Warmer waters and sediment are being blamed for the mass death of Little Blue penguin chicks in Wellington.
After a successful nesting season, 66 baby penguins from Matiu/Somes Island died of starvation during a horror couple of weeks in November.
The season ended with a total loss of 82 chicks, more than one in three of hatchlings recorded this year.
Charlotte Cook filed this story.

More than 80 penguin chicks die over the summer in Wellington

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.

More than 80 penguin chicks die over the summer in Wellington

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