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Story: West Coast region

Harvesting sphagnum moss

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Harvesting sphagnum moss

The collection and processing of sphagnum moss from swampy areas has become a major industry in Westland. It is exported and used in floristry. These workers are packing the moss into bales.

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West Coast Historical Museum

Reference: #DOC 1084

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How to cite this page

Simon Nathan, West Coast region – Soils and agriculture, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/21144/harvesting-sphagnum-moss (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Simon Nathan, published 3 March 2009, updated 1 September 2016.