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Story: Canterbury region

The meat industry

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The meat industry

The advent of refrigerated shipping meant that Canterbury lamb could be sent to markets on the other side of the world, and boosted sheep farming. Firms such as the Christchurch Meat Company processed sheep meat for both the domestic and export markets. These lamb and sheep carcasses are being weighed at the company’s works.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/1-019436; 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

John Wilson, Canterbury region – Agriculture before 1900, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10322/the-meat-industry (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009.