The Country Story
It began in 1994 as a five minute rural feature on an independently owned Southland radio station. Today it has grown to an hour, become an integral part of the farming day and can be heard throughout the country on Newstalk ZB, Radio Sport, Hokonui and affiliates. It's your agribusiness lunch hour with a generous side-serving of news, sport and politics. You can also go from on-farm to on-line at thecountry.co.nz
Jamie's Bio
A former accountancy student at Otago University and Lincoln College graduate in agriculture, Jamie Mackay farmed at Riversdale for ten years before a brief and undistinguished career as a house-husband.
In 1994, he negotiated the purchase of 4ZG from Radio New Zealand, the first and only sale of a state-owned radio station to private enterprise, which went on to become Hokonui Gold.
From there, the Farming Show took root before becoming The Country, nationwide on Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport.
Jamie is an equity partner in a Southland dairy farm and is involved in a wetland restoration project on his home farm, where he also enjoys duck shooting with a few old schoolmates. In a past life a keen rugby player and marathon runner, these days he relaxes by getting wound up on the golf course!