Living near an ecosanctuary comes with unforgettable wildlife encounters – and big responsibilities. 

Many farmers are already tapping into innovative resources, actively sowing the seeds of positive change for on-farm biodiversity. 

Dan Herries manages Taramoa Station in Puketitiri, Hawke’s Bay, which lies between two significant and beautiful blocks of forest.

Mark and Felicity Brough have created a biodiversity map of their sheep and beef farm at Paerua near Waitomo, in the central King Country.

Sustainability has always been part of the Yealands Vineyard vision. Recently they've added trapping to their long list of eco-friendly initiatives.

Jane and Roger Hutchings haven’t had a dog on Lodore Farm, their 450-hectare Northland property, in over 20 years – but they do have a lot of kiwi.

Most people have never heard of Elwyn Welch. Back in the 1950s, he and his trained bantam hens had a role in the conservation and breeding of the takahē.

Dairy farmers, Nick and Nicky Dawson from Patoka, near Hastings, have been going hard out with predator control in the last four years or so.

Duncan and Tina Mackintosh farm White Rock Mains in North Canterbury. 92 hectares of regenerating beech forest is protected by a QEII covenant.

Barry Farms at Ashley Clinton includes an 8 hectare bush block which has been under QE II covenant for over 25 years.

Ross and Eleanore Webber farm a 195-hectare property at South Head, overlooking the Kaipara Harbour and established two QEII covenant blocks 15 years ago.

It’s the new group on the block. Predator Free Dunedin launched just a few weeks ago in early October.

With Orokonui Sanctuary nearby, Port Chalmers farmers John and Shona Chapman had some good reasons for trapping predators on their own land.

Three generations of the Bayly family are involved in trapping predators on the family farm on the Kaipara Coast, half an hour’s drive north of Auckland.

Motatapu Station near Wanaka is tackling habitat restoration and predator control on an impressively large scale.