Arapawa Sheep
Arapawa Sheep are a wonderful New Zealand heritage breed of sheep and in my opinion perfect for the lifestyle block. They are from Arapawa Island, in the Marlborough Sounds, and are thought to have been introduced some 200+ years ago by early settlers, possibly a type of Merino sheep. They were introduced and essentially forgotten about and have survived on their own in the wild for all these years. It's for this reason I think they are a perfect lifestyle block sheep, they're hardy! Also, they're a smaller breed of sheep, so a little easier to handle.
Now I'm not suggesting you purchase them, and forget about them, they still need to be cared for like any other sheep. They still need drenching, they still get fly strike, you will need to trim their feet, and they still need shearing, although shearing just once a year is fine as their wool is slow growing. Their wool is fine, soft with a lot of "bounce" to it. They're also very good mothers to their lambs.
What I love most about the Arapawa Sheep their individual characters! Also, the lambs are so adorable!
Arapawa's are also a very active sheep and in the evenings, sitting on the deck, it is amazing to watch them interact with each other, and sometimes racing each other around the paddock. I would have to say they are the "greyhounds" of the sheep world. Very quick. They can however be trained with food, so don't panic sheep dogs are not required. As long as they have plenty of grass & feed, they respect the fences, although one ole girl, has been known to jump a fence if she doesn't want to be shorn.
As a meat sheep, their meat is considered lean and sweet, with a little game added to the flavour.
If you are looking at adding a small flock of sheep to your lifestyle, do consider the Arapawa's.
Although there are several small Arapawa Sheep flocks farmed around New Zealand, there are less than 100 original sheep remaining on Arapaoa Island (formally Arapawa Island) itself.
If you are seeking more information about Arapawa Sheep, please visit the New Zealand Rare Breeds Society:
www.rarebreeds.co.nz/arapawa.html
For more on the Arapawa origins story please read the following article:
www.rarebreeds.co.nz/arapawaorigin.html
From time to time, we have sheep available for sale:
All Sold - The next lot will not be available until April 2026
Please note, we are now located in Loburn, Canterbury... 10 minutes from Rangiora.
Raw Fleece Available Now $10 per kg - Sold Out
Fleece essentially all one colour, sun bleached black wool, once cleaned & carded, the wool takes on a dark rich brown colour. Fibre length is between 30-50mm. Email me if you wish to add this to your Unicorn Products order - Cost is essentially to cover postage.
If purchasing sheep, you must have suitable transport when collecting, and you must also consider the size of your property before purchasing (councils do have by-laws to consider). We will not release sheep if there are any doubts about the ongoing welfare of the sheep. We're happy to provide ongoing support & advice if this is your first time owning sheep.