Cheese in New Zealand - inevitable

In 1814 the Reverend Samuel Marsden imported New Zealand'sfirst cows to provide cheese, milk and butter for his missionaries. Colonists soon found that New Zealand was ideal dairying country.·  The gold rush in the 1860's brought an influx of continental Europeans for whom cheese was an important part of their diet.
 
Our first dairy factory was established in 1871 - increasing to an all time high of 510 in 1925.

There are many fewer factories nowadays, despite the presence of some very good 'boutique' factories making excellent specialty cheeses. However as a nation we're becoming more adventurous in our cheese tastes and are demanding a much wider variety than formerly.