Brief history of dairy farming

Dairy farming is part of the long and proud agricultural tradition in New Zealand.

Dairy cattle were first imported by European settlers in the early 19th century to provide milk, butter and cheese for local supply. As early as 1846, only six years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the first exports began. By 1882 New Zealand was exporting the first refrigerated shipment - a worldwide first - of meat and butter to the United Kingdom.

Refrigerated shipping enabled New Zealand to develop a substantial dairy export trade to the United Kingdom, which remained the largest export market until as late as the 1970s, when the United Kingdom joined the European Union.

Refrigerated shipping, New Zealand's temperate climate and a highly innovative and efficient dairy industry based on farmer-owned co-operative dairy companies enabled dairying to grow into New Zealand's most important industry.

Since the 1970s there has been significant diversification in both dairy products and markets. The United States is now our largest market and the United Kingdom is about our 10th largest market - surpassed by Japan and several other Asian markets that barely existed 30 years ago.

For more information about the history of dairy farming in New Zealand visit the Fonterra website.