The birth of a set of triplet lambs at a lifestyle block in Minden Hills this week has marked the onset of spring.

Marilyn Bowler, who owns the block, says that the birth of the lambs was unexpected.

'It's quite funny actually, we've got a lifestyle block here with a couple of acres spare and my son said, would we please babysit the sheep because he'd run out of space.

'So he brought them over from Te Puke and put them in our paddock.”

Although their mother is white, Marilyn says the triplets are a speckled black and white colour.

She says that while they have seen some colder mornings, the lambs appear to be doing well.

'We thought we may have needed to bottle feed one but they seem to be coping so we're just leaving them as they are.”

'They love the sunshine,” says Marilyn.

She says that neighbouring farms have also began to see lambs appearing.