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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
Horticulture
Tātou Tātou O Te Wairoa
Trade Skills
Social Isolation
Community Engagement
Project Development
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

This week on Country Life Gianina meets a worm farmer in Hawke's Bay, while Sally drops in on a Kerikeri orchard growing dragon fruit and Anisha is with some Canterbury grain farmers. Amid punishing weather and high costs, they're making the switch t... more

A trial of the striking and exotic dragon fruit is hitting its straps in Northland. Could the new sweet varieties grown under cover be a viable crop in New Zealand amid a changing climate?

You can find photos and read more about the stories in this... more

Canterbury is an arable powerhouse, but in recent years, many have started moving into dairying. What's behind the change?

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

And you can find that other story w... more

Trevor Hellyer made the move from one mud loving animal to another - changing from pig farming to worm farming just outside Havelock North.

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

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Kate Buckley
Co-owner, Cranberries Westland
Cranberries Westland
Episode: Crunchy, crispy cranberries
Kevin MacGregor
Co-owner, Cranberries Westland
Cranberries Westland
Episode: Crunchy, crispy cranberries
Amy Ingram
Winner in Hers Not His category at the Methven Ute Muster
Kaikoura resident
Episode: Mustering the trusty ute at Methven A&P Show
Logan Brown
Organizer and driver to a degree for the Hers Not His category
Episode: Mustering the trusty ute at Methven A&P Show
Emma Kinzett
Youngest Ute owner featured, year 12 student at Mount Hud College
Episode: Mustering the trusty ute at Methven A&P Show
Laura Watson
Owner of Monowai Station, fourth/fifth generation farmer involved in wetland restoration and catchment initiatives
Monowai Station / Waimata Catchment Group
Episode: Laura Watson's 'pinch me' moment
Nick Bennik
Co-owner, Bennik's Eggs
Bennik's Eggs
Episode: FULL SHOW: Country Life for 3 April 2026
Harry Bennik
Co-owner, Bennik's Eggs
Bennik's Eggs
Episode: FULL SHOW: Country Life for 3 April 2026
Lisa Daunton
Director of Kai Whakanao, creator of KaiConnect; involved in deer hunting for food banks
Kai Whakanao / KaiConnect
Episode: FULL SHOW: Country Life for 3 April 2026

Host

Janina Schwannacher
Host of Country Life; RNZ

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 95 ratings
  • Best podcast ever about farming

    Really good for any age interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ferg from Aotearoa/nz
    New Zealand9 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 Zealand6 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.

Laura Watson's 'pinch me' moment
Q: How did the catchment group start and develop?
Research and funding from Dame Anne Salmond and partners led to a community meeting in 2019, launching the Waimata Catchment Project with continued support from MPI, MFE, lotteries, and nature initiatives, enabling widespread restoration and community engagement.
Laura Watson's 'pinch me' moment
Q: How many farms are involved in the Waimata Catchment Group?
The group includes around 65 to 70 members, spanning forestry, farming, lifestyle blocks, and urban residents, indicating broad local participation.
Crunchy, crispy cranberries
Q: What are the main products and where are they sold?
They produce three jellies, three sauces or relishes, and a prominent cranberry smoothie; products are sold online, through specialty stores, markets, and retailers including a local railway service and a sandwich shop, with heavy emphasis on fresh and processed products year-round.
Crunchy, crispy cranberries
Q: How are the berries harvested and what gear is used here compared to the U.S.?
In this region, they use a dry harvester rather than flood harvesting, relying on a machine from the 1950s adapted for local conditions to lift and separate berries without flooding the fields, which preserves moisture content and shelf life for fresh sales.
Crunchy, crispy cranberries
Q: What does a cranberry taste like when fresh compared to dried or processed forms?
The guests describe a sour, tangy, and crisp profile that is more apple-like, with a sharpness that is reduced in fresh processing, and they emphasize the unique texture and sweetness balance in fresh berries.

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. Saturday Morning
3. The Detail
4. Mediawatch
5. Gone By Lunchtime

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. Kate Buckley
2. Kevin MacGregor
3. Amy Ingram
4. Logan Brown
5. Emma Kinzett
6. Laura Watson
7. Nick Bennik
8. Harry Bennik

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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