Maui Milk partners with major Chinese dairy company to expand sheep milk exports

An agreement between Maui Milk and Mengniu was signed at Yashili’s Pokeno plant, near Auckland, two weeks ago.

Maui Milk chief executive Greg Hamill told Rural News that the partnership gives Maui access to a large distribution network and access to a comprehensive brand presence, while strengthening Mengniu’s global strategy and allowing them access to New Zealand premium sheep milk, a market that continues to grow in popularity.

Hamill says Maui has been exporting sheep milk powder to China since 2015.

“Partnering with Mengniu helps Maui Milk quickly enter additional markets, expanding our sales channels and enabling commercial scalability,” he says.

Sheep milk continues to gain popularity in China. Hamill notes that the Chinese economy is slowly improving, and as such demand for high quality sheep milk is also increasing.

The Mengniu brand is owned by Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy Limited headquartered in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

Hamill says Mengniu has been actively pursuing global milk source development.

“By collaborating with Maui Milk, it gains direct access to New Zealand’s premium milk resources, strengthening its international quality image and ensuring a more secure supply chain.

“As consumers increasingly seek healthy, nutritious, and personalised dairy options, sheep milk is gaining popularity as a functional dairy choice. Maui Milk enables Mengniu to respond swiftly to this growing demand.”

For Maui Milk, collaborating with a major international dairy company boosts Maui sheep milk recognition and credibility in global markets— especially in Asia.

Hamill says it will also help Maui Milk’s growth.

“Sheep milk is still a boost industry in NZ and Mengniu’s involvement will support this industry’s development faster and bring more exporting revenue for NZ and Maui’s suppliers.”

Maui Milk was established in 2014 as a joint venture between Shanghai- based Super Organic Dairy and Maori farming trust, Waituhi Kuratau (WKT). In 2021 Super Organic Dairy bought out WKT shares and formed Maui Food Group to align Maui Milk’s genetics programme, milk production, processing and marketing, taking its sheep milk to the world.

The group owns Waikino Station in Taupo, the home to Maui Milk’s own dairy sheep genetic improvement operation which produces the unique dairy sheep breed, the Southern Cross.

Hamill says the Southern Cross dairy sheep breed is extremely important to the growth of Maui and its supplier’s business.

“Maui is the only dairy sheep company in New Zealand that actively uses artificial insemination every year for continuous genetic gain of our breed. Both Maui and our suppliers reap the benefits of such a strong genetics programme,” he says.

He adds that the 2024/25 season has been great with all products completely sold.

“So we are looking forward to the 2025/26 season.”