NEW PAGES ON WEBSITE

New pages recently added to the Rare Breeds Website include:
       Ostriches (Ostriches breed page) [24.11.2025]
       Emus (Emus breed page) [24.11.2025]
       Meatmaster (Meatmaster sheep) [2.9.2025]
       Finn Fibre (Finnsheep fibre and its uses) [12.8.2025]
       Awassi Fibre (Awassi fibre and its uses) [12.8.2025]
       Welcome (Welcome to the Rare Breeds website) [12.8.2025]
       Arapawa or Arapaoa? (Historical evidence of correct spelling) [6.7.2025]
       Sponsorship Prospectus (Gives details of sponsoring the Rare Breeds Society) [3.7.2025]
       Lincoln Red pigs (Rewritten and updated with more information) [13.6.2025]
       Gene Bank holdings (Revised and updated) [30.5.2025]
       Photos from the Rare Breeds Auction (Photos from the March 2025 Auction) [10.3.2025]
       Watchlist (Conservation priorities for New Zealand Rare Breeds) [21.11.2024]
       Photos from the Agricultural Show (Photos of the Rare Breeds 2024 display) [18.11.2024]
Check them out.

(The Webmart and Directory are updated as soon as listings change and are not listed above, nor are minor updates to other pages.)

Some of the attendees at the evening meal after the AGM in May.
(Marina Steinke photo.)

Canterbury Notes

The next meeting of the Canterbury group of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society will be held at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve (60 Hussey Road, Christchurch) on Friday 23 January 2026 starting at 7.30 p.m.

Enquiries to canterbury (at) rarebreeds.co.nz [replace (at) with @ when typing this address].

    [29.11.2025]

An Extraordinary Goat

In the Marlborough Sounds, Arapawa Island hosts one of the world's most endangered treasures: the Arapawa goats. Introduced by Captain Cook in the 1770s, for over two centuries they thrived in isolation, developing unique characteristics through natural selection. Recent studies confirm these goats possess genetic heritage found nowhere else on Earth. But with numbers dropping drastically, time is running out. This book chronicles their remarkable story of survival, and the people fighting to save them.

To purchase a copy please email alison (at) xtra.co.nz

[18.10.2025]    

RARE BREEDS SPONSORSHIP PROSPECTUS

The Canterbury Rare Breeds group has launched a brand new initiative – the Rare Breeds Sponsorship Prospectus (click to download). This outlines the different levels of sponsorship available – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, starting at fully tax deductible donations of $100.

While the Society has some funds to finance the most pressing projects, current events such as flooding, heat waves, and wildfires demonstrate the urgency to preserve the genetics of as many of our Rare Breeds of livestock as we possibly can. If you are not in a position to donate, one of your friends or acquaintances may be. Please forward the Prospectus to anyone you think may be interested.

[The link to forward is https://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/prospectus.pdf ]

 
[21.7.2025]

Types of Breed

To avoid the unfortunate connotations in the use of the term ‘feral’ and the misunderstanding inherent in the term ‘landrace’ the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand at its National Committee meeting of 19 November 2024 adopted the following terms and designations for the main types of livestock in this country:

New Zealand: A breed of animal that has evolved naturally over time in New Zealand to suit the conditions of a particular local area. An example would be the Arapawa sheep.

Developed: A breed of animal that has been developed by selective breeding to suit perceived or commercial requirements. An example is the Drysdale sheep.

Standardized: A breed in which animals conform to a standard that describes the ideal physical characteristics. Most Standardized breeds descend from landrace populations and ideally the animals are registered or enrolled in a herdbook or studbook. In New Zealand the Standardized breeds have usually been imported, such as the Dorset Horn sheep.

[21.11.2024]    

Livestock Census and Portfolio Reports

This new 78-page publication by the Rare Breeds
Conservation Society of New Zealand is now available.

To purchase a copy please email
editor (at) rarebreeds.co.nz

Price is $20 plus postage.

[10.11.2024]    

 

Valley Voice        

For some time Valley Voice magazine, which is delivered to 32,000 rural addresses in Rodney and Franklin, has been regularly publishing articles about our rare breeds by feature writer Helen Martin, who maintains regular contact with the Rare Breeds Conservation Society. The articles can be found on the Valley Voice website.

The cover photograph pictured shows an Arapawa goat buck and a young doe on the Arapawa Island beach of Lily Bay, where Betty Rowe used to live.

 
[13.4.2024]

 
Feathered Friends for Town and Country is a new book by Marina Steinke which provides a comprehensive guide to poultry husbandy. See Feathered Friends for details of the book and how to get a copy.

    [10.12.2021]

 
See Rescue for details of a new book by Michael Willis – one New Zealander's crusade to save endangered animals.

For every book sold through this website $22.50 goes to the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand.

    [17.10.2019]

World Animal Day

World Animal Day is 4 October. Go to the  World Animal Day website for details and suggestions – plus items about last World Animal Day.

    [15.7.2015]

POULTRY CLUB CONTACTS

Charities Act Registration

The Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand Inc. was registered as a charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005 on 30 June 2008 (Registration Number CC30930) and is listed in the Charities Register. This contains information about registered charities for people who may wish to make donations, do volunteer work for, use the services of or find out more about a particular charity. This includes where the charity operates and the sector it works in, contact details, services, charitable purpose, beneficiaries, governance structure and officers.

The Society also has donee organisation status with the IRD. This means that people can claim a tax credit (rebate) for donations made to the RBCSNZ. If you want to claim this tax credit, please ask for a receipt when you make your donation.
    [22.2.2009]