Welcome to New Zealand's merino website, proudly brought to you by the NZ Merino Stud Breeders. We invite you take a look around to learn more about the New Zealand merino industry from the pedigree genetics we produce to the end use of this quality sustainable product. If you have story ideas or feedback please contact the editor Robin Major.
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There are 30+ registered merino studs in NZ. Take a look at our stud directory and read about some them...
Awapiri: Aims to breed medium wool merinos suitable for their environment
Muller: New stud at the top of the Awatere Valley aims to produce dual purpose productive sheep.
Earnscleugh: Sells semen around the world thanks to 10 years of using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs).
Blairich: A successful dedicated fine wool stud at the bottom of the Awatere Valley in Marlborough.
Lauder: Rated as "one of the best" for superfine quality Italian high end suiting fabric.
Flaxton: Aims to reduce the cost of farming sheep while maintaining high productivity.
High country stations are the home to New Zealand's commercial merino flocks. Come and visit a couple...
Buscot Station: Winner of the 2009 NZ Ewe Hogget Competition
The Wolds: Runs big framed productive ewes and looks for sheep with free growing fairly lengthly wool.
Omamara Station: Focuses on keeping the ewes at 19.5 micron to meet Icebreaker contract specifications.
Lake Heron Station: Every spring, merino wethers are mustered out of the headwaters of the Rakaia River.
Wool handlers, shearers and classers play a vital role getting the wool off the sheep's back.
Blade Shearing: The Mackenzie Shearing gang has been blade shearing Glentanner merinos since 1957.
Colin Wallace: No matter where he classes wool around the world, Colin always uses the same principles.
Dick McArthur: Plans to keep classing from his wheelchair if he can.
New Zealand merino products are all over the world. Here's a selection of just a few of them...
Fine Men's Suiting: Loro Piana, Reda and Marzotto.
Women's Fashion: Hugo Boss, John Smedley, Untouched World, Karen Cole and Perino.
Outdoorwear: IBEX, SmartWool, Icebreaker.
Children's Clothing: Isolation Merino, Mokopuna, Nutured by Nature.
Bedding: Maxwell Rodgers Fabrics' bedthrows, Nest-to-go swags and Lola & Ben baby sleeping bags.
Carpet: Godfrey Hurst.
Increasingly these brands are proving their environmental and ethical credentials with the New Zealand Merino Company's Zque brand.
The merino community is a diverse bunch of strong individuals. Take a minute to meet a few of them...
Kate Calder: Merino artist and North Canterbury farmer
Bruce Paterson: Looking back over a lifetime on the land, Bruce cherishes the companionship of the people.
Bill Gibson: A love of merinos was ingrained in Bill from his earliest days.
Grant Calder: A champion of the New Zealand working dog as well as the merino.
Colin Clark: The high country and the animals that live there have been this shepherd’s life.
The merino industry also has many passionate young people. Many are Biella ambassadors.
The merino sheep is woven into New Zealand history. Here's a brief look back in time...
Early Days: George Rich was the first man to establish a merino stud in New Zealand.
Arthur Urquhart: This pioneering high country man was "a sheep farmer before anything else."
Freda Urquhart: Moved to Erewhon Station as a young bride in the spring of 1943.
