'Welcome to the top of the world' at Blue Duck Station

Country Life goes on the trail of the elusive whio at Blue Duck Station while learning about the efforts to conserve the history and preserve biodiversity.On the back of New Zealand's $10 note, a native bird gracefully floats on the water.This is the blue duck, a creature at the centre of Dan Steele's world, both figuratively and literally. Listen to find out whether Country Life managed to find a Blue DuckBlue Duck Station, situated where the Whanganui and Retaruke rivers converge in the North Island, is not just a working sheep and beef farm; it's a testament to Dan's dedication to preserving history, conserving wildlife, and creating a sustainable future.It's a bustling enterprise with 6000 sheep, 700 cattle, and a small deer farm. Yet, beyond the daily operations, Dan's true passion lies in the conservation efforts that define the station's identity."I think when you're dealing with critical things like water quality and biodiversity, businesses have to take a lot of this on themselves," Dan, owner of the station, explains. "Farmers own most of New Zealand, so farmers looking after New Zealand is a huge opportunity and is, in fact, very necessary."The core of Dan's conservation philosophy revolves around the blue duck itself."The thought with the blue duck is if you look after the blue duck, you look after everything," he says. "You look after water quality and trapping predators; you're looking after everything. If you look after them, you look after everything above as well."To witness this commitment firsthand, Dan takes Country Life to a newly constructed wetland where Dan's conservation story unfolds.The air is filled with the sounds of native birds, a testament to the success of the station's efforts in creating a sanctuary for wildlife. "I love the diversity of the world. Anything that takes away the diversity of the world has to be questioned," Dan reflects."So the conservation journey for me is pretty natural. I'm just learning all about these things."The history of Blue Duck Station dates back to post-World War I when the land was so formidable that many farmers abandoned their efforts. Dan, however, saw an opportunity to meld tourism with the working farm to breathe new life into the challenging terrain. Activities such as horse trekking, bush safaris, fine dining, and jet boating have transformed the once-remote land into a thriving destination."It was too remote for a lot of people; the land was just too tough to break in and run anything profitably," Dan recounts…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details