About Open Country

Open Country was formed in 2001 to take advantage of opportunities within the New Zealand dairy industry that would arise following the passing of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA). The passing of the DIRA removed the single desk selling status of the NZ Dairy Board allowing independent dairy companies to produce and export New Zealand made dairy products.

The Company's strategy has been to site its factories in the pre-eminent dairying areas of New Zealand.  Open Country sources its milk from the areas surrounding its factories and is now supplied by over 500 independent dairy farmers producing quality milk from cows that are farmed naturally in New Zealand's temperate climate.

The first factory, a Cheese Plant, was established at Waharoa, Waikato in 2004 with production commencing in September 2004. The site was further developed by adding a Whey Plant in 2006, an Anhydrous Milk Fat Plant in 2007 and a Whole Milk Powder Plant in 2008. 

The next site to be developed was a Whole Milk Powder Plant at Awarua Southland, in 2008.

A third Whole Milk Powder Plant in Wanganui, Taranaki/Manawatu and it commenced operation on 1 August 2009.

All three Whole Milk Powder Plants are GEA designed from Denmark and have a standard configuration, with a capacity of 220 million litres, producing 8.0tn/hr, 30,000/annum.

The combined capacity of our three sites, Waharoa, Awarua and Wanganui is some 900 million litres of milk per annum making Open Country the second largest dairy processor in New Zealand, exporting to around 45 countries world-wide.  

As one of the newest dairy companies in New Zealand, Open Country has quickly established itself as a credible member of the New Zealand dairy industry, giving farmers a choice as to where they sell their milk, as well as establishing itself as a supplier of top quality, nutritional, safe and consistent dairy ingredients to export & domestic markets.