There was a distinct feeling of spring in the air earlier this week, and it seems the sheep living on Mauao agree.

Cygnets - baby swans - have been spotted in Carmichael Reserve and new-born lambs are out and about on the Mount hillside, providing the best indication yet that winter is on the way out.

Tauranga City Council parks and recreation manager Mark Smith says the sheep on Mauao are owned by the council, and help maintain the mountain through grazing.

'This is a cost efficient way to manage the grass and also has a low impact on the environment in terms of erosion and potential damage to archaeology. We hire a contractor to act as a shepherd for them.”

He says July-September is the usual lambing season in New Zealand, so the new lambs on Mauao are arriving right on time.

'We're happy for visitors to have a look and take pictures, but we do ask that people give them some space.”

Every year the council sells lambs, sheep and wool to manage the numbers on the mountain, with proceeds from these sales go back into the management of Mauao.

A council spokesperson could not confirm who buys the lambs or for what purpose.

She says since the sheep are owned by the ratepayer, they are simply sold at market to the highest bidder, in order to get the best value for money.