On his monthly 42km Port Hills bike ride, ecologist Jon Sullivan geo-tags native trees and species for his Wild Counts blog. From what he's seen, New Zealanders need to do a lot more to attract native birds and insects into our paddocks, gardens, towns and cities, he tells Jesse Mulligan.

Counting the wild via bike

News & Politics

One of the last rehab soldier farms in Wairarapa has been sold for forestry and the farm gear is going under the hammer. Gianina Schwanecke is at the on-farm sale and finds out why the owner is selling up.

The last of the ballot blocks - farm sale reflects tough few years

Steve Muggeridge's beloved Clydesdales have returned to Taranaki, the home of his father's Clydesdale stud. At the base of the maunga, he chats about the changing use of the heavy horse and hitches a pair up to a vintage wagon for a ride along the mountain's flanks.

A love for Clydesdales - 'they just become your mates'

A round-up of the week's agricultural news.

Rural News Wrap

Panadda Chittock is the pastoral care co-ordinator at Thomas Brothers Orchards in Riwaka. She supports about 80 Recognised Seasonal Employer or RSE workers from Vanuatu and Samoa who work on the orchard.

Support on hand for RSE staff at Tasman orchard

This week Country Life is behind a team of Clydesdale horses on a vintage wagon, finding out about the increasingly rare breed, and heads to a sale of farm gear in Wairarapa, where one of the last local rehab soldier farms has been sold into forestry.

Counting the wild via bike

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