Story: Overseas trade policy

Meat for export

Meat for export

The first shipment of frozen meat to Britain in 1882 promised to create a profitable industry for New Zealand farmers. However, it was not until the mid-1890s, when transport costs fell and meat prices lifted, that the industry actually became profitable. These frozen carcasses are hanging up outside the British New Zealand Meat Company, in Christchurch, in the early 20th century. At the time, the export of frozen meat, as well as butter and cheese, had created an economic boom. Access to markets was not a problem as free-trading Britain took as much as New Zealand could produce.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/1-009113; G

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Chris Nixon and John Yeabsley, 'Overseas trade policy - Early trade – 1840s to 1920s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/21970/meat-for-export (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Chris Nixon and John Yeabsley, published 11 Mar 2010