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Story: Dairying and dairy products

Chew Chong

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Chew Chong

Before becoming involved in the dairy industry, entrepreneur Chew Chong ran this general store in New Plymouth. Local dairy farmers often bartered butter for store goods, but because of poor processing, much of it spoiled when exported. To improve butter processing, Chew Chong opened one of New Zealand’s first dairy factories, in Taranaki in 1887.

Using this item

Puke Ariki – Taranaki Museum & Library

Reference: PHO2002-406

by W. A. Collis

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How to cite this page

Hugh Stringleman and Frank Scrimgeour, Dairying and dairy products – Expansion of dairying, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/15688/chew-chong (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Hugh Stringleman and Frank Scrimgeour, published 1 March 2009.