Skip to main content

Story: Goats and goat farming

Arapawa goat

Image
Arapawa goat

Arapawa goats are probably descended from goats liberated by James Cook on Arapawa Island, in the Marlborough Sounds. They have developed into a line of attractive, distinctive, dark-headed animals. They are protected in a privately owned 180-hectare wildlife sanctuary, along with sheep and pigs that have also been isolated on the island. Visitors are welcome.

Using this item

Private collection

by Betty Rowe

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Allan Gillingham, Goats and goat farming – Goats in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16584/arapawa-goat (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Allan Gillingham, published 1 March 2009.