Our beautiful country is covered with native bush and lavish with grass. The picture-perfect green pasture of New Zealand has brought business, wealth, travellers and much more. Farm life is in the blood for those farming through the generations, while others are trying to move into this lifestyle. This blog highlights several personal stories: some about farming through generations; one who went from working in Louis Vuitton to preserving a historical homestead; or coming from a broken family to rising as a farming leader. This blog captures the joy, humour, struggle and success of the people who farm in Aotearoa.

Farm : the spirit of rural New Zealand / Yarwood, Vaughan  
“A contemporary, lyrical, fresh and innovative look at where farming is now, this huge book features engaging text and utterly magnificent, almost epic, photo spreads by one of the country’s leading photographers. Between them all they discuss all the issues that preoccupy New Zealand farmers today: innovation, productivity, export, conservation, succession, science, efficiency, rural land access and more. The book speaks to farmers as much as it does to townies.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

High Street to homestead / Williams, Angela
“This is an inspirational journey from a corporate life working with Louis Vuitton and living in Grey Lynn Apartment back to one of New Zealand’s most historical homesteads and horse studs on the golden hills of rural Wairarapa. Angela Williams’ great-great-great-grandfather is Henry Williams, famous for translating the Treaty of Waitangi into Maori, and her grandma founded the famous Te Parae thoroughbred stud. Angela took up the challenge of preserving this historic homestead for the next generation.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

This farming life : five generations on a New Zealand farm / Saunders, Tim
“Tim Saunders is a farmer and a writer. He describes the seasons: Summer, with shearing, slaughter, crop harvest and conservation; Autumn and its floods, trading stock, drenching and dogging; Winter, the maize harvest and lambing; and Spring, with docking, pet sheep and weaning. He explores how a farm that has been in the same family for five generations functions, and describes the everyday lives of farmers and their enduring love of the land and the animals they work with.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Farm for life : mahi, mana and life on the land / Walker, Tangaroa
“Tangaroa Walker’s early years were pretty rough: adopted twice and went to six different primary schools. He never read a book in his life and lived to play rugby. But he had a dream, and he knew how to do the mahi. Today, T is a true community and industry leader running a successful 500-cow dairy farm and reaching millions as theFarm4Life with his practical and crack-up videos on everything from farming to fishing, finance to whanau, management to mental health.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

For the love of the country : celebrating farming in New Zealand / Gibson, Alan
“Collection of photographs, accompanied by extended captions and insightful interviews, is a visual celebration of the New Zealand farmer and the landscape. One of New Zealand’s top photojournalists tells the stories of the people who are the backbone of farming in this country, helping in understanding between the urban population and those who produce their food.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Under a big sky : facing the elements on a New Zealand farm / Saunders, Tim
“The joys and challenges of day-to-day farming in extraordinary circumstances. Tim Saunders writes about his life and work on the farm that’s been in his family for five generations. There’s drought, farming during lockdown, illness, financial pressure and the drive to become more environmentally friendly. Woven throughout is Tim’s love of, and respect for, the land, animals and the environment. Like other farmers Tim and his family are closely studying their farming system.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

The wild green yonder : ten seasons volunteering on New Zealand’s organic farms / Jamieson, Philippa
“Itching for a change, city girl Philippa Jamieson quits her cosy job in Dunedin to travel around New Zealand on the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms scheme. In 2.5 years, she volunteers at 40 locations – market gardens, livestock farms, communes. Philippa meets the irrepressible farm host who’s built his own coffin; Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons; and many unsung heroes who produce healthy food.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Off the beaten track : 20 multi-day walks on New Zealand farm and backcountry tracks / Moore, Colin
“Off the Beaten Track is a tantalising guide to 20 multi-day walks across New Zealand farmland, through forest sanctuaries and along stretches of coastline – from the kauri-fringed bays of Great Barrier Island to the alpine tarns of Southland. Each walk is unique, whether it’s coastal views, subalpine high country or rolling tussockland, and not all the walks featured are over private land. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Dairy nation : the story of dairy farming in New Zealand / McCloy, Nicola
“You could say our country is built on dairy – and this book examines its effect on our culture, business, and mindset. Things have changed in the dairy world: gone are the small farms of 90 cows and one tractor; now are the huge farms with hundreds to thousands of cows, and highly mechanised with high-tech solutions. Written by the author of bestseller Whykickamoocow, this book brings the light touch and a keen sense of humour. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)