Dairy Records Archive

The Dairy Records Archive is an archive of business records associated with New Zealand’s dairy industry.

This collection was started by Massey University Library when dairy companies began to merge or close down in the 1960s, which created a pressing need for the preservation of the records of these companies.

The collection covers the length and breadth of New Zealand and presently has particularly good coverage of dairy companies in Northland, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatū, Southern Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Christchurch, Banks Peninsula and Southland. Most of the records date from the late nineteenth century to late twentieth century. 

While in the 1920s there were around 240 dairy companies in New Zealand, the number dwindled to around 90 by the 1970s because of mergers. By 2008, there were three co-operative dairy companies left. (Source: Hugh Stringleman and Frank Scrimgeour, "Dairying and dairy products - Dairy exports, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Accessed 11 March 2020.)

The types of records held for each dairy company vary, and for some companies little is available. Usually, minutes of meetings can be viewed. Some companies' archives also contain share registers, financial records, milk production records, company histories, legal papers, photographs and plans.

This collection is supplemented by the Dairy Records Archive Reference Collection.

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