The ability to transport produce long distances has had an important influence on the development of some countries. For example, the ability to transport lamb for consumption to the major markets in Europe has had a considerable impact on the economic development of New Zealand this century.

100 years ago …

What was it like in New Zealand before they were able to build up their frozen lamb export market? New Zealand relied heavily on its natural resources in whale and seal meat, flux, timber and gold to support its economy. Its economy really started developing when it began to export wool to Great Britain during the late 19th century. But, when wool prices dropped in the 1880s, the country ran into economic crisis.

Technological changes transformed the country. In 1882, a ship called the Dunedin carried its cargo of refrigerated lamb to Britain. The voyage took three months and the lamb arrived in good condition.

By the 1890s the New Zealand meat industry had taken off, with £8 million worth of meat exported a year, compared with just £1 million in the 1880s.

The ever-growing meat and dairy industry, dependent on refrigeration to preserve goods for the long journey to Europe, led to the increased affluence and influence of the farmer in New Zealand society. It also led to the development of secondary industries such as freezing works, butter and cheese factories. However, as early as 1920 the country began considering diversifying its exports, to maintain the prosperity which had been founded on the frozen meat and chilled dairy industries.

Trends over the last 50 years are shown in the graph below:




Total refrigerated lamb and mutton imports to UK from New Zealand

Today...

By 1995, Britain was taking only 6% of New Zealand’s exports compared with 80% before 1939. One of the reasons for this decline was Britain’s joining of the European Community in 1973, which lead to barriers to trade from outside Europe. Since the 1950s, New Zealand has achieved much wider diversification both in its economy and its export markets, reducing its dependence on sheep and butter. Kiwifruit, apples, timber, wine and expanded fishing (shellfish exports rose 28% in 1996) and tourism industries (visitors increased by 7.4% in 1996) have assisted this. The major countries to which New Zealand now exports are shown below.