Hyundai proud sponsors of Country Calendar

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Hyundai Santa Fe being used for filming in the South Island

Hyundai New Zeland partners up with Country Calendar in providing Kiwi heartland programming. Hyundai Country Calendar's first episode for 2011 marks a television milestone - it's 45 years since the show first went to air.

When the first episode went to air on 6 March, 1966, front-man Fred Barnes wore a suit, read out information about market prices and conducted an interview with the chairman of the Meat Board, all in the studio. Less than six minutes of the programme, a report on a Central Otago apricot orchard, was filmed in the field.

But when Frank Torley arrived to work on Hyundai Country Calendar ten years later, the programme began to focus on a single topic each episode, going out into the field and putting farmers at the heart of the show. The formula worked so well that it carries on today, although plenty of other things have changed.

Radio lead to television and 35 years later Torley's broadcasting career is still going strong. Torley says, "I've often said I have the best job in New Zealand. I get to travel the country, see some beautiful places and meet the sort of people we'd all like to mix with. My job's got it all - and that's the key to the success of the show, too." he concludes.

As a 100 percent New Zealand owned and operated organisation with a national dealer network which is also 100 percent New Zealand owned and operated, Hyundai New Zealand is proud to be associated with Country Calendar. Hyundai New Zealand takes immense pride in being able to support this quality kiwi programming, that make our country a great place to live.