Arpége Taratoa-Rangikura meets women at the end of gravel roads and up remote valleys across Aotearoa. Over cups of tea, they talk about love, loss and connection to whenua. From Shepherdess magazine.
From arts degree to high country station: Kate's story
When Kate Scott took over the family’s high country station near Glenorchy from her mum, Iris, a few years ago, much of farming life remained familiar. But as the local community changes around them, so too do some of the ways the farm earns its keep – including ventures that involve some big Hollywood names.
To see more images from the series, visit the RNZ website here: rnz.co.nz/farfromtown (www.rnz.co.nz/farfromtown) or the Shepherdess website (https://shepherdess.co.nz/far-from-town-podcast/)
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/far-from-town?share=f4a0c408-638e-4fbc-95fc-9366b2d6534b)
7 Apr 2026
When you join that club of losing children: Julie's story
Julie Keast lives just out of the small settlement of Tokanui in The Catlins. Julie is one of those quiet humble achievers who is the backbone of her local community. When her teenage son William died in a car accident fifteen years ago, it was her family and her community who helped her find a way through grief.
To see more images from the series, visit the website here: rnz.co.nz/farfromtown (www.rnz.co.nz/farfromtown)
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/far-from-town?share=bc3eb514-58a1-4f25-8164-ec59b9485ff2)
31 Mar 2026
A full life on the papakāinga: Elizabeth's story
Elizabeth Hera Cunningham (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Irakehu, Ngāti Mutunga ki Wharekauri) KSO JP, lives just a stone’s throw from her marae, Tūtehuarewa at Koukourarata on the Banks Peninsula, where generations of her whānau have lived – and a place that is woven into the fabric of who she is.
To see more images from the series, visit the RNZ website here: rnz.co.nz/farfromtown (www.rnz.co.nz/farfromtown)
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/far-from-town?share=46e52142-e353-45b0-bbd5-5e950b5b4af1)
24 Mar 2026
Romance with a side of conservation: Sharon's story
Sharon Wharepapa's life has been a journey from a childhood in Lower Hutt, to the Gold Coast, to now, living on the edges of the Raukūmara ranges. It’s a bit of a love story… But beyond that, it's a story about identity, connection and how sometimes, there is a greater purpose to finding love..."
To see more images from the series, visit the RNZ website here: rnz.co.nz/farfromtown (www.rnz.co.nz/farfromtown)
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/far-from-town?share=fcd6258d-dfa2-4e99-b636-fb546e73180f)
17 Mar 2026
A hearty Ngāti horsewoman: Rore's story
Tuhimoana - known as Rore - Aupouri runs Makarika Station, on the east coast. Though the mahi is hard, it’s clear that for Rore farming, training her dogs and riding on horseback isn’t just a job, it’s a whole lifestyle she lives, breathes and loves.
To see more images from the series, visit the RNZ website here: rnz.co.nz/farfromtown (www.rnz.co.nz/farfromtown)
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/far-from-town?share=cbf62f63-977b-4c37-a47e-d1c7076d12df)
16 Mar 2026
Country Life: Making memories at the Shepherdess Muster
Country Life presenter Gianina Schwanecke attends the Shepherdess Muster, a weekend retreat filled with crafts, relaxation, learning, fun and connection in the remote rural community of Tokanui in Southland.
You can find photos and read more about this story on the RNZ website here (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/589566/country-life-the-shepherdess-muster-heads-to-southland).
And you can hear more from Julie Keast and the Far From Town women in the Far From Town podcast here (https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/far-from-town).
With thanks to:
Kristy McGregor, Shepherdess (https://shepherdess.co.nz/)
And Allesha Ballard-Conway, Louise Patterson, Sophie Green, Dr Helen Paterson from the Women's Health Bus (https://www.womanshealth.nz/)
Johnny Mauchline from Flying Trestles (https://www.flyingtrestlesnz.com/)
Tokanui locals Emma-Kate Rabbidge
Sheila Smith from the Small Prophet Design Shed (https://www.smallprophetdesign.com/)
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/far-from-town?share=e97f2e03-f41e-4328-833f-5eb2ec457946)
10 Mar 2026
Loss, line dancing and learning to find joy again: Jenny's story
Jenny Sandford’s life is a whirlwind. From a beauty school dropout to wild times in Canada, from being a cop to now being a mum of four and a sheep and beef farmer in Tairāwhiti. From the immense grief of miscarriage when they lost their firstborn daughter, Nina, to finding joy in line dancing in her wool shed. Jenny takes on whatever comes her way and somehow finds a silver lining.
To see more images from the series, visit the RNZ website here: rnz.co.nz/farfromtown (www.rnz.co.nz/farfromtown)
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/far-from-town?share=bef13ad9-af07-4852-ac50-39cd52eec95e)
24 Feb 2026
Introducing: Far From Town
Arpége Taratoa-Rangikura meets women at the end of gravel roads and up remote valleys across Aotearoa. Over cups of tea, they talk about love, loss and connection to whenua. From Shepherdess magazine.
See further images from the series:
Far From Town website (https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/far-from-town)
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/far-from-town?share=16aa1cd3-1550-4cfc-994e-414832f5b521)
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