The New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association, trading as Holstein Friesian New Zealand (HFNZ), is a collection of member dairy farmers with an interest in farming and breeding the Holstein Friesian cow in New Zealand.

The objective statement of Holstein Friesian New Zealand is: 

To progressively develop and support the breeding of genetically elite cattle, ensuring profitability of the Holstein Friesian breed. We are committed to developing and implementing services that record, improve and promote the Holstein Friesian breed to the benefit of breeders in the dairy industry.

To achieve the objective statement, the Association provides a number of products and services.

Breed History

Canterbury breeder Mr JCH Grigg was the first to import Dutch Friesian cattle into New Zealand in 1884. Four years later, the breed was introduced into the North Island via a herd established in the Wairarapa. Further importations of Holstein Friesian cattle were made from America in 1902/03.

Initially, a distinction was made between ‘Dutch Friesian’ (the true Netherlands type from the Western Friesland region) and ‘Holstein’ (North American genetics) cattle. However, the two strains soon became blended as many countries sourced cattle from both regions.

The black and white cow quickly gained popularity in the North Island, but it wasn’t until 1910 that their breeding and importation was taken up seriously. Early endeavours by breeders to keep accurate pedigrees of these animals resulted in the New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association being established in 1910. In 2011, the Association began trading as Holstein Friesian New Zealand.