Collecting, Protecting, and Sharing
Our Dairy Industry Heritage

A page from a newspaper or report detailing the operations and activities of the National Guard, focused on desert change and military movements during the past weeks, with mentions of transportation, equipment, and command structure.

Line drawing of a building with a sign that reads "Dairy Factory" on the front. The building has a sloped roof, windows, doors, and architectural details.

Much of this history is scattered, forgotten, or at risk of being lost. This archive hopes to bring it together.

The New Zealand Dairy Factories Archive is dedicated to the stories, places, and people that shaped one of our most important industries. From small-town creameries to large-scale co-operatives, these factories hold the history of communities, innovation, and change across the country.

Explore The Archive

Whether you’re a researcher, historian, dairy industry veteran, or simply curious about local history, this ARCHIVE iS for you.

Featured Factories

Featured

Taranaki

Penrose

Taranaki

James Baxter Connett was a leading early figure in Taranaki dairying and in 1875 he boasted that his “THE TARANAKI CHEESE MANUFACTORY” in Bell Block was the largest dairy in the province.

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Taranaki

Burnside (Sentry Hill)

Taranaki

The Burnside (Sentry Hill) Condensed Milk Factory was opened in November 1898 as one of Taranaki’s earliest attempts to expand dairy production beyond traditional butter and cheese making. Founded by entrepreneur Donald Munro.

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Taranaki

Mount Pleasant

Taranaki

Alice Ford Sampson (1858-1927) the wife of Frederick Henry Sampson (1851-1937) operated a small butter factory on their property on Mountain Road, Sentry Hill near the site of Paponga Pā.

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Taranaki

Chien Shan

Taranaki

This butter factory was built on land owned by Henry James Fisher on Henwood Road, Bell Block, New Plymouth. Mr Fisher (the son of the Reverend Henry Sanderson Fisher, Senior Chaplain in Bengal), Mr Fisher spent almost 30 years working as Assistant Commissioner for Maritime Customs at Tamsui on Formosa Island (now Taiwan) before retiring to New Zealand to become a gentleman farmer.

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Taranaki