Marine scientists have a real mystery on their hands after a giant manta ray washed up on Rarawa Beach in the Far North.
The body was discovered on Wednesday - it's the first time one of the sea giants is known have ended up on New Zealand shores.
DOC's marine species advisor Clinton Duffy went up Northland to see the manta ray close-up and told our reporter Andrew McRae about what he found.

Mystery surrounds death of manta ray on Far North beach

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.

Mystery surrounds death of manta ray on Far North beach

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