Podcasts about north canterbury

This week, we have Charlie from Stonyhurst on the show. Charlie and Ferg have worked together for a long time, both passionate about breeding healthy, productive sheep. They discuss how Stonyhurst has managed to breed finewool sheep that don't need footrot treatment, improving lambing and weaning percentages, and dropping their micron. Charlie also discusses Stonyhurst's cattle and deer operation and some of the 175 years of history his family have there on the property. If you breed finewools sheep and you've been wondering how to fix your footrot woes, this podcast is the one for you. Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: info@nextgenagri.com.Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

David discusses the latest events in North Canterbury including updates in Kaikoura's annual plan, Environment Canterbury is boosting bus services and raising fares, and the restored Soldiers' Block in Hanmer Springs was officially opened on Anzac Day.

Wild weather is lashing the country, with Canterbury bearing the brunt of a low pressure system bringing heavy rain, strong winds and snow. A rain warning could be upgraded to red for North Canterbury, while much of the rest of the region is under an orange warning. In the Cook Straight, ferries are cancelled from this evening in the face of five-metre swells forecast off the Wellington and Wairarapa coasts. Anna Sargent reports.

Around the motu: David Hill is Local Democracy Reporter with North Canterbury News

One of the alluring, unmistakable truths about Hanmer Springs is that the gorgeous alpine haven has stayed true to its roots. It's been a sanctuary for the weary and the leisure-seeking for centuries. With a long and storied legacy as a hot-spot for healing mind, body and soul, Hanmer Springs proudly remains a premium alpine spa destination, whether you're a loved-up couple looking for a weekend escape, treating the whole family to some elemental treats, or you're after some personal pampering. And it's just an easy90 minute drive from Christchurch Airport, through the bucolic North Canterbury hinterland. Nature is the unbeatable balm to sooth the soul and spark your spirits in this secluded high-country basin. My first stop was at the resort village's crowning glory, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa. With a lustrous back-story, the hot springs were developed as a publicly-owned bathhouse in 1884, fortuitously chiming with that insatiable Victorian passion for geothermal water and its therapeutic qualities. Prior to that, pounamu-gathering Māori had used the area as a resting place for centuries, while returning soldiers were sent to Hanmer to recuperate, after both world wars. (It's great to see the historic old Soldiers' Block, next to the pools, is currently being restored and set to reopen on Anzac Day.) Hanmer Springs is my runaway favourite place to get into hot water. But before surrendering to the sweet sensation of this watery wonderland, my body was in need of some professional panel-beating, so I headed to The Spa Hanmer Springs. It's one of New Zealand's busiest day spas, so book in advance and take your pick from the slew of exquisite treatments, from facials and feet retreats to the full body affair. I was booked in for a Spa Signature Massage, which is a full body relaxation massage. But as I chatted to my charming therapist Sophie about my various aches and pains, she switched up the treatment into a deep tissue recovery massage. Spending copious hours on the keyboard and long-distance driving, plus several days of line-trimming my jungle-like garden into a presentable state had all taken its toll. Over the course of an hour, Sophie's skilful techniques dealt to all the knots in my lower back, and released the stress and strain from my muscles. It was a liberating, corrective massage and I floated out of the spa like a happy little cloud. Luring over half a million visitors annually, the adjoining thermal pools complex is a sizzling attraction, where you can hop-scotch between the 22-strong network of rockpools, aqua therapy pools and sulphur pools. The latter are completely natural, containing unfiltered mineral water, with a soft and silky feel and piping hot at 42-45C. You can also laze in the highly-sociable hexagonal pools, loll about in the freshwater lap pool and lazy river, or enjoy some high-action spills on the waterslides, headlined by the nation's biggest slide Conical Thrill, and the recently installed hydro slides, Violet Vortex and Waiau Winder. I lolloped around the pools on multiple occasions during my stay. They're just so good. https://hanmersprings.co.nz/ After enjoying some body therapy, I dabbled in some retail therapy from the eye-catching assortment of independent boutiques, homeware and gift stores clustered around the tree-lined main street. There's a host of temptations, but I'm a big fan of Homestead and the Ada Design Store, for beautiful gifts and artistic home décor. Sweet tooths? The kids go crazy at the Lolly Pot, while a perennial go-to for nearly 25 years is Fudgelato, for fresh and creamy fudge and gelato. (Great name!) Two-wheeled pursuits are a big draw in Hanmer and after far too much indulgence, I had excess calories to burn. Pop into Hanmer Adventure's main street store who will get you pedalling in paradise, with a full range of rental bikes to choose from, from e-bikes to basic hardtail. They'll get you geared up too, with helmets and gloves. There's nearly 20 mountain bike tracks around Hanmer Springs, spanning all levels of expertise and endurance. If you're up for a gentle introduction, Hanmer Forest Park's Camp Walk Loop is a cracker, under a vast canopy of mature trees, while Alligator Alley and Snakes & Ladders are excellent trails too for easy-riding. www.hanmeradventure.co.nz A family-favourite on foot in the Hanmer Heritage Forest, off Jollies Pass Road, is the Forest Amble Walk and the animal sculpture trail. These whimsical wooden sculptures were created by Christchurch sculptor, Andrew Lyons, crafted out of a felled Redwood. The sculptures include a friendly giant, a hawk, a dog, possum and orangutan. The 30-minute return walk follows a flat and easy track and it's very embracing - suitable for toddlers, buggies and the elderly. Where to dine? Fuel up for your day's adventures with a cranking breakfast at the Powerhouse Café. Located in a historic hydro power station which celebrates its centenary next year, you'll find an enticing menu of hearty fare, sensational coffee, boutique beers and splendid Waipara wines. I had a great chat to the café owner, Mary Holloway, who has been in charge of the Powerhouse for over 20 years and a mainstay of the village community. For breakfast, don't go past the chilli scrambled eggs. They're served on toasted sourdough with stir-fried greens and roast chilli. Delish! Spoil yourself with dinner at the hospitality winner, No. 31 Restaurant & Bar. Housed in a characterful main street cottage, No. 31 is lauded for its upmarket intimate dining. Joining many other discerning diners for dinner, I started with an entrée of beetroot arancini, plump with an almond & cheese filling. Despite the lavish selection of locally-sourced meat mains, I opted for the grilled calamari dish, marinated in parsley, lemon and olive oil and served on a bed of garden leaves. The desserts are deliriously good too, plumping for a warm sticky liquorice pudding with salted caramel sauce, candied walnuts and vanilla bean ice cream. As you'd expect from such a decorated establishment, the cocktail menu is just as creative. Order up a Mushroom Sour, a modern take on a whisky sour, infused with mushroom powder. It marries the earthy richness of fungi with the classic blend of whisky, lemon and a creamy egg white froth. It's a savory and citrusy hit. Where to stay? Amplify the sooth-factor by bedding down at Village Lake Luxury Apartments. Just a two minute walk from the thermal pools & spa off Jollies Pass Road, my expansive apartment was utterly idyllic. The balcony reached out to embrace the forest-draped vista of Conical Hill, Mt. Isobel and the sprawling Hanmer Range. But it's the wraparound sense of serenity at the end of day and in the morning calm that makes this property such a sweet oasis. Lavishly appointed with all the creature comforts, you'll have a designer kitchen to drool over, full laundry facilities, gas fire, underfloor heating, top-quality bedding and posh toiletries to ramp up the sense of indulgence..www.villagelake.co.nz If you're a forward-planner, here's something to lock into your diary. Hanmer Springs' Alpine Winter Festival will return mid-year, kicking off for a fortnight of seasonal frolics on June 28. Enjoy icy plunge pools, night light tree top climbing, dazzling light displays, kids' quizzes and glowing mini golf. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! Spoil yourself in Hanmer Springs. Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB'S BEST BUYS Valentine's Day Selection Wine: Pegasus Bay Gewurztraminer 2024 North Canterbury, $30 Why I chose it: Gewurztraminer is an aromatic wine with punchy aromas that often resemble flowers (in this case rose petals). National Lamb Day Selection Wine: Trinity Hill 2021 The Gimblett, Hawke's Bay, $39.99 Why I chose it: It's NZ Lamb Day today and I wanted to choose a wine that would make a great match with lamb. Lamb is high in fat, which makes it a high flavour meat. Cabernet Sauvignon is a thick-skinned red grape that is also high in flavour making it a perfect partner for lamb. Trinity Hill 2021 The Gimblett is a blend of Cabernet Franc 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 46%, and Petit Verdot 4%. The wine even has a subtle minty character which gives it a built-in mint sauce-like component that's perfect for lamb. What does it taste like? Dense, intense red with cassis/dark berry, chocolate/mocha, vanilla, cigar box, and spicy oak flavours with a touch of mint. Approachable now with good ageing potential. A powerhouse red that was built to enhance the flavours of NZ lamb. It's from the Gimblett Gravels, a premium red-wine region in Hawke's Bay, Where can you buy it? Whisky and More, Waikato, $34 Liquor Legends, Auckland $34 The Good Wine Co, Auckland $35.99 Will it keep? Yes, with careful storage this wine will still deliver pleasure after 5-10 years or more LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Maniototo farmer and National Lamb Day committee member Emma Crutchley about this year's campaign, the purpose of the day and conditions on the family farm... He talks with Sara Black, CEO of the Amuri Irrigation Company, about the irrigation scheme in North Canterbury, the challenges posed by last year's drought and water storage plans for the future... And he talks with Shane Bird, former NZ farmer turned Life Coach in Sydney, about New Year's resolutions and how to get back on track. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Sara Black, CEO of the Amuri Irrigation Company, about the irrigation scheme in North Canterbury, the challenges posed by last year's drought and water storage plans for the future. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter with North Canterbury News,  brings us news from the region.

Anna Hiatt grew up on a farm in North Canterbury and spent much of her early years in her granny's vegetable garden.

This is the 4th episode of our 2024 Harvest series, where we dive into the insights and expectations of winemakers across New Zealand as they look into this year's vintage.This leg of our journey is in Waipara, North Canterbury speaking with three leading wineries:Pegasus Bay Winery - Paul Donaldsonwww.pegasusbay.comFrank Manifold - Mount Brown Estateswww.mountbrown.co.nzWillie Trew - The Bonelinewww.theboneline.co.nzTime to squirrel some 2024's away!www.nzwinepodcast.comwww.instagram.com/nzwinepodcastThis episode is brought to you with thanks to www.bizebu.com - Let's get your business started!Music track featured on this podcast: ‘Here He Was' – courtesy of Brent Page. Dog Squad Music

Environment Canterbury votes to delay notifying the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement, Kaikoura considers world heritage status bid, Amberley's proposed new cricket ground is approved, despite opposition, and we have updates on school building projects in North Canterbury.

A warning to beware Santa's nemesis, parcel pinchers are targeting mailboxes and courier drop offs during the festive season. A 29 year old has this week been arrested over large scale thefts from rural mailboxes in North Canterbury. Inspector Brett Callander spoke to Lisa Owen.

Young school students plant habitat for an endangered skink and learn about biodiversity at a nature reserve on a North Canterbury dairy farm.

David discusses how Canterbury's councils are reacting to a report from the Office of the Auditor-General which is calling councils to work together to tackle climate change. The Hurunui District Council has confirmed funding for a new embankment project to fight rising sea levels. The rain fall in North Canterbury during Labour Weekend providing much relief for the drought afflicted region. And Waimakariri's Deputy Mayor has called on the Canterbury Regional Council to stop side stepping issues with the Kaiapoi River.

Kiwifruit is starting to bloom in Bay of Plenty, dairy farmers up and down the country are busy breeding the next season's calves, while North Canterbury farms have welcomed some recent rain to break the dry.

Today's farmer panel hails from Maniototo and North Canterbury. They talk about how "grim" and unpredictable weather is causing a few issues on-farm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Canterbury has five projects included among 149 projects in the Government's Fast Track Approvals Bill.

In the absence of Stu Duncan, today's farmer panel comprises just one, and he's in a very dry North Canterbury.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niwa's weather guy is a Native New Yorker. He talks about Hurricane Milton, the wet in Southland and the dry in North Canterbury and Hawke's Bay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ocean views makes harvesting of iceberg lettuce and broccoli a lot more pleasant for Ben Scott and staff at his winter grown vegetables farm in North Canterbury.

With New Zealand cheese month starting tomorrow what better time to go to one of the country's top cheesemakers. 

Dome glamping, farm tours and jetting up the Hurunui River supplements income and highlights cultural heritage at a traditional sheep and beef farm in North Canterbury.

Trials on a North Canterbury dairy farm have found that early sown oats and Italian ryegrass are taking up excess urine deposited by winter grazing cows.

We meet a mother and daughter growing microgreens and head to a North Canterbury dairy farm using crops to mop up nasties which could end up in waterways.

 Today's farmer panel comes to us from North Canterbury and Palmy North (even though Stu Duncan farms in the Maniototo).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DarkSky International has approved international dark sky sanctuary status for the Kaikoura district. 

Meet a farmer who has developed a food supplement based on a protein extracted from green leaves and established North Canterbury's first commercial hop gardens.

Is a North Canterbury farmer and Chair of the Hurunui Adverse Events Committee. Today he updates the Big Dry and applauds the recent  Farmbreak event -  that saw 300 farming folk gather for a feed and a beer to take their minds off the drought plaguing the district.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Conservation Week! This time the Country Life team meet a North Canterbury farmer who is retiring land he says "shouldn't ever have animals on it", we check back in with the school children helping restore an ancient forest on the edge of a South Wairarapa river and we learn more about the impacts of hedgerow planting on farm biodiversity.

 NIWA's Weather Guy says spring is the troubled teenager of the seasons! But can she deliver some rain for North Canterbury?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The situation facing the local rural sector worsened when the all important rainfall failed to arrive during Autumn, and then again in Winter. It also comes amid high interest rates and soaring on-farm costs. While the rural community in the Hurunui district have welcomed funding relief from the government, locals are still turning to one another for support. In the second and final part of our series, reporter Adam Burns spoke to locals in the Hurunui.

Warm, dry and windy weather is fuelling an out-of-control forest fire in Waipara, North Canterbury. Incident Commander Des Irving spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Today's farmer panel comes to us from North Canterbury and the Maniototo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Our NIWA Weather Guy has a new $20 million Super Computer and some much-needed rain for North Canterbury!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is a Dairy NZ director and North Canterbury dairy farmer. Today we yarn about the ongoing dry in his region, the improving prospects facing the industry and why urgent RMA changes are being welcomed to avoid an avalanche of red tape around regulation around discharges.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hurunui District Council plans to open restored Soldiers' Block at Queen Mary Historic Reserve at Hanmer Springs. 

This week on Country Life a high-tech lettuce farm in Taranaki, a tribute to the old fashioned dunny, a backyard project keeping blokes busy in North Canterbury and hort cadets in Wairoa getting their hands in the soil. 

A backyard initiative is keeping blokes busy in North Canterbury. The Cheviot MenzShed is a tooled-up workshop where men can tinker, talk and share their skills with the local community.

Our resident Canterbury-based, lifestyle/hobby farmer shares his memory of an evening with Pinetree Meads, plus he has a rant about climate change and weather forecasters. We also look at the ongoing dry in North Canterbury. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In two major firsts for the pie world - the Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Award has gone to a female and a south islander for the first time. Winner Arlyn Thompson from Rangiora Bakery in North Canterbury spoke to Corin Dann.

The Woodend Bypass north of Christchurch has got the greenlight as one of the first seven roads of national significance - how has the announcement gone down in the community? Waimakariri residents could face a targeted rate to help fund flood protection work on the Ashley/Rakahuri River. And North Canterbury's mayors have called for a Civil Defence levy - what would that entail?

A controversial cat-culling competition organised by cat hunters in North Canterbury has gone ahead, with participants bagging 370 feral moggies and some of their antics raisng a few eyebrows, Susana Lei'ataua speaks to organiser Matt Bailey.

Jamie Hannah is one of the most impressive young players in our game, you don't often see forwards with the skillset and game awareness that this kid has as well as the engine and toughness to boot. He is one very impressive player. He is also a massive lad as well, growing up in North Canterbury living the good life on the farm riding motorbikes and playing footy. Some key points in this episode were.. His journey from playing in the academy to making his mark in professional rugby. The challenges of maintaining weight and strength.  The valuable lessons he learned from experienced players like Sam Whitelock. The importance of playing freely His journey to becoming a Crusader, and his aspirations to play for the All Blacks. The importance of skill development, overcoming challenges, and maintaining a positive mindset And heaps more. This episode will be one we can all watch back in 10 years time and see how cool it was to hear the future star of our game talking about his journey but for now it's an awesome insight into the journey of a very talented lad. If you enjoy this episode please give it a share so I can continue to bring you these episodes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enterprise North Canterbury has been working with other regional tourism organisations to develop a Canterbury dark sky trail. The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve was established in 2012, while the Kaikoura Dark Sky Trust is about to apply for dark sky sanctuary status and interest is growing in other Canterbury communities. Crunch time is fast approaching for two North Canterbury schools bulging at the seams. Woodend School and Te Kura o Tuahiwi are on the Ministry of Education's list of 352 building projects under review. And there'll be a review of the rules protecting Canterbury's coastline next year. David Hill is a Local Democracy Reporter with North Canterbury News, based in Rangiora.

A North Canterbury beekeeper is calling for a different way to control a bee disease after he had to ignite thousands of his boxes. Springbank Honey's co-owner Steven Brown spoke to Corin Dann.

A low is forecast around the north of the South Island later today. There could be a period of heavy rain for Fiordland, Westland and North Canterbury, and strong southerlies on the Kaikoura Coast. MetService meteorologist John Law spoke to Corin Dann.

Rangiora High School's building project includes a return to single-cell classrooms.