Stand-up comedians Te Radar and Ruth Spencer have compiled a list of all the things that make up life in the New Zealand countryside. Photo: Supplied
Ever wondered about the origins of the ride-on mower or the humble pair of longjohns? Then Te Radar and Ruth Spencer have the book for you.
The couple have partnered with Harper Collins to publish their new book Kiwi Country: Rural New Zealand in 100 Objects.
It tells the stories of the often-overlooked items that make up the rural experience.
Spencer told Country Life she'd gained a new appreciation for such objects after learning more about their stories.
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The book's 10 chapters explore 10 objects from different aspects of a traditional farm or homestead, including the paddock, orchard, livestock, shed, cowshed, creek, backblocks, smoko and the road.
The homestead covers things used inside the rural home like meat safes, mangles, dunnies and Aunt Daisy's Book of Handy Hints.
The research was a lot of fun, Spencer said.
"It takes time but it's wonderful discovering things. It's kind of like gold mining. You turn up a nugget here or there and it takes you on a journey somewhere else."
She said the objects chosen - by no means an exhaustive list - reflect changes to rural life and society more generally over time.
"There are some massive changes of course. We brought a lot of amazing innovation in."
It also highlighted the resilience and adaptability of rural New Zealanders, she said.
The husband and wife duo have recently partnered together on a new book 'Kiwi Country: Rural New Zealand in 100 Objects'. Photo: Supplied
The book is also quite personal, with the couple both weaving in memories and funny anecdotes of their own rural experiences.
Spencer drew heavily on the Blue Mountain sheep station's shearers' quarters den in Marlborough where she spent holidays as a child with her family.
"It was just kind of paradise for kids. There's lots of that place in the book."
She struggled to choose just one example to exemplify rural experience, emphasising it was not only a book about farms or just for farms.
"This is a book about the rural experience across the board - I mean people who go fishing on a wharf, who have been to a wild hot pool, these are people who have a ride-on mower, have a lifestyle block or just drive in the country and see an honesty box.
"It's not just for people who have experience on farms. It's for people who have experience in New Zealand - you're never very far away from rural life in New Zealand."
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