The Enduring Land - Winners and Losers

This episode of agriculture documentary series The Enduring Land delves into the highs and lows of farming in Aotearoa. Key moments, like the 1913 waterfront strike, are reenacted and illustrated through archive footage. Presenter Ruud Kleinpaste explores how politics caused huge upheaval to Kiwi farmers, such as when Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1971 and the end of farming subsidies and cheap loans in the mid 1980s. The formation of bodies like Federated Farmers, the NZ Meat Board and the NZ Apple and Pear Board are also discussed.

For all the efforts of farmers, there is little control over their produce once it leaves the farm gate. Many factors will influence how much the farmer is paid. Everything from transport charges to a change in government can create an unpredictable marketplace. It often seems as if life is a cycle of booms and slumps.

– Presenter Ruud Kleinpaste on the volatility of farming, at the start of this episode

Key Cast & Crew

Mary Glue

Producer

Fiona Kidman

Writer

Dave Gibson

Executive Producer

Ruud Kleinpaste

Presenter

Peter 'Rocky' Hudson

Cinematographer

Guy Hollier

Director