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Private Notes
After the November 2016 earthquake, people running a big North Canterbury farm have to recover from the initial shock, cope with the immediate damage and still keep the farm running.
It’s springtime at Kakahu Angus Stud near Geraldine in Canterbury, and calving is in full-swing for farmer Tom Hargreaves.
A former truck driver turned organic sheep and beef farmer joins with 50 other suppliers to form a network supplying Southlanders with organic meat.
After starting a career in town, a woman comes home to take over the family high country sheep farm, first undergoing a long apprenticeship to learn how to get the best out of the land.
Three generations of a Northland family run a herd of 100 buffalo, producing milk and cheese that they sell to restaurants, speciality cheese shops and high-end food outlets.
The biggest flood in the recorded history of the Waitotara Valley, near Whanganui, hasn't put a couple off their dream of taking full ownership of their leased sheep and beef farm.
A couple take a radical approach to farm ownership, believing the whole community should share and benefit from their land, which they farm on ecological principles.
Tailing time is a busy season for a Southland farmer and his Dutch born wife as they balance helping in their local community with running their sheep and beef operation.
A traditional sheep and beef farmer plants a tart cherry orchard to diversify, and uses the cherries in healthy home-made dog biscuits, which he's now marketing to the nation.
A former international gold-medalist target shooter runs her farm single-handedly on North Island's Central Plateau. She's also a priest at Taihape's Anglican Church.
A twelve year old boy and champion sheep breeder sets his eye on the top prizes at the Hawke's Bay A and P Show. His family's stud rams also attracts buyers from across the Tasman.
A young commercial fisherman in Whitianga fishes sustainably for his family's future. His long trips to sea chasing snapper are complemented by days off surfing with his family.
A former share-milking couple plant a blueberry orchard and develop a boutique fruit ice cream outlet near Matamata, despite knowing nothing about horticulture beforehand.
A colourful character farms cattle on the shores of Lake Pukaki. His floral shirts and unconventional farm vehicles are added attractions to his Hobbit film location tours.
A coastal couple on an historic farm carve out a lifestyle on the wild Wairarapa coast. They're kept busy with cattle, kai moana and teaching at their cooking school.
Year 7 and 8 pupils at a Northland school buy seed and fertiliser to plant their own crop on unused school land, aiming to make a profit and learn about the realities of farming.
A Wairarapa family runs a high-tech intensive-care lamb orphanage in spring to increase their flock's survival rates. Their young boys play an active role in the life of the farm.
A couple aim to grow all their own food in a sustainable way on their Waikato farmlet. Cows, pigs and ducks live beneath a canopy of trees that yield fresh fruit all year round.
A farmer breeds top eventing and show-jumping horses by letting them run free on his Gisborne hill-country farm, where they develop their own unique style and spirit.
A Canterbury family grows barley and turns it into malt which they sell to international craft brewers. Their traditional cropping farm is now home to a state-of-the-art malt-house.
Two families farm cattle in a remote south Westland valley. They enjoy the adventure of being off-grid as they join together to muster cows and calves for the annual sale.
A Te Puke family who diversified into avocados 40 years ago enjoy seeing new growth in the industry as two exporters join forces to expand markets in Japan and Australia.
A couple who met through a mutual love of horses now have their own farm, where they have achieved their dream of spending their lives training both horses and riders.
A macadamia nut grower hopes other Maori landowners follow her example to make a good profit from their land. She has spent 30 years finding the trees that give the best return.
The fourth, fifth and sixth generations of a family continue a tradition of aiming to breed the perfect bull and strive for record-breaking prices at their annual on-farm bull sale.
An American couple's world-wide search for the best soil to make wine lead them to north Canterbury, where they create world class wine using biodynamic principles.
Three family members use natural horsemanship methods on their north Canterbury farm and compete against each other in a new and fast-growing sport, Cowboy Challenge.
When a Waikato policeman started spending his days off helping a struggling elderly farmer, he had no idea that he would fall in love with the land and end up owning the farm.
A young farming family works hard to build a business selling their own meat direct to customers. They're also busy working day jobs, running the farm and raising three children.
A south Westland family battle swollen rivers to muster their cattle out of the remote Arawhata Valley. They muster with horses and dogs, just as they've done for generations
An environmental hero combines oysters, livestock farming and conservation on his special patch of Waiheke Island, determined to leave the land better for future generations
A retiring couple's decision to plant grapes results in their entire family moving into wine making, and three generations are now producing wines in Wanaka, Central Otago.
A farmer who has switched from sheep to angora goats is encouraging others, especially lifestylers, to follow. He says mohair fibre is more profitable than wool and his stock are cuter and more fun.
A New Zealand family starts a business producing coconut oil soaps and lip balms in Vanuatu, making use of a wasted resource as well as generating much-needed income for the locals.
After a farmer recovers from severe depression, he focuses on helping others in the rural community who suffer from stress and mental illness
A young woman shepherd convinces a farmer to let her milk his sheep, and a local French man turns the milk into a variety of cheeses. The new venture keeps the Tasman trio busy year-round.
A Cambridge couple raise lamb for the USA Wholefoods store chain and pay great attention to animal health and welfare. They also take great care of their land and surrounding native bush.
Former farmers get huge satisfaction teaching prison inmates agriculture skills on a farm inside Christchurch Men's Prison, aiming to help them find work after they are released.
When a couple struggle to make a living selling fruit from their citrus orchard, they turn it into high-value preserves that win international awards, bringing them growing sales
Farmer Amanda Goodman bought a few goats so her children could enjoy them, but what started as family fun has turned into an award-winning cheese business.
