Country-Wide Autumn 2025

In this episode Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with the Country-Wide Autumn 2025 homeblock columnists on how they’re adapting to different changes in their corner of New Zealand and Australia.

Kate McBride, farming in remote western New South Wales, reflects on isolation for women in agriculture, and the fallout of live export reforms on Aussie farmers.

King Country’s Dani Darke is tackling dry conditions on farm while exploring agritech and global insights through her Nuffield Scholarship abroad.

Mark Guscott shares his learnings about ‘regenerative’ branded product expansion in the US as Aitken’s Ranch launches their Wairarapa raised lamb under this certified label.

In South Otago, Nigel Woodhead is reducing their reliance on sheep and beef by investing in forestry and new business opportunities, focusing on long-term resilience and sustainability.

Mark Guscott and wife Susannah farm 1434 hectares of sheep, cattle and crops near Martinborough, Wairarapa, with three teenagers keeping them honest.

Dani Darke lives and farms with her husband Anthony and their three daughters on their sheep and beef farm in Aria, the King Country.

In this episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with two professors with expertise in gene editing about New Zealand’s proposed gene editing legislation. Professor Jack Heinemann discusses why the concerns about the details of the Gene Technology Bill are crucial for the likes of Fonterra. He highlighted risks around traceability and the increased level of compliance for farmers and the potential limitations of trade access.
Professor David Williams, with his expertise in gene editing, warns of potential unintended consequences and GMO contamination, advocating for a robust regulatory framework to safeguard farmers and the environment. Together, they explore the need for careful oversight in the evolving field of gene editing at the Bill works through the submission process.

In this episode of the Country-Wide Autumn Special Report: Pathways to Farm Ownership, Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with Sarah Barr from Rural Coach and Brent Irving from PGG Wrightson. Sarah Barr discusses how aligning values, building trust, and planning for the unexpected can create strong, long-lasting farming partnerships.

Brent, drawing on his rural banking and real estate background, shares insights on how equity partnerships and lease-to-buy models are helping young farmers onto the ownership ladder. He emphasises the importance of collaboration, long-term thinking, and management skills over upfront capital, encouraging aspiring farm owners to seek help early.

In this episode, as part of our Country-Wide Autumn Special Report: Pathways to Farm Ownership, we explore the journey of establishing a successful equity partnership at Inveray, a historic family sheep and beef farm in Mount Somers, Canterbury. John Chapman and Bert Oliver share how they transitioned from a traditional ownership model to a collaborative business structure, underpinned by trust, aligned values, and a shared long-term vision.

One of the most common issues that I deal with as a counsellor is the distress caused by farm succession. Words Kathryn Wright.

Pikelets are not just for smoko in our house. In fact, sometimes when there is no bread in the house, and the Weetbix box is just crumbs, we make pikelets for breakfast. Words & Photos Philippa Cameron.
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Staring at Pancake the pony’s paddock with two uninterested children, Kimbolton farmer Gemma McDougall threw in her nursing career to convert the paddock and follow her heart towards her flower farm dream. Words Rebecca Greaves, Photos Sarah Horrocks.

The newly formed Aotearoa New Zealand Catchment Communities aims to give a collective voice to catchment groups across the country, with a goal of providing security of funding for the future, and sharing the good news stories of farmer stewardship of the land. Words Rebecca Greaves.