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Story: Grasslands

Mustering sheep

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Mustering sheep

High country tussock grasslands have been extensively grazed by merino sheep. This flock has formed trails through snow on the Dalgety Range in South Canterbury. In much of the South Island high country, sheep are run at higher altitudes during the summer months and brought down to lower levels in autumn. Farmers and conservationists often have different views on how tussock grasslands should be managed.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, D. Osmers

Reference: PICT-000007

by D. Osmers

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Alan F. Mark, Grasslands – Human impact, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13357/mustering-sheep (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Alan F. Mark, published 1 March 2009.