It’s home to Scruffy the rabbit that’s often mistaken for a stuffed toy, Rosie the cantankerous goat, a one-eyed chicken, horses, guinea pigs and a friendly water dragon.

And this Easter weekend, you can pat, stroke, cuddle and feed all of them as well as ducks, dogs and eels at The One and a Half Acre Wood in Whakamārama.

“I’ve got all the misfits,” owner Dianne Amott said.

For the last three years, Amott has offered home-schooling and after-school courses in holistic pet care as well as therapeutic sessions for children who are neurodivergent.

Now Amott opens her petting farm to the public each month – this month she’s hosting an Easter Ponies and Pets Day on Saturday.

“For working parents who live on smaller properties with their animal-loving kids, we offer a way for them to get their pet ‘fix’,” Amott said.

Twelve-year-old Sophie Amott with one of her farm’s rabbits. Photo / Brydie Thompson

“Also, the high amount of screen time most kids get these days means they’re not outside connecting with nature like they used to, which can be detrimental to their mental health.

“There is research showing how skin-to-fur contact decreases cortisol levels, improving feelings of well-being. We also have a beautiful natural setting here that promotes a sense of peace and calmness, with lots of cuddle-friendly animals.”

Among the menagerie is an angora rabbit named Scruffy and Rosie the Arapawa goat, considered one of the rarest breeds in the world.

“They were left on Arapawa Island in the Marlborough Sounds by Captain Cook as a meat source, but they were heavily culled by Department of Conservation before the islanders realised they were the last of their kind and initiated a conservation effort,” Amott said.

“Rosie was the size of a chihuahua when we first saw her at a day old. We bought her for our son and she’s still a star attraction. Her favourite treat is seaweed crackers.”

‘Scruffy’ the rabbit, meeting the Easter bunny. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Amott offers private pet coaching, teaching youngsters what each animal needs to be healthy, body language signals and where each animal prefers to be patted with a focus on respect and kindness.

“If a rabbit hops away, we don’t chase it,” Amott said. “We also don’t flip them onto their backs. That’s terrifying for them.

“There are a lot of old-fashioned ideas that need to be undone, like feeding a whole carrot to a rabbit. It’s like giving a child a couple of bags of lollies. They need grass and hay. A slice of carrot is fine as a treat.”

The Easter Ponies and Pets Day at The One and a Half Acre Wood, 80 Odey Rd, Whakamārama, is on Saturday. Entry $10 per person with horse rides $10. Book a session from 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm by emailing: [email protected].