The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Dunedin shearer steps back for change of pace

Otago Daily Times
14 Nov, 2018 02:00 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Aaron Robinson works from his mobile shearing trailer in Shiel Hill, in Dunedin. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

Aaron Robinson works from his mobile shearing trailer in Shiel Hill, in Dunedin. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

After a lengthy shearing career, a Dunedin man decided to take a step back. However, things only seem to be speeding up.

Aaron Robinson has been shearing for more than 20 years.

The now 42-year-old said he first started shearing ''pretty much as soon as I left school'' and has done it ever since.

He recently started his own business, AA Lifestyle Shearing, to take a bit of a step back, but after 18 months he was surprised with how busy he was.

Mr Robinson covers the area from Milton to Waitati and can shear anywhere from one to 1000 sheep.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He could shear a sheep ''pretty much anywhere'' with his trailer and stand, that was run from a portable generator.

''I enjoy getting out and meeting a range of people there's a lot of lifestyle blocks out there ... there's a lot of characters out there.''

He said for the bigger jobs he got a mate to help him, but might have to look at employing someone in the future as his business continued to grow.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Robinson said starting up his own business was a bit of a risk but once he got his gear sorted it was easy.

Although Mr Robinson was ''flat out'' at the moment, he hoped with shearing the smaller numbers he would be able to continue for another 20 years.

''It's just a bit easier on the body.''

''You get to have a break in between jobs, whereas when your contract shearing it's full-on all day.''

Discover more

New Zealand

Rural mental health drive launched

22 Oct 07:30 PM

101-year-old says age no barrier to farming

28 Oct 06:25 PM

Southland top in NZ shearing safety

28 Oct 06:00 PM

Sixth national title for North Canterbury alpaca

30 Oct 08:00 PM

Mr Robinson said he had not shorn competitively except for ''the odd speed shear when I was younger''.

However, having the skill had allowed him to work and travel.

''I'd encourage young people to get into it. It's a great way to see the world and you can make a good bit of money in a short time.''

Southern Rural Life

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

Premium
The Country

Ex-TV host Matt Chisholm's bold new career; 'Hugely unpopular' - battle royale brews inside Stuff

04 Jul 10:13 AM
The Country

Farmer's neglect: Emaciated stag was trapped in fence and thick mud, other deer were dead

04 Jul 02:57 AM
The Country

Central North Island feels impact of heavy rain

04 Jul 02:44 AM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Premium
Ex-TV host Matt Chisholm's bold new career; 'Hugely unpopular' - battle royale brews inside Stuff

Ex-TV host Matt Chisholm's bold new career; 'Hugely unpopular' - battle royale brews inside Stuff

04 Jul 10:13 AM

Well-known Kiwi's court move over story; Which political leader is best/worst with media?

Farmer's neglect: Emaciated stag was trapped in fence and thick mud, other deer were dead

Farmer's neglect: Emaciated stag was trapped in fence and thick mud, other deer were dead

04 Jul 02:57 AM
Central North Island feels impact of heavy rain

Central North Island feels impact of heavy rain

04 Jul 02:44 AM
Forestry and footy with Taine Randell on The Country

Forestry and footy with Taine Randell on The Country

04 Jul 02:33 AM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP