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Artwork for Country Life

Country Life

RNZ
Cheviot
Dunny
Menzshed
Erosion Control
Persimmons
Wairoa
Salad Brothers
Sheep and Beef Farming
Lettuce
Rural New Zealand
Tātou Tātou O Te Wairoa
Horticulture
Project Development
Trade Skills
Community Engagement
Social Isolation
Brooklyn Creamery
Gisborne
Poplar and Willow Planting
Kiwifruit

The Country Life team take you all over the motu to hear the extraordinary stories of every day rural New Zealand.

PublishesDailyEpisodes306Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Country Life

Latest Episodes

Country Life meets a family using bullock-power instead of diesel to grow their own food, and gets a taste of the tomatoes grown by some of Wellington's Italian community.

You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our we... more

Bullocks and horses power the Land's farm in the Hokianga where three generations live off-grid, growing practically all their own food without the need for fossil fuels. Country Life spent a morning with the families whose way of life echoes more tr... more

From Italy to Wellington's south coast, growing and eating great food is central to the Cuccurullo family maintaining its cultural heritage. For the past 60 years, they've kept the tradition of growing tomatoes from seeds first sourced in Capri in th... more

Anisha Satya chats with Kristine Asuncion, Filipina dairy farmer and advocate.

With thanks to:

* Kristine Asuncion

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Kristine Asuncion
Dairy farmer and migrant advocate
Filipino Dairy Workers Association / Filipino Dairy Workers of New Zealand
Episode: FULL SHOW: Country Life for 27 March 2026
Nina Cuccurullo
Tomato grower maintaining Capri variety in Island Bay
Isle of Capri tomato legacy
Episode: FULL SHOW: Country Life for 27 March 2026
Marissa Land
Marissa, Joseph's wife, part of the Land family household
Land family, Whirinaki
Episode: Off-grid, thriving and feeding whānau without fossil fuels
Catherine Land
Joseph's wife
Land family
Episode: Off-grid, thriving and feeding whānau without fossil fuels
Lucia Land
Daughter involved in homeschooling
Land family
Episode: Off-grid, thriving and feeding whānau without fossil fuels
Teresa Cuccurullo
Nina's mother, involved in family tomato growing and cuisine
Cuccurullo family
Episode: Roots that run deep - Capri tomatoes
Donald Moore
Executive Director, Global Dairy Platform
Global Dairy Platform
Episode: FULL SHOW: Country Life for 20 March 2026
Kate Rickard
Sister of Rachel, part of the trap-clearing team.
Rickard family
Episode: A trap down the river: Pest control along Mid Canterbury's waterways
Ken Body
Retired plumber and trapper around the South Rakaia huts, active in local conservation efforts.
Self-employed/retired
Episode: A trap down the river: Pest control along Mid Canterbury's waterways

Host

Janina Schwannacher
Host of Country Life; RNZ

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 94 ratings
  • Best podcast ever about farming

    Really good for any age interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ferg from Aotearoa/nz
    New Zealand8 months ago
  • So relatable keeping things real

    Such a relaxing down to earth listen. One of the only podcast on rotation that really feeds into my life. Thankyou.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gbnjdx
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Country life

    It’s so inspiring to hear about what rural New Zealanders are doing, I love this podcast. A great way to start the weekend 👍

    Keep up the good work

    Nga mihi 🙏

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anna M. makora
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Country life

    A must every weekend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sue Penman
    New Zealand4 years ago
  • Glad there’s a podcast

    For many years I listened to Country Life on the radio but it doesn’t fit into my schedule any more. Now with a podcast I don’t have to mis an episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CBS4413
    New Zealand5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics are a strong fit for those in agribusiness seeking real-world trends.
The mix of expert interviews and on-the-ground reporting keeps episodes informative and relatable.
Listeners value the authentic, down-to-earth rural focus and practical farming insights.
The storytelling around heritage and regional cultures adds a compelling layer to agricultural coverage.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

FULL SHOW: Country Life for 20 March 2026
Q: What do you feel is driving this global demand we're seeing for protein, particularly animal proteins in the form of red meat or dairy products?
Economic development leads to higher-quality protein consumption, and animal-sourced foods remain the most biodigestible source with all essential amino acids; as incomes rise, demand increases, especially for dairy and red meat.
The Masjid that's made a home in Mataura
Q: How many members does the Mataura Masjid have and where do they come from?
There are about 20 to 25 members, with people coming from Rashford, Tapanui, Goa, Windham, and other nearby areas, highlighting the mosque's role as a diverse, regional hub.
The future role of meat and dairy in feeding humans
Q: What is driving the current global demand for protein, particularly animal proteins?
As economies grow from low to middle income, people seek higher quality nutrition, including animal-sourced foods, which are complete proteins that are highly biodigestible and thus attractive as diets improve.
Pick and be merry - harvest time at Big Sky Wines
Q: What time are you out here this morning?
I'm only like 7.30, not that early.
FULL SHOW: Country Life for 27 February 2026
Q: What are some of the challenges in responding to global demands for protein?
Challenges include addressing protein deficits in low-income countries while balancing the needs of high-income countries where protein is abundant. Additionally, ethical considerations arise in food sourcing.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Country Life

What is Country Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show paints a broad portrait of rural life, economics, and innovation in New Zealand agriculture, covering topics from future food demand and protein shifts to practical crafts like blade shearing and blacksmithing, as well as community-driven initiatives such as the Underground Festival and regional heritage stories. Episodes frequently pair industry analysis with human-interest narratives, highlighting how policy, technology, and culture shape farming communities, local economies, and traditional crafts. A standout thread is the focus on sustainable practices and resilience in farming, including agri-voltaics, biochar, and food provenance, often anchored by expert voices and firsthand demonstrations from the field.

Where can I find podcast stats for Country Life?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Country Life. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Country Life and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Country Life get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Country Life, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Country Life?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Country Life, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Country Life have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Country Life has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Country Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Country Life:

1. Sunday Morning
2. The Detail
3. Saturday Morning
4. Mediawatch
5. Black Sheep

How many episodes of Country Life are there?

Country Life launched 19 years ago and published 306 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Country Life?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Country Life?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Country Life from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Country Life?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Country Life. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Country Life?

Recent guests on Country Life include:

1. Kristine Asuncion
2. Nina Cuccurullo
3. Marissa Land
4. Catherine Land
5. Lucia Land
6. Teresa Cuccurullo
7. Donald Moore
8. Kate Rickard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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