News and Articles
Our Stories
Latest news from the Trust
Read the latest news from the trust from all around New Zealand. We’ll try to keep you up to date with what is happening, the latest advice and some great information for caring for your donkey or mule.
What do we do with the Donkeys?
In May we met Pele and Mickey, who were in dire need of care and companionship. These two beautiful donkeys had been...
A Donkey for Christmas
Just before Christmas a supporter of the Trust purchased a donkey via TradeMe. The donkey was initially advertised as...
Rilla – a new friend for Tango?
Early in the new year, we got the call from a lovely young couple who had a three-year-old jenny who had lost her...
The boys are striking out on their own
As you are aware from our earlier posts, the Trust was asked to help rehome five donkeys, Sarah, Lauren, Ava, Humphrey...
And two makes Seven!
As per our previous post, the Trust was asked to help rehome five donkeys, Sarah, Lauren, Ava, Humphrey and Bogart. ...
Meet the Newbies – a not-so-famous five
The Trust was recently asked to help rehome five donkeys located in the lower North Island. There are three jennies...
Weatherby of Mamaku
Weatherby came to the Mamaku Rescue and Rehoming Centre with a number of nasty gashes as he was constantly escaping...
Donkeys love visitors
Recently Pauline of the Mamaku Rescue and Rehoming Centre welcomed Pippi, Gregg and Susie to the centre out of Rotorua...
And away we go… Jake and Benny
Jake and Benny recently returned to the Mamaku rehoming centre once again after being rehomed a number of times due to...
Introducing Her Grace, Duchess Florence
This is Duchess Florence. She came to the Mamaku Rehoming centre without a name. We had a naming promotion through...
Want to read more?
Subscribe to our newsletter below to receive more news and articles, where you can find a lot more information and advice.
Have you bought our calendar yet? We are Mr and Mrs October 2025 and look very glamorous. This is our everyday look. donkeymuletrust.org.nz/buy-our-2025-calendar/ ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I have my calendars already. The promise of a new donkey is my favourite part of each month!
The calendar is gorgeous! I'm so pleased with mine, and will be gifting one too😊
Love my new calendar! 💖
Beautiful photo ❤️
Lady, can you get this off of me??? No, I wasn't playing with the bucket...it just wrapped itself around my hoof! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Sweet little Santo, you are a clown!!
Love the caption 😄
She's a placid girl,most would likely have gone nuts with that wrapped round their foot!!
Lisa haha it’s dainty’s twin in donk form 🤭 gotta love sensible youngsters
Sensible, donkeys, no panic 🥰
🤣🤣
View more comments
Yay Sun! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
All go here getting Mickey, Milo & santos house ready!
These guys should have a calendar of their own. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Such hams 💕 Safe and loved: Rescue is best breed! Shared ~ Ariane
Thanks for my calendars and cards, they arrived yesterday 😊
Next year 👍 Jamie and Trigger… Jamie’s 13yrs old and Trigger is 3yrs old. Not buddies but good friends ❤️
Sweetest little faces!
Cool kids
Great pic
IMHO, all Animals and Donkeys should have their own calendar 💕 Safe and loved: Rescue is best breed! Shared ~ Ariane
View more comments
Word has it there are still people who have yet to buy our calendar - hard to believe when we look this gorgeous. donkeymuletrust.org.nz/buy-our-2025-calendar/ ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Love this 💕 Safe and loved: Rescue is best breed! Shared ~ Ariane
Wheres my dinner? ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Have you ordered your calendars yet?
Santo was hoping the flower garlands used in the photo shoot might be real.
To order your calendar and Xmas cards online please go to donkeymuletrust.org.nz/buy-our-2025-calendar/ ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
How beautiful 💖 Safe and loved: Rescue is best breed! Shared ~ Ariane
Adorable
Our calendar and cards are now printed so those of you who have already ordered will be receiving them soon. If you are still to order please go to our website
donkeymuletrust.org.nz/buy-our-2025-calendar
Beautiful donkeys are waiting for your order. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
So beautiful 💕 Safe and loved: Rescue is best breed! Shared ~ Ariane
My calendars and cards have just arrived and they are absolutely gorgeous! Thank you so much😍
Yay! Will order some soon 🙂
Our 2025 calendar is now on sale. This special edition recognises the Trust 20 year anniversary of helping donkeys and their owners in New Zealand. You can order online now. We also have Xmas cards available this year and offer combos to purchase both calendars and cards. Please place your order at
donkeymuletrust.org.nz/buy-our-2025-calendar/ ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Love this ❤️ Safe and loved: Rescue is best breed! Shared ~ Ariane
I love this photo, I also love your calendars & order every year. 🫏🫏😍
Just ordered my calendar and cards. They look lovely. Photos are lovely. Read the newsletter, funny photos. Loved ' models walking off' .
Lovely photos! Will be ordering soon🫏💗
Irene Henry might give this a go andctake some photos
Adorable
Anna Carseldine look
View more comments
These three escaped today. Found them in a paddock of new green grass. Three old men...I think they look guilty. Do you? ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
They look a bit annoyed you found them 😂
Nope just innocent faces here people now move along 🤣
They are completely innocent, unless you have photographic evidence of them in the aforementioned grassy paddock.
Not guilty, satisfied and overfill like Christmas Dinner
Boys! They're each saying "He made me do it." 😆
They certainly don't look like they need green grass.. or feeling guilty for being on said green grass
No they look like Angels to me😇not guilty😂
Who is? Never 🤣
Is that Oscar leading the way???🤣
Embarrassment?
Alan, Gary and Denis
Cheeky men!
View more comments
Getting some winter sun ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
A great spot for donks
Coming in for breakfast. Lady is a bit late this morning😝 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Poor starving donkeys, so hard to get good help/servants these days 🙂
They are so beautiful..I love them! ❤️
Hi all
There was a recent comment on our facebook page referring to Pauline. While it was supportive of what Pauline and the Trust is doing, there was misinformation and someone used the Trust name to post the comment making it look like it was from the Trust. This is why it was in the comments and not a post as this is.
Please be aware that sometimes what you see is not real on social media. The comment and responses have been deleted - no offence to those of you who we know are genuine.
Chair ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
The donkey version of Yin and Yang
Donkeys can bond very closely. These two are both about 13 years old. They only met a few years ago but are now rarely more than 2 metres apart at any time. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
So sweet,so nice to know they have found companionship with each other...
Book ends?
Beautiful
It's gonna get cold here tonight. Where's dinner? Oh here it is ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Yep we have ours, ready for the cold weather 🥶Mintie, Monty and Neddy..
Hello darlings.
Yes it is donkeys eating hay...again. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
No better sound!
' I always feel like someone is watching me...' ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Dear, sweet, wise Zebbie 🥰. Miss you my medicine man 💞.
i spy
Nothing like a bit of hay in the winter sun. Zeb on the left with his chubby mate Oscar ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Mickey will stand so still to have his photo taken. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
So handsome! 😍
Gorgeous wee fellow!
Hello Mickey❤
Young Milo (on the right) recently came into the care of the Trust. Last week he arrived to join Santo (on left) and Mickey (centre). Santo is only rising 2 and Mickey is in his 20s we believe. While they have become firm friends, Santo needs another friend closer to his own age in case something happens to Mickey. So....we have introduced Milo. It is all rather tentative at this stage as to whether it will work out. Milo has only recently been exposed to other donkeys and he is learning to cope whereas Santo thinks he is the boss of everyone and everything. But small steps, they do eat together but it takes some time after the hay comes out for everyone to settle down and Milo remains somewhat apprehensive. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Aw poor wee Milo,he does look a little apprehensive in this pic,Trust all works out for him..
Fortunate donkey souls 🥰🥰🥰
Bless xxx
Morning..
Morning! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Good morning all! 😗😗
Morning, What you up to today?
Morning 😁
afternoon a real waikato day grey cold and overcast here in Hamilton
Someone loves his farrier ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Wonder if the farrier feels like someone is breathing down his neck!
Gosh how cute! What are the chances of Gable doing that one day??!! Slim I’d say.
Farriers- worth their weight in gold!
🤣
Santo and Mickey waiting for the farrier ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
So sweet 🥰
Lovely photo 🥰🥰
S/he can't be farr away.
I know, another video of donkeys eating hay. But don't you just love that sound? That's the delicious Santo in the opening shot. He is too too adorable. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Love it❤️
I can’t stand the sound of people eating but can listen to donkeys for hours!
That munch is a happy sound
Beautiful sound ❤