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The importation of two cows and a bull in 1814 marked the beginning of the New Zealand dairy industry.
Since this date, dairying has gone on to become New Zealand's top merchandise export earner.
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (published Dec 2010) estimates the industry, including downstream activities such as marketing, wholesaling and transport, contributes around 2.8% to New Zealand's GDP and 10.4 billion of export earnings. Read more in the NZIER report
Approximately 97 percent of milk produced in New Zealand is processed into dairy products, with the balance sold on the domestic liquid milk market.
Notes
* Estimate 1. As at 30 June (opening numbers). 2. Year to 31 May. 3. Year to 30 June.
Sources: Statistics New Zealand, DairyNZ, Fonterra Co-operative Group, and MPI.
The New Zealand dairy industry has been a world leader in herd improvement, and its ability to trace the performance of the national herd – through the dairy core database – has been central to that success. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking feedback on the rules surrounding the New Zealand dairy herd improvement industry. For more information on the consultation, click here. All submissions must be received by 5PM on 15 February 2013. The Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (2001) was a specific Act of Parliament. The Act and its associated regulations, the Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk) Regulations 2001, allowed for the formation of Fonterra. Read more on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA).
On 24 January 2012 the Minister for Primary Industries announced that consultation had opened on the government’s proposed response to reviews of Fonterra’s farm gate milk price setting, the Raw Milk Regulations, and the regulatory regime to accompany Fonterra’s proposed capital restructure.
Submissions closed Friday 24 February and MPI received over 800 submissions. On 27 March 2012, the Government announced changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) following the consultation on potential amendments.
Read more about the review and the submissions received.
In 2011 MPI produced a Domestic Milk Market in New Zealand report that looked into the domestic milk market in response to questions raised by consumers about milk pricing. The report provides a basic overview of domestic prices for milk products, the role of Government and information on the regulatory environment.
A briefing on Fonterra's Farm Gate Milk Price was provided to the Commerce Select Committee in June 2011 providing information on how Fonterra sets the price it pays farmer shareholders for their milk and the flow on effects that price has for the wider dairy industry in New Zealand. It was provided to assist the Committee and does not represent final advice or government policy.
On 26 May 2003, the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord was agreed between Fonterra Co-operative Group, the Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Agriculture, and regional councils. The Accord expired at the end of 2012.
The parties to the Accord agreed to work together to achieve clean healthy water, including streams, rivers, lakes, groundwater and wetlands in dairying areas.
The Accord is both a statement of intent and a framework for actions to promote sustainable dairy farming in New Zealand.
The Stock Exclusion Survey Report is an independent survey commissioned by MPI to assess progress by dairy farmers towards achieving the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord (the Accord) target of dairy cattle to be excluded from 50 percent of streams, rivers, and lakes by 2007, rising to 90 percent by 2012. The objective was to conduct a nation-wide field-based survey to observe and assess stock exclusion from Dairying and Clean Streams Accord type waterways on a representative sample of Fonterra dairy supplier farms.
OVERSEER® is an agricultural management tool which assists farmers and their advisers to examine nutrient use and movements within a farm to optimize production and environmental outcomes. The computer model calculates and estimates the nutrient flows in a productive farming system and identifies risk for environmental impacts through nutrient loss, including run off and leaching, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Exporting Animals and Animal Products
Export licences are required for exporting certain dairy products under quota programmes to the United States, the European Union, Japan, and the Dominican Republic. The link below provides information on who is eligible, and how to apply for these licences.
Frequently asked questions on Export Licences and Dairy Quota
Approved certification bodies and certified herd testers
MPI runs an annual farm monitoring process to examine the production and financial status of farms in terms of the cash income and expenditure.
The outcomes are published in MPI's Farm Monitoring Reports. Trends, issues and dairy sector concerns are also monitored and reported annually.
MPI's Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report provides an annual overview of issues faced by the dairy industry