6:38 - The state of the rural vote14:23 - Garden Diaries: Spring has sprung (for the original story, see here)29:55 - A conversation with Country PubsWith thanks to: Karl Le QuesneHannah ZwartzKeith Fenwick, Donna Hall, Jim McDougall, Pravesh and Monika KumarMake 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

How are pubs across the central South Island faring in 2026 - and what do their futures look like? You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Keith Fenwick, Donna Hall, Jim McDougall, Pravesh and Monika KumarMake 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 [email protected] Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The warmer weather means it's time to turn my attention back to the garden, bringing in the crops ready for harvest and preparing my seedlings for the coming season too. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. You can find our first diary entry and details of the garden set up, here. With thanks to: Hannah ZwartzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Electoral Commision chief executive Karl Le Quesne chats about rural voters, and how they can turn out to the polls in October. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here. With thanks to: Karl Le QuesneGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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