Synopsis

This retrospective special culls highlights from 40 seasons of the longest running show on NZ television. Farming, forestry and fishing are all on the roster, but this edition is as much about observing people and the land and changes over four decades. There is footage of high country musters, helicopter deer capture, floods and blizzards, as well as radio-controlled dogs and mice farmers. Longtime Country Calendar reporters like John Gordon share their memories, and the show catches up with some of the personalities that have featured in the series.

Background

A Perspective by Ian Pryor 02.10.2008

In many countries that produce television, you will often find one or two shows off in a corner, away from their stablemates. The shows I'm talking about are rarely about bells, whistles, and exploding spaceships; instead these programmes are ...

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Credits (4)

 Tony Benny
 Frank Torley
 Jim Hickey

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Comments (4)

 Manu Hashidate

Manu Hashidate

The music to Country Calendar was always terrific. It gets mention in this flick as being imperative to their program's success - 'shame they don't actually say what it is!

Any one know?

 Frank Collette

Frank Collette

Hi, I noticed in the last couple of episodes, some camera focused on differences in the disposition, or personality, of some featured farmers and their families. I picked up on some autisms here and there, well before the camera highlighted these normally subtle differences.

My reasons for commenting, are just to acknowledge that loner type neurology is alive and well on NZ farms. And that the country, and the economy will benefit, by these differences being celebrated, and shown in a good light.

Home viewers with similar neurology, the featured families themselves, and the wider NZ neurotypical community, will all benefit by a kind handed approach to those less socially able.

It would be a shame if 'TV sitcom hypersocial urban mores' were thrown in the face of those who shun mainstream social behaviours, and prefer working and relating to animals

 Andrew O'Sullivan

Andrew O'Sullivan

I love country calendar, my friend made his own country calendar style show at the New Zealand Broadcasting School.
http://nzbsondemand.co.nz/videos/series-widened-steels-episode-3

 Duane Wilkins

Duane Wilkins

I'm watching this from my room in Kabul Afghanistan, I'm extremely grateful that you allow use to watch something from home. Sincere thanks.

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Included in:

 The Sheep Collection
 Kiwi TV Classics