Dairy has long been the powerhouse of the New Zealand economy, significantly contributing to local communities and regional economies, while providing quality and trusted nutrition around the world.

DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand are excited to toast these achievements this World Milk Day, June 1.

“World Milk Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the role of our farmers, dairy companies and the whole sector in progressing a positive future for New Zealand,” says DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker.

The international day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to recognise the importance of milk as a global food and to celebrate the dairy sector. 

“The milk produced by New Zealand farmers is equivalent to two and half serves of dairy per day for 90 million people," says Campbell.

"This nutritional contribution starts with our farmers’ commitment to their land and animals and flows through the whole value chain to benefit our customers, communities and the country."

DCANZ executive director Kimberly Crewther says the high-quality milk supplied by farmers is being transformed into more than 1500 different dairy products and product formulations, exported to over 130 countries, and providing one in every four dollars New Zealand earns from trade.

“The sector’s success is due to a huge team effort by farmers, dairy company employees and the many partner industries our dairy farms, processors and exporters couldn’t function without,” says Kimberly.

Dairy generated $25.5 billion in export revenue in the year ended April 2024 and provided direct employment for approximately 55,000 people both on and off farm.

Dairy farmers and dairy companies’ contribution to economic activity includes more than $7.9 billion spent on goods and services in the local economy by dairy farmers and $5 billion spent by dairy processors in addition to their purchases of milk from farmers in the year to March 2023.

Dairy farmers are top 10 purchasers of goods and services from over 1/3 of all other industries and dairy processors are top 10 purchasers of goods and services from 1/4 of all other industries. 

Dairy farmers Nic and Kirsty Verhoek and their children Ferguson, Isabelle and Lachlan raise glasses of milk to toast World Milk Day. Photo supplied.

Kimberly says milk is a nutritional powerhouse and a top 5 source of supply of 23 out of 29 essential nutrients within the global food system.

This includes 48 per cent of dietary calcium supply and 12 per cent of protein for only 7 per cent of calories.

“Dairy products make an important contribution to diets at every stage of life," says KImberly.

Campbell says World Milk Day is an opportunity to acknowledge how central dairy can be within communities – with dairy farmers often contributing to local volunteering, education, conservation, mentoring and the emergency services.

“The dairy sector is an industry I find very easy to get out of bed for every day and get excited about, and DairyNZ will continue working hard to ensure Kiwi dairy farmers remain profitable, sustainable and internationally competitive into the future,” Campbell says.

Kimberly says the dairy sector is a source of a diverse range of careers for New Zealanders, whether it’s farming, advancing dairy science, manufacturing world class dairy products, connecting New Zealand products with global customers through sales and logistics, or one of the many other roles that support the whole sector to run smoothly.

“With our links around the world, there are exciting opportunities on farms, in dairy companies and dairy sector organisations. The sky’s the limit in our dynamic dairy sector.” 

Key facts & figures:

NZ dairy sector:

• More than 10,500 Kiwi dairy farms
• Around 4.7 million milking cows
• Over 20 billion litres of milk produced a year
• More than 1500 dairy products and product formulations
• $25.5 billion in export revenue in the year ended April 2024
• Around 55,000 people employed in dairy throughout the country, both on and off farms.

Nutrition:

• Milk is a nutrient-dense food and essential part of balanced diets.
• As a nutritional powerhouse, milk makes up a high contribution to a range of nutrients.  Overall, milk is a top 5 source of supply for 23 of 29 essential nutrients within the global food system.
• Milk supplies 7 per cent of global calories and contributes 12 per cent of global protein.
• Milk accounts for the supply of 48 per cent of dietary calcium, 24 per cent of Vitamin B2, 18 per cent of lysine, and more than 10 per cent of a further five essential amino acids, vitamins A, B5 and B12, phosphorous and potassium.