From small beginnings when New Zealand exported just 14 tonnes of red meat to the US in 1926, the market has grown into one of our most important trade relationships.
So the centenary of those first red meat shipments was an event worth celebrating in Wellington this week.
To mark the occasion, B+LNZ teamed up with the Meat Industry Association, the New Zealand Meat Board and the US Embassy to host a cocktail party, supported by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). This followed a similar commemoration in Washington earlier this year.
We were pleased to host Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay and new US Ambassador Jared Novelly, along with other Ministers, MPs, government officials, the diplomatic corps and stakeholders. It was an excellent opportunity to highlight the value of red meat exports to an influential group of decisionmakers.
B+LNZ Chair Kate Acland said that the first shipment in 1926 probably didn’t feel historic at the time. It was a practical decision – a small, experimental step by a young exporting nation looking to diversify beyond a single market, the United Kingdom.
Those early shipments were muslin-wrapped carcasses on breakbulk ships. By today’s standards, the logistics were crude, yet it marked the beginning of a relationship that has endured and prospered for a century.
Americans have always been discerning customers, and success in this market has never been guaranteed. What has sustained New Zealand’s place is a commitment to quality, consistency, and trust.
Acland noted that the relationship has not always been straightforward, with evolving markets and trade challenges. Yet the partnership between New Zealand and the US has remained strong, resilient and mutually beneficial.
The US market reaped $3.8 billion in 2025-26, our single largest red meat market, and we look forward to the next 100 years of trade.
Find out more
- Want to know more? Read Trusted, lean and long-game (PDF, 4MB) the history of 100 years of New Zealand meat exports to North America.
- Listen to the B+LNZ podcast to unpack the story and what it means for the future. We're joined by Ali Spencer and Mick Calder to discuss the insights behind Trusted, Lean and Long Game.
