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Kōrero: Economic history

Sheep numbers, 1851–2014

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Sheep numbers in New Zealand, 1851–2014

The successful export of wool and meat encouraged a consistent growth in sheep numbers until the early 1980s, when the removal of subsidies and falling demand for wool led to a sharp decline during the last years of the 20th century. By 2014 sheep numbers were estimated at 29.6 million.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Sources: G. T. Bloomfield, New Zealand: a handbook of historical statistics. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1984, and Statistics New Zealand

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Brian Easton, Economic history – Early pastoral economy, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/interactive/24324/sheep-numbers-1851-2014 (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Brian Easton, i tāngia i te 12 April 2010.