RNZ: Country Life

North Island farmers are generally feeling pretty positive and optimistic after a good growing season, while in the South Island cherries, raspberries and strawberries are being harvested for Christmas.

Marjorie Allen from Cranberries Westland.

Rolleston Prison is one of three working prison's in New Zealand. Its market garden provides employment for up to 30 prisoners and all the fruit and vegetables produced go to the Christchurch City Mission. With residential manager, Sandra Poff and principal psychologist, Alex Green.

Forty-three years ago Lindo Ferguson bought one of the Far North's oldest remaining homes. It once belonged William Butler, a captain on a whaling ship. His interest in New Zealand's whaling history grew and he has established the country's only museum dedicated to our whaling past near the tiny settlement of Hihi. The historic homestead and gardens on the glorious Mangonui harbour have also been restored.

Pasture's had a chance to grow in most of the North Island this week because it's been warm after recent rain, while in the South farmers are trying to get all the lambs drafted before the Christmas break.

TBfree New Zealand Farm Operations Group Manager, Dr Stuart Hutchings.

There are around 25,000 alpacas in New Zealand and Country Life this week is mingling with the best of them at the World Alpaca Expo held recently in Hamilton. Almost 500 animals were paraded in the ring, and judges were also scrutinizing hundreds of lustrous, silky samples of alpaca fibre. Alpacas are in hot demand in Europe and international visitors were snapping up some of our top animals to take home.

Christopher Gray grows both green and purple asparagus on his Motukarara farm that was once home to a large flock of sheep.

Clive Lind talks about his new book on the development of New Zealand's dairy industry.

Good volumes of rain have now fallen pretty well everywhere in the North Island so farmers are much happier, while in the South Island lambs are being weaned and first drafts are off to the sales.

The Waimakariri Irrigation Scheme plans to build a large storage dam on the north side of the Waimakariri River in North Canterbury. Local shareholder farmers have welcomed the news, but opponents from the Eyre Community Environmental Safety Society believe the dam in a seismically active climate is wilfully placing lives at risk.

Developers of the kikonui goat say they do better than boer goats on hill country farms and fit into a sheep system well, controlling weeds as well as having a sturdy animal that can be sold for meat. The kikonui are selected for reproduction, survivability and resistance to parasites and poor feet.

Most regions round the country received welcome rain and maintaining pasture quality is on most farmers' minds.

For the past decade over 30 farmers who surround Lake Rerewhakaaitu, south of Rotorua have been measuring their environmental footprint, and making on farm management changes to reduce it. The farmers say there isn't one magic thing they do, but rather a whole series of small changes which are helping reduce leaching and improve lake water quality.

Located in Granity on the site where several coke ovens were built early 1900's, the Northern Buller Museum reflects the diversity of the people and the history of the Northern Buller area. With museum volunteer, Gilbert Hardacre.