PASTORALISPASTORALISMM

STAGE 1: PASTORALISM FOR STAGE 1: PASTORALISM FOR THE DOMESTIC MARKETTHE DOMESTIC MARKET

Initially pastoralism was conducted for the Initially pastoralism was conducted for the domestic trade. This was due to the domestic trade. This was due to the perishable nature of the products and the perishable nature of the products and the lack of technology to preserve the lack of technology to preserve the products.products.

New Zealand’s non existent transport New Zealand’s non existent transport network made it hard to serve a large network made it hard to serve a large market.market.

This meant that both Maori and Pakeha This meant that both Maori and Pakeha farmed only enough sheep and cattle to farmed only enough sheep and cattle to meet local demands for meat and milk.meet local demands for meat and milk.

Wakefield's schemes of the 1840’s Wakefield's schemes of the 1840’s imported large numbers of British imported large numbers of British settlers to NZ.settlers to NZ.

They arrived in NZ expecting to raise They arrived in NZ expecting to raise sheep and grow crops as they had sheep and grow crops as they had done in Britain.done in Britain.

Some settlers managed to set up Some settlers managed to set up large runs especially in the South large runs especially in the South Island.Island.

STAGE 2: PASTORALISM FOR STAGE 2: PASTORALISM FOR WOOLWOOL

The Contribution of The Contribution of Australian pastoralismAustralian pastoralism

In the 1850’s there was a drought in In the 1850’s there was a drought in Australia. This led to some Australian Australia. This led to some Australian merino sheep and their owners being merino sheep and their owners being moved to NZ. moved to NZ.

A gap opened up in the international A gap opened up in the international wool market due to this. NZ was able wool market due to this. NZ was able to exploit this subsequently the to exploit this subsequently the 1860’s saw a huge rise in NZ sheep 1860’s saw a huge rise in NZ sheep numbers and wool exports.numbers and wool exports.

South Island focusSouth Island focus This stage of pastoralism This stage of pastoralism

was primarily based in was primarily based in the South Island, the South Island, primarily Canterbury but primarily Canterbury but also Otago and also Otago and Southland.Southland.

Often people borrowed Often people borrowed large sums of money to large sums of money to buy huge areas of land buy huge areas of land to farm. to farm.

Extensive PastoralismExtensive Pastoralism

This means that there is very little money This means that there is very little money was invested into the land. Each acre of was invested into the land. Each acre of land supported very few animals.land supported very few animals.

Farms were large and boundaries were Farms were large and boundaries were often natural land features such as rivers often natural land features such as rivers and mountains.and mountains.

The Scottish practice of burning the land The Scottish practice of burning the land to produce better pasture was adopted. to produce better pasture was adopted.

This type of land was suited to merino This type of land was suited to merino sheep.sheep.

Merino sheep found in the South Island Merino sheep found in the South Island high country.high country.

New Zealand’s New Zealand’s most famous most famous merino sheep merino sheep

in recent in recent times – Shrek.times – Shrek.

Wool and its by-productsWool and its by-products

Very little attempts were made to Very little attempts were made to add value to the raw product. At best add value to the raw product. At best the wool was scoured (washed).the wool was scoured (washed).

During this period meat was During this period meat was essentially a by-product of the wool essentially a by-product of the wool industry. With the exception of the industry. With the exception of the period of the gold rushes in the period of the gold rushes in the 1860’s there was a surplus of meat 1860’s there was a surplus of meat on the local market.on the local market.

EmploymentEmployment

Extensive pastoralism offered very Extensive pastoralism offered very few opportunities for full time few opportunities for full time employment. employment.

Full time work was available for men Full time work was available for men in the form of shepherding and in the form of shepherding and boundary riding.boundary riding.

Seasonal work such as shearing, Seasonal work such as shearing, mustering, dipping and fencing (after mustering, dipping and fencing (after the introduction of wire) was more the introduction of wire) was more common.common.

The Social ImpactThe Social Impact

The phase of pastoralism was associated The phase of pastoralism was associated with the formation of what historian with the formation of what historian Stephen Eldred-Grigg describes as the Stephen Eldred-Grigg describes as the “southern gentry”.“southern gentry”.

They were people who began large scale They were people who began large scale run holding with very little capital during run holding with very little capital during the wool boom period.the wool boom period.

This also allowed them to diversify and This also allowed them to diversify and invest in other sectors such as shipping, invest in other sectors such as shipping, woollen mills and later freezing works.woollen mills and later freezing works.