Country-Wide Autumn 2025

2024 Nuffield Report – Beyond the farm gate: Rethinking New Zealand’s economic future

In this episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp interviews Nuffield Scholar Carlos Bagrie about New Zealand’s economic future beyond agriculture and tourism. Carlos highlights the need for long-term planning and diversification to address the limits of mature industries.

Drawing on global experiences, he urges building new value streams and deeper collaboration across sectors. Carlos calls for a national conversation on New Zealand’s identity and a 25- to 50-year vision, aiming to inspire bold, innovative solutions that ensure sustainable prosperity for future generations.

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Episode 67 – Muller Station’s journey balancing profit and ecological resilience

In this episode, Jo Grigg speaks with Steve Satterthwaite, who farms Muller Station in Marlborough’s Awatere Valley with his family. Their low-input, environmentally focused approach has created a resilient high country system balancing fine wool, meat with their dual-purpose merino and biodiversity values.

Sarah Perriam-Lampp also speaks with ecologist David Norton, who helped develop Muller’s integrated farm management plan. He highlights the need for long-term, landscape-scale solutions to threats like wilding pines, deer, and goats.

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Episode 66 – Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari: How farmers are helping save New Zealand kiwi

In this episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with Graeme Gleeson, a Waikato sheep and beef farmer, and Helen Hughes, CEO of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, about farming’s growing role in helping preserve New Zealand’s biodiversity through conservation. Graeme reflects on the community’s involvement in kiwi recovery and environmental stewardship, while Helen discusses the urgent need for funding to support the continuation of kiwi translocations and predator control.

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Episode 65 – Autumn farmer round-up

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.

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Markets move faster than regulations

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

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Technology – a game changer

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

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Episode 64 – Gene editing in agriculture: Navigating risks and regulation

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.

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Episode 63 – Equity partnerships: How experts help navigate success

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.

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Episode 62 – Inverary Station: How to build a long-lasting equity partnership

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.

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Quick succession

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

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