Launching the New Zealand Dairy Story

Our dairy story is one of Dairy Goodness for the World.

The New Zealand Dairy Story has been developed in partnership with the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ), with input from DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, and Dairy Women's Network; with support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

The development of the story established seven defining elements as part of the sector’s story:

Natural
New Zealand is favoured by nature when it comes to making milk, with a climate, soils and abundant water that create a perfect environment for growing grass. Our cows can access pasture year-round. Our geography means New Zealand is free from many pests and diseases, supporting healthy cows and allowing us to farm with a lighter hand.

Health
Milk and milk products are highly nutritious and one of the most digestible sources of protein, providing essential building blocks for a healthy diet for young and old. As one of the few large dairy exporting countries, New Zealand plays a vital role in global nutritional security.

Integrity
Our milk comes from a good place. Trust in the quality and safety of New Zealand dairy products stems from our integrity as a country. New Zealand is open and transparent, and has earned trust the world over. New Zealand’s robust regulatory framework has built global confidence in our food safety and quality.

Innovation
The spirit of dairying in New Zealand is the spirit of ingenuity. From our milk we create more than 1500 products and product specifications, and thanks to generations of adventurous and creative dairy people, these products can be found in all corners of the planet. Our inventiveness has led to the creation of products, such as whey protein for specialised nutrition needs, that support the wellbeing of consumers.

Kaitiakitanga
Our natural advantage is treasured and preserved through a commitment to sustainable farming. It is the desire of every farmer to leave the land better than they received it and guard our natural resources for future generations.

Community
Dairy makes an important contribution to New Zealand’s prosperity and wellbeing. It is our largest export goods sector and contributes around 3% of our GDP. But even more than that, our dairy communities are an integral part of thriving rural life in New Zealand.

Global Partnerships
The New Zealand dairy industry has a long history as a trusted supplier of safe and sustainable dairy products, exporting for more than 170 years and to more than 130 different markets. We are known for our commitment to a strong global food system, open and free trade, and efficient supply chains, to ensure everyone has access to safe, affordable food.

These qualities echo the sentiments of Made with Care, the global consumer campaign designed to grow awareness, preference and demand for New Zealand food and beverage products around the world.

• Made with Care is underscored by the principle of Taiao – the interconnectedness of our people and the natural world. If the natural world is healthy, so too are the people.
• It is care that drives us to produce tasty, premium quality, safe, nutritious and ethical food and beverage.
• The New Zealand Dairy Story will help to make us better known for these qualities as a dairy producer, bringing together all the aspects of New Zealand dairy that make it uniquely valued.