Rabobank Best of The Country - 14th October 2017

The Hakataramea Community Recreational Area Development Project working bee in action. Photo / Dom George

It's time for Best of The Country. Jamie Mackay picks his favourite interview for the week and delivers them to you via Rabobank.

Here's the best of the week that was:

Sam Whitelock:

It's Mental Health Awareness Week and we catch up with the All Black who's the front man for Farmstrong - an organization supporting the mental and physical well-being of farmers.

Nadine Porter:

We missed her yesterday but today we find a Kiwi Nuffield Scholar near Washington DC as we discuss the threats and opportunities Amazon poses, what Zespri is up to in Los Angeles and whether alternative plant proteins could spell trouble for the New Zealand meat industry?

Dominic George and Juliet Gray:

We find The Country producer lending a hand planting trees at the Hakataramea Community Recreational Area Development Project working bee.

Chris Russell:

Our Australian correspondent and fellow ANZAC updates action from across the ditch as we commemorate 100 years since New Zealand's bloodiest day in battle at Passchendaele where close to 850 lives were lost.

Sir David Fagan:

A Te Kuiti shearing knight celebrates a great night out in Auckland where the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships was named Best International Event at the NZ Events Association Awards.

Dr Tim Mackle:

The chief executive Dairy NZ updates the big news story of the day - the cull and slaughter of 4000 cattle valued at $8 million - as MPI attempts to eliminate Mycoplasma Bovis.

Barry Soper:

Our political correspondent wonders what the rest of the country is wondering. Will it be Bill or Jacinda and when will Winston make up his mind? We go to our respective reliable sources!

Listen to Best of The Country in the Soundcloud embed below: